Health Benefits Lemon for dandruff: How To Use It?

Lemon is one of the most effective dandruff treatments. They are high in antioxidants, nutrients and Vitamin C which are known for enhancing the immune system and sustaining hair health. Learn more about the possible advantages of lemon for your hair.

Almost everyone deals with dandruff, a skin ailment, at some point in their lives. Dandruff is a condition in which the skin on your scalp flakes, causing irritation and redness. Although dandruff is not a serious condition, it can be irritating and difficult to manage. 

You must have heard of many ingredients for treating dandruff, but is lemon juice considered to be a staple ingredient for dandruff treatment? Lemon juice is commonly used to naturally remove dandruff. Lemon contains citric acid, which helps to eradicate dandruff at the hair roots. It also contains antibacterial properties that kill the fungus that is causing dandruff.

What exactly is dandruff?

Dandruff is a skin condition caused by a naturally occurring fungus called Malassezia Globosa. This fungus feeds on oil, and the presence of too much oil in your skin can break this fungus down into acids that react with your skin [1].

Dandruff can be caused by a variety of circumstances, including improper hair care, a bad diet, harsh weather changes, hormonal changes, and even mental stress and anxiety.

Can lemons treat dandruff?

Yes, lemon can help strengthen your hair follicles. Lemon nourishes the hair with vital nutrients, including flavonoids [2] and citric acid. According to a study, the citric acid in lemon acts as a natural pH balancer [3]. Thus, lemon helps in treating dandruff by balancing the pH level of your scalp.

Excess oils on the scalp frequently cause scalp flakes and lead to an unwanted build-up of dandruff. Lemon removes excess oils and reduces scalp flaking. It also has antibacterial qualities that eradicate the fungus that causes dandruff. As a result, various hair care product manufacturers add citrus fruits such as lemons in their shampoos and conditioners [4]. 

How to use lemon on hair?

You should consult your healthcare physician before integrating lemon juice or any other new product into your hair care routine. You must also check if you have any allergies or are taking any specific medications that might cause negative effects if you are exposed to lemon.

Applying lemon directly

Many dandruff treatments include applying lemon juice directly to the scalp. Instead of combining lemons with any shampoo or conditioner, simply apply lemon juice to the scalp as a dandruff treatment before applying your regular shampoo. For consistent results, you should repeat this treatment every wash day.

Allow the lemon to infiltrate the hair follicles and the scalp for a few minutes. After that, rinse it with warm water and wash your hair and scalp with a gentle shampoo.

When mixed with other ingredients

For extra advantages, some home treatments combine lemon juice with other components such as coconut oil, camphor oil, honey, or sugar. When combined, these effective combinations can be used as an exfoliating scrub or as a setting solution prior to applying your regular shampoo.

Orally consuming lemons

Another easy method is to drink chilled lemon juice every once in a while, to allow vital minerals and vitamins to enter your system. This also helps to calm down your system and promotes improved hair health [5].

Other health advantages of lemon juice

Lemons have many other uses aside from being a health supplement for healthy hair. Here are a few more reasons to promote the consumption of lemons and their juice:

Can help prevent and fight cancer

Lemons have been shown in studies to have anti-cancer properties. The chemical composition of lemons can help prevent the development of oral tumors [6].

Greatly helps in blood sugar regulation

Consuming citrus fruits like lemon and orange can help maintain your blood glucose levels. Thus, lemons can reduce the risk of diabetes and help patients suffering from diabetes to manage their condition.

Helps clear skin

Lemons offer antimicrobial properties as well as contain alpha hydroxy acids. They can brighten, exfoliate, and help in the removal of blackheads. Lemon also contains Vitamin C which increases collagen production and improves your skin and provides various secretive elements for anti-aging skin [7].

Helps to prevent the formation of kidney stones

Lemon juice has been demonstrated to help avoid the formation of kidney stones by increasing the citrate levels in the urine. Citrate binds to calcium, which helps in the prevention of kidney stone formation [8].

Relieves sore throat

Warm water combined with honey and lemon is a well-known home treatment for sore throats. During the winter season, the combination of lemon and honey might give relief to a sore throat.

Helps to cure constipation and diarrhea

Lemon peel and pulp contain a soluble fiber called pectin which has various benefits for your health. It stimulates the development of digestive enzymes in the liver, which greatly helps in the elimination of waste from the body. Fruits high in fiber can also help encourage regular bowel movements, lowering your chances of constipation.

Helps in reducing weight

Lemons and their juice contain pectin, which helps you feel fuller for a longer time, making weight reduction much easier and more achievable. Increased fiber consumption, particularly from low-density sources such as citrus fruits, can result in decreased body weight and fat.

Lemon for dandruff side effects

Although lemons may not appear to be harmful, there are a few instances in which they may be damaging to your scalp’s health. Applying lemon juice straight to the skin, like any other product, may result in some unpleasant symptoms or side effects.

Stop applying lemon juice on your hair right away if you see any

of the following:

• sensation of burning
• redness on your scalp
• brittle hair due to the drying impact
• rise in dandruff

How to avoid a lemon juice reaction

People can reduce the potential risk of drying out their hair by thoroughly washing it with a lemon juice solution and then using a moisture-rich shampoo and conditioner.

Furthermore, doing a patch test before applying lemon juice to the hair and scalp might help avoid certain serious skin diseases. Applying lemon juice to a tiny area of skin and exposing it to sunlight helps in conducting a successful patch test.

If you have a bad reaction to lemon juice and are still experiencing symptoms after stopping its use, consult your healthcare practitioner or dermatologist.

Lemon juice combinations that work well for treating dandruff

Certain ingredients, when mixed with lemon, improve its anti-dandruff qualities. Here are some effective combinations for applying lemon juice to dandruff.

Coconut oil with lemon for dandruff

Combine lemon juice, coconut oil, and sugar to make a scrub that may be used to exfoliate the scalp. This should help to remove any remaining greasiness from your scalp. This combination should be used 2-4 times per week to promote hair health.

Ingredients required:

• 2 tbsp of lemon juice
• 3 to 4 tbsp coconut oil
• Few drops of tea tree oil drops (optional)
• Sugar (optional) 

Application procedure:

• Warm the coconut oil on low heat, then add the tea tree oil or sugar (optional) and lemon juice.
• Combine the ingredients well.
• Massage the mixture into your scalp and allow it to rest for 20-30 minutes.
• Use a gentle shampoo to rinse your hair.

Camphor and lemon juice for dandruff

Camphor oil is available in the market, or you may produce your own at home. For treating dandruff, you can mix camphor oil with a carrier oil or any other hair product. The idea is that this combination would remove the build-up of dandruff and relieve the itching and burning sensations.

Ingredients required:

• 2 tbsp of lemon juice
• 3 to 4 tbsp camphor oil 

Application procedure:

• Before applying camphor oil and lemon juice to your hair and scalp, combine the two ingredients well. 
• Allow the mixture to set on your scalp for 20-30 minutes.
• Then, using a gentle shampoo, thoroughly wash your hair. 

Lemon and curd for dandruff

Applying a hair mask consisting of curd and lemon juice will gradually help to reduce irritation and bacteria. Simply use it 2-3 times each week.

Ingredients required:

• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons curd
• 1 spoonful of honey

Application procedure:

• Mix all of the ingredients – lemon juice, curd, and honey well in a bowl.
• Allow the mixture to sit on your scalp for 20-30 minutes.
• After that, rinse your hair with a gentle shampoo.

Egg and lemon for treating dandruff

Using an egg white and lemon juice mixture as a hair mask might help to decrease dandruff. The activated enzymes help in the removal of dandruff-causing microorganisms.

Ingredients required:

• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• A single egg

Application procedure:

• Whip the egg in a mixing dish, then add the lemon juice and thoroughly combine both ingredients.
• Allow it to sit on your scalp for 20-30 minutes.
• Simply use a gentle shampoo and conditioner to thoroughly wash your hair. 

Salt and lemon for dandruff

This is a really simple and quick cure for dandruff. It works because salt helps in the clearance of dead skin and the removal of flakes.

Ingredients required:

• Half-filled bucket of warm water
• 2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice

Application procedure:

• Warm up the amount of water required to rinse your hair.
• Add 2 tablespoons of salt and lemon juice to it.
• Allow the liquid to cool once the salt has been dissolved completely.
• Run the solution through your hair, then rinse with a gentle sulfate-free shampoo. 

FAQs

Is lemon juice good for dandruff?

Lemon has been used as an effective anti-dandruff treatment for a long time. Lemon contains citric acid, which helps in treating dandruff at the roots. Alternatively, the antibacterial qualities of lemon help to reduce any fungal activity on your scalp.

How long does lemon take to remove dandruff?

It can take many weeks for dandruff to disappear, so don’t make impulsive decisions about using lemon in the first week or two. If you haven’t seen any improvement after using lemons for roughly a month, try a different shampoo or a different dandruff treatment.

Does lemon juice damage hair?

Excessive use of lemon is said to be harmful to your hair. Because lemon contains citric acid, using too much lemon juice on your hair might cause it to become dry and brittle. Furthermore, continuous sun exposure might harm your hair’s outer sheath. As a result, it is best to utilize lemon in moderation.

Wrapping Up

Lemons are becoming a popular ingredient for hair care due to their numerous advantages. Lemon juice can solve any hair problem you can think of. The citric juice in lemon helps to normalize the pH balance of the scalp, preventing it from becoming itchy, dry, or oily, which are the causes of dandruff.

However, if you observe any negative effects or changes after using lemon to reduce dandruff, contact your healthcare professional or dermatologist immediately.

References

1. S Ranganathan . “DANDRUFF: THE MOST COMMERCIALLY EXPLOITED SKIN DISEASE.” Indian J Dermatol vol. 55,2 (2010): 130-134.
2. National Library of Medicine. “Flavonoids: an overview.” Pubmed.gov, (2016).
3. Xinmiao Lv. “Citrus fruits as a treasure trove of active natural metabolites that potentially provide benefits for human health.” Chem Cent J vol. 9 (2015): 68.
4. Paschal D’Souza. “Shampoo and Conditioners: What a Dermatologist Should Know?.” Indian J Dermatol vol. 60,3 (2015): 248-254.
5. National Library of Medicine. “Effects of Citrus Fruit Juices and Their Bioactive Components on Inflammation and Immunity: A Narrative Review.” National Center for Biotechnology Information, (2021).
6. National Library of Medicine. “Further studies on the anticancer activity of citrus limonoids.” Pubmed.gov, (2004).
7. National Library of Medicine. “Effects of lifelong intake of lemon polyphenols on aging and intestinal microbiome in the senescence-accelerated mouse prone 1 (SAMP1).” National Center for Biotechnology Information, (2019).
8. Yazeed Barghouthy. “Role of Citrus Fruit Juices in Prevention of Kidney Stone Disease (KSD): A Narrative Review.” Nutrients vol. 13,11 (2021): 4117.