Tea Tree Oil Shampoo

One problem that affects a large number of people is small loose flakes of skin from the scalp that dot the hair and shoulders. This condition, known as dandruff, is common, but can be exacerbated by fungi such as P. ovale. When the fungi grow on the skin, they tend to dry the hair follicle cells and cause an immune or allergic reaction which irritates the skin. As a result, the skin cells flake and fall off which worsens any preexisting dandruff condition. Other reasons for why skin flakes from the scalp include nutrition, other types of microbial infection. While circulation has been cited as a problem, this has never been prove. To combat microbial origins of dandruff, a shampoo with microcidal properties would be incredibly useful. No doubt there are medical shampoos for these purposes, but an alternative to the chemical formulations is to use a natural additive that has antibacterial properties: tea tree oil shampoo. At natural health stores one may find the product on the shelves, but one can also find it at pharmacies which stock high grade tea tree oil infused shampoos, which are specially formulated to combat microbe growth on the scalp.

There's another reasons why one would shampoo with tea tree oil additive. Every fall, when kids return to crowded schools and mingle with other kids, epidemics of head lice start up because lice thrive in crowded conditions where transmittance of the organism is easy. The lice are caught during health exams designed for this purposes, and usually the child is removed from class for some duration to prevent contamination. But what do parents do when the child comes home with head lice? A home-treatment option should be swiftly enacted to prevent the spread of the lice to other members of the family. The answer lies in shampoos that kill lice. At a pharmacy you can find chemical-based ones that will do the job after a few washes. The natural alternative is tea tree oil shampoo, whose natural antibacterial properties extends to smothering and killing the lice. These shampoos can be found a natural health stores, but if you can't find them, they can be made easily by addition of a few drops of oil into the shampoo.

As discussed in an earlier post, overly concentrated tea tree oil shampoo can be damaging to the scalp. So whether the shampoo is made at home or purchased from a store, ensure that it is sufficiently dilute. In a similar vein, keep in mind that although tea tree oil is natural, that doesn't automatically make it safe. It can cause skin rashes in those prone to allergies, and it can be toxic if ingested. You'll want to keep it out of your children's reach, use it in reasonable quantities, and use your judgment as to whether it will be a good choice for your child. However, if your child's particular special needs make some of the pesticide shampoos a dangerous choice, tea tree oil shampoo may be a better option, and one that can help the whole family.