Milk Thistle DIY Scalp Treatment

by Dr. Tricia Pingel, NMD | Mar 3, 2021 | Beauty DIY | 0 comments

If you suffer from a dry, itchy scalp, I have just the trick for you! My Milk Thistle DIY Scalp Treatment is designed to moisturize your dry scalp and help prevent that pesky dandruff and flaking.

Intrigued? Let’s take a few minutes to talk about how this homemade scalp treatment benefits both your scalp and your hair before you try it out for yourself!

What Makes This Milk Thistle DIY Scalp Treatment Effective?

First, it’s important to note that milk thistle has powerful anti-inflammatory properties.

In animal studies, researchers found that the main active compound in milk thistle (silibinin) was effective against many inflammatory markers when used topically. [1]

As a result, the researchers stated that the compound may help treat and even prevent inflammation-associated skin conditions. And this extends to the scalp.

In fact, seborrheic eczema is a pretty common inflammatory skin issue that results in flaky and scaly patches on your scalp, though it can also occur anywhere on your skin.

And a 2016 study confirmed that a formulation containing the active compounds in milk thistle significantly relieved the inflammatory symptoms of eczema such as redness, swelling, and inflammation. [2]

Moreover, a 2014 review off 26 studies confirmed that using silymarin was effective in overcoming numerous other skin conditions, such as rosacea, melasma, vitiligo, and psoriasis! [3]

In addition, studies have shown that milk thistle can also combat certain microbes.

According to a 2015 study, the main active compound in milk thistle (silibinin) showed significant activity against both fungal infections and the bacterium E. coli. [4]

As a result, the researchers surmised that both silymarin and silibinin show promising potential for treating fungal and bacterial infections.

Here’s why this is important for the health of your scalp and hair: A 2013 study revealed that dandruff is correlated with a higher incidence of certain fungal and bacterial microbes (M. restricta and S. epidermidis) and a lower incidence of the bacteria P. acnes on the scalp. [5]

So, if milk thistle can fight both inflammation and the microbes known to cause dandruff, it can really set you up for optimal scalp and hair health.

But milk thistle isn’t the only active ingredient in this natural scalp treatment! Let’s take a minuet to discuss the other two ingredients: olive oil and baking soda.

I decided to include olive oil in this homemade scalp treatment because not only does it do a great job of moisturizing a dry scalp, but it’s also been shown to promote hair growth!

That’s right—according to a 2015 animal study, applying olive oil-derived ingredients topically induced hair growth. [6] It’s also known to contain its own anti-microbial properties as well, so you’re getting a double attack against that pesky dandruff.

Meanwhile, the baking soda in my Milk Thistle DIY Scalp Treatment will help to absorb any oiliness and balance out the olive oil. You don’t want to overuse baking soda on your scalp, though, as it’s been shown to alter the pH level, which can damage your scalp and your hair follicles. [7]

As a result, I recommend using this DIY scalp treatment anywhere from once a week to once a month, depending on the health of your scalp and your personal needs.

Now that you know how it works, let’s take a look at this quick and easy recipe!