Dandruff may seem to be a simple hair issue, but its effects are beyond imagination. Those sticky dead cells on your scalp can find their way to your neck, shoulders, and even eyebrows, thus turning out to be a nightmare. Fortunately, there are tons of gifts from Mother Nature that can help you combat dandruff effectively, and lime is a humble one among them. Apart from flavoring culinary dishes and water, lime can also care for your hair. This article talks about how to use lime juice for dandruff and what else you should know about it.
What is Dandruff?
Before digging deeper into why and how to use lime juice for treating dandruff, let us have a quick look at the issue itself. Dandruff is a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis. It is a condition in which the skin on the scalp starts to flake, which spreads to other areas like hair, eyebrows, mustache, beard, and shoulders over time. Other common signs and symptoms are the dry scalp, scaly scalp, itchy scalp, etc. Stress and extreme weather (dry and cold season) can make the symptoms of dandruff severe. In infants, dandruff often causes the scalp to be scaly and crusty, which is known as ‘cradle cap’. Recommended treatments of dandruff often include using a mild daily shampoo, or an over-the-counter (OTC) medicated shampoo. Besides, adding vitamins to the daily diet and trying home remedies like lime, lemon, aloe vera, apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, etc., may also help. (1)
Dandruff is not contagious. It also does not lead to any serious health or hair concern. But it is extremely annoying and sometimes even embarrassing too. The treatment of dandruff is also very tricky as the symptoms may return later.
Read Also – How to Cure Acne Due to Dandruff? Best Home Remedies and Tips You Should Follow
Causes of Dandruff
Several factors can dry out and irritate the scalp, leaving it flaky, itchy, and full of dandruff. Following are some of the most common causes of it:
- A yeast-like fungus called Malassezia, which feeds on the sebum on the scalp
- Contact dermatitis or sensitivity to hair care and/or styling products
- Certain skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, etc.
- Dry skin
- Oily skin
- Irritated skin
- Allergic reactions
- Irregular use of shampoo
Dandruff can appear on the scalp of anyone. However, males, young adults, and neurology patients are known to be more vulnerable to it.
Why Use Lime Juice for Dandruff?
Lime is one of the most popular citrus fruits that is round in shape, bright green in color, and sour. Just like other citrus fruits, lime is also considered a nutritional powerhouse for its high contents of antioxidants, vitamins (B and C), minerals, and citric acid. This combination of nutrients helps boost our immune system, essential for maintaining healthy hair. According to a study conducted in 2015, lime juice acts as a natural pH adjuster for the scalp by absorbing excess oil and sebum from it (2). As a result, it eliminates flakes and buildups from the scalp and helps maintain its pH to a level of 5.5. As a result, you can stay away from dandruff and other related issues. Another study conducted in 2017 also revealed that vitamin B in the fruit improves skin conditions like seborrheic dermatitis, which is often regarded as a trigger for dandruff (3).
7 Easy Ways to Use Lime Juice for Dandruff
Use any of the following lime juice remedies for curing dandruff and get excellent results just within a few days:
1. Lime Juice Wash
Each time you wash your hair, the last rinse with fresh lime juice can give a great result. Just squeeze a lime into the water and rinse your locks with it. This simple yet super effective remedy will improve the overall health of your hair by restoring the natural oil and moisture content of your scalp. Meanwhile, the acid present in the juice will exfoliate dead cells from the scalp, thereby eliminating dandruff.
2. Lime Juice and Coconut Oil
Take 4 tablespoons of coconut oil and warm it up a little. Add 2 tablespoons of fresh lime juice to it and mix well. Now, massage your scalp with this blend and leave for 15 minutes. Finally, wash it off with a mild shampoo. Following this routine at least thrice a week will help achieve the ideal pH balance of the scalp and get rid of dandruff gradually. You can also add 2 tablespoons of castor oil to this mixture to get better results.
Read Also – Everything About Using Baking Soda Shampoo for Dandruff and Hair Loss
3. Lime Juice and Olive Oil
Mix 2 tablespoons of lime juice with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Warm up the mixture a little and use it on your scalp and hair. Massage gently with your fingertips and let it go deep into the scalp by leaving for 30 minutes. Then, rinse with fresh cold water. It is one of the best ways to drive away dandruff.
4. Lime Juice and Hazelnut Oil
The oil extracted from hazelnuts can also be combined with lime juice for removing dandruff. Take each ingredient in equal quantity and blend well. Next, heat the mixture to some extent. Then, massage your scalp with it in a circular motion for at least 20 minutes. Finally, wash away with a gentle shampoo to get dandruff-free hair.
5. Lime Juice and Apple Cider Vinegar
Prepare a blend by mixing 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with 1 tablespoon of lime juice and apply it all over your hair with the help of a cotton ball. It will take almost half an hour to sit on your scalp. After that, wash your hair with a shampoo and condition it properly. If you wish, you can also opt for an overnight application. Doing this at least 3 to 4 days a week will cure your dandruff problem successfully.
6. Lime Juice and Multani Mitti Pack
Including lime juice in your Multani mitti hair pack will also help you ward off dandruff easily. Take 2 tablespoons of Multani mitti or fuller’s earth and add 1 tablespoon of lime juice to it. Create a smooth paste by combining them and use it on your hair weekly.
7. Lime Juice and Yogurt Pack
Plain yogurt is another wonderful ingredient that can be added to lime juice for getting rid of dandruff. Make a semi-liquid hair pack by mixing these two things and leave it on your hair for half an hour before rinsing off. You can also add honey or amla extract to this mixture to prevent the recurrence of dandruff.
Potential Side Effects of Lime Juice
As a natural ingredient, lime is usually pretty safe to eliminate pesky dandruff. However, it may cause specific side effects or uncomfortable symptoms when it comes to direct contact with the skin. These include redness, dryness, burning, stinging, irritation, contact reaction (phytophotodermatitis), inflammation, blisters, dark pigmentation, increased dandruff, etc. (4)
Always consult your doctor before trying lemon juice for dandruff removal at home. You should not be allergic to it or taking any medication that can interact with it. Do a patch test beforehand to know whether you should go for this natural remedy or skip it.
Read Also – Home Remedies to Treat Dandruff and Oily Hair
Summary:
Lime juice is a great natural remedy for dandruff. It contains lots of antioxidants, vitamins, and citric acid which cumulatively help in keeping the scalp nourished and flake-free. You can include lime juice in your regular hair care routine in the form of rinse, pack, and mask. However, it is always good to do a patch test before trying these remedies to ensure that no allergic reaction is going to happen.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can Lime Juice Damage Hair?
Fresh lime juice does not cause any damage to hair. But make sure that you do not stay long in the sun after applying the remedy. It will damage your hair cuticles, thus affecting the health of hair fibers.
Can Consuming Lime Juice Improve Hair Heath?
While consuming lime juice is good for our internal health, its relation with the health of our hair is yet to be proved.
Can Dandruff Cause Hair Loss?
There is no direct connection between dandruff and hair loss. However, the issue can cause itchiness and make you tempted to scratch the scalp, damaging the hair follicles and leading to hair loss over time.
Which oil is good for dandruff?
Some great oils for treating dandruff are tea tree oil, jojoba oil, and extra virgin coconut oil.
Can Hot Shower Cause Dandruff?
Washing your hair with piping hot water can dry out your scalp by removing natural oils and moisture from it. This usually results in dandruff.
References:
- “Dandruff“, MayoClinic.org
- “Shampoo and Conditioners: What a Dermatologist Should Know?“, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- “The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health“, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- “Is Lemon Good for Hair? Benefits and Risks“, Healthline.com
