Psoriasis is one of the most prevalent skin diseases. It is a chronic disease which leads to inflammation and the formation of rashes and scale-like structures throughout the body. The most characteristic symptom of these diseases is itchiness in the affected parts of the body.
The skin disease can be found on any part of the body. In the worst possible scenario, it can even affect the scalp. While psoriasis can leave uncomfortable patches on the scalp, there are ways to get relief from this condition.
Advanced studies have revealed that essential oils can play a vital role in the treatment of skin diseases. Due to this health care professionals prescribe aromatherapy with castor oil for psoriasis(1). According to them, this can help a patient in getting relief from the itchiness.
[Also Read: Top 5 Home Remedies for Psoriasis]
Castor Oil for Scalp Psoriasis
The scalp, from which hair follicles emanate, is a sensitive part of the body. Its health is closely related to the growth of hair. An infection in the scalp region can lead to hair fall, interruption in the growth of new hair, thinning of hair, and can lead to complete baldness.
Psoriasis on the scalp is a rare condition. However, some people may have it just on the scalp. It is not easy to notice psoriasis on the scalp. The problem of detecting the condition on the scalp constitutes a significant challenge in the treatment of scalp psoriasis.
Castor oil(2) is found to have a moisturizing and gentle effect on the scalp, which can help a patient in dealing with the adverse impact of psoriasis on the scalp. Depending on the scalp conditions of a patient with psoriasis, doctors prescribe castor oil for psoriasis on the scalp as they feel just a week’s treatment is enough to show positive results.
[Also Read: Health Benefits of Castor Oil]
How to Apply Castor Oil to the Scalp
One of the best ways to get the most out of castor oil for relieving the detrimental effects of psoriasis is to massage the scalp gently with castor oil. This needs to be done before you go to bed at night. The hydrating and moisturizing effect of castor oil can benefit hair as well as scalp.
Massaging gently on the scalp with this oil is recommended as it is believed to improve the process of blood circulation to the scalp. With better blood circulation, it becomes relatively easy for the scalp to absorb the oil.
However, some special care is needed to make sure that the linens do not come in contact with castor oil. You can do a shower cap. This needs to be taken care of at the time of going to bed after applying the application to the scalp.
It is essential to wash off the excess oil on the next day after using castor oil for psoriasis. This can be done using a mild shampoo. A herbal shampoo available at a general store or the one prescribed by a doctor needs to be used in this regard.
[Also Read: Popular Diet for Psoriasis]
As far as oil for scalp psoriasis is concerned, there are also other oils such as coconut oil that are known to possess anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. However, castor oil is the pick of the bunch as it is believed to be more effective. There is no research-based evidence for it, though. To get the desired results, it is imperative that you apply castor oil in the right way.
FAQs
1. What are the things to avoid if you have scalp psoriasis?
Scalp psoriasis can be challenging to deal with most of the time. Though one can use castor oil to get relief from the symptoms, it is also essential to avoid certain things during the treatment of this condition. These include the following:
- Dryness of the skin
- Dry weather
- Excessive itching and scratching
- Stress
- Alcohol
2. Can castor oil help in the treatment of psoriasis?
There is no research-based study which indicates that castor oil can help in the treatment of psoriasis on the scalp. However, the hydrating and moisturizing effect of castor oil on the scalp can go a long way in relieving a patient with psoriasis of the symptom.
