Natural Remedies for Scalp Infections

Citronella Oil

1 User Review
1 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Atang (Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa) on 05/03/2010
★☆☆☆☆

I tried the coconut oil for scalp odor and it just seemed to make it worse. I've been suffering since January, and would describe the smell as very bad. I would wash my hair in the morning and 3 hours later it already stunk! by the end of the day it was unbearable. I tried the following: coconut oil, pumpkin seed oil, ACV, medicated shampoo, all sorts of hair products, rubbing MSM in my scalp (for sulphur), hydrogen peroxide, yoghurt, white vinegar, borax. Finally in the past few weeks I've been making progess- I bought grapefruit seed extract and bergamot essence oil. this helped alot but not 100%. I then bought CITRONELLA oil at the pharmacy- success! I think it should also be available at health stores in the oil/essences section. Rub it in every night for 3 nights (do it over the weekend or when you won't be going out bcos it smells quite strong, not bad just strong). wash it out in the morning. This did the trick. I was able to go a week without washing my hair and there still was ZERO odor!! hope this helps someone because this smelly scalp is very debilitating socially.

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Replied by Elsie
(Chicago, Illinois, Usa)
08/17/2010

Atang, I have scalp odor, too, and have tried everything. I am going to get the citronella oil today, but can you tell me what your odor smelled like? Mine is yeasty/cheesy (sorry if that's TMI! ). Just thinking that the type of odor might be an indication of the cause. Thank you!

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Replied by Shaun
(York, Uk)
08/18/2010

Just wash your hair with sodium carbonate (washing soda). It will clear up any odour ASAP!

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Replied by Atang
(Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa)
08/30/2010

To Elsie from Chicago, Illinois, Usa. I had different smells- the smell was yeasty and muggy if I hadnt washed my hair in at least 2 days and it was sharp/pungent if I had washed my hair that morning. I was also confused as to whether it was a fungal or bacterial infection. I still don't know. Another thing that helped tremendously was washing the hair LESS, weird I know. I think that because of the odor I was washing my hair too much, this was drying my scalp causing my scalp to overproduce oil. The fungus/bacteria then fed off this excess oil causing more odor so it was all one vicious cycle. I made myself wash my hair every 7 days (as opposed to everyday like before) and I found that on the 2nd and 3rd day I might have some odor but after that nothing. A side note: I have coarse African hair that doesn't need to be washed so often, I'm not sure how this would work on other types of hair.

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Replied by Joe
(Oswego, Il)
11/03/2010

Are you sure your using Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil and not Organic Coconut Oil? The latter is refined and I had problems with this kind on my scalp.

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Replied by Tangie
(Western Cape, South Africa)
06/02/2016

I posted this a few years back and would like to add that the citronella oil did help a lot in terms of decreasing the smell but the odor would come back on hot days when I sweated. (Before that, the odor was there all the time, sunny or cold). But the real thing that removed the smell completely is TCP.

EC: Thank you so much for updating us after 6 years!


Coconut Oil

2 User Reviews
5 star (1) 
  50%
(1) 
  50%

Posted by Vida (Minneapolis, Mn.) on 04/07/2015

I left coconut oil on my hair covered with plastic shower cap. After that I have red painful scalp with bumps and pimples filled with pus from the crown towards the forehead. My hair has has badly fallen on those affected areas. My scalp feels like its burning and the roots feels terribly painful. I took some antibiotics and it went away but came back shortly. Its being about 3-4 months now starting January 2015. Can anyone help me please. I will appreciate any piece of advice that you give.

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Replied by Charity
(Faithville, Us)
04/08/2015

http://ted.earthclinic.com/cures/treatment-for-hair-loss.html

I was just reading through this and made a copy to highlight... there is alot of info here from Ted.

It seems the coconut oil probably put you into a healing crisis and affected your follicles and scalp broke out. Then you used antibiotics and your system got weaker and hair loss resulted. I've used the coconut oil overnight but nothing like that happened to me. Usually I do a test patch before using a lot of product due to the fact my system has a lot of problems that could be brought out as a skin or brain chemistry crisis. Your skin is your largest organ . Hope you can read through Ted's info and find out what would help you with the least amount of sufferring.

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Replied by James
(Texas)
01/11/2018

This is pretty old but I thought I would respond just in case someone has a similar issue. I found the item below. It says that there could be a yeast that is a part of the demodex. Supposedly, the yeast thrives on oil of any kind.

SOURCE: http://www.herbaltransitions.com/Malassezia.html

QUOTE: I would warn you that the use of oils on the skin may feed this lipophilic (lipid loving) yeast. The craze of using coconut oil liberally on the skin for a variety of skin afflictions may make the feeling of something crawling and itching skin worse for these people. In research labs when they study Malassezia hyphae, they have to give them a lipid source to get the yeast to grow hyphae in the lab. Other things that will generate a proliferation of Malssezia are the use of corticosteroids and or antibiotics.


Coconut Oil
Posted by Ali (Sumter, Sc) on 08/18/2010

I'm searching for an exact measurement of a solution to cure my scalp infection/odor. It started after leaving coconut oil on my scalp overnight which seemed to have fueled a fungus that may have already been present. I'm currently taking "fungal defense" by garden of life (2 pills, 3x daily), and drink 3 large glasses of lemon water(one fresh squeezed lemon in 24 oz of water). I've cut sugar and fruit to almost non-existent in my diet. An exact measurement of a solution to cure this scalp odor, itching, redness, and hairloss is needed. Hairloss is an overall even thinning. If you could include how much water(not "parts"), how often to apply, how long and how often to leave on scalp, and exactly how to apply (I have long curly hair) would be greatly appreciated. This scalp odor has greatly affected me and is beginning to be a source of depression. Please HELP! Thank you!

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Replied by Songbird
(Jackson, Ms)
04/25/2016

I'm going through the same thing due to some meds I'm taking, all but the smelly hair. Try searching salt and water. As a light paste on your scalp, not hard! Leave on ten min.and then wash it out be careful. Not to dig into the scalp to hard. Then shampoo and condition as usual. At first try, it twice a week. That's what I'm doing.


Coconut Oil
Posted by Chu (Edmond, Oklahoma) on 03/19/2007
★★★★★

Hi, I haven't seen a remedy for smelly scalp, I used to have a foul smelling scalp, even though I showered everyday, I tried all kinds of shampoo, but the one thing that cured me of this embarrassing condition was applying virgin coconut oil to my scalp for an hour. I think it disappeared after two applications.

I hope this helps others who suffer from this condition.


Colloidal Silver, MSM

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Coregon (Medford, Or) on 03/08/2011
★★★★★

Although ACV is a great scalp tonic for dandruff or dry scalp, it doesn't seem to be effective for chronic scalp problems (scalp eruptions, etc. ) I believe that some of these severe chronic scalp problems evolve into bacterial infections from the constant scratching and need something stronger, and more soothing. Colloidal silver and MSM (sulfur.. As Ted recommends) work very effectively for scalp problems. Add a couple ounces of the silver and then put 4 capsules (1000 mg) in an 8 oz bottle of distilled water and use for final rinse. (leave in) You could additionally add these same ingredients to your sulfate free shampoo for faster results. It's also important to get a shower filter, chlorine and other impurities will keep the irritation going.


Corn Meal

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Piper (Toronto, On) on 09/18/2010
★★★★★

I had a very itch scalp. I ruled out dandruff and lice. No bumps, or sores, just an itchy scalp all the time. After reading online, I thought it might be fungal. Tried several things but found this provided relief- cornmeal. First tried a paste of cornmeal and water. Applied to my hair and then rinsed in the bath. Over the day, I stood in the tub and poured the corn meal water over my hair (3 times). Now I just add cornmeal to a bath. About 1/4 to 1/3 cup.


Dietary Changes

2 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  100%

Posted by Micaela (Buenos Aires, Argentina ) on 06/01/2015
★★★★★

Scalp Infections With Hair loss:

Change your diet! No more fats, no more dairy.. Diet is everything! I experienced myself! I did a fast, 5 days only water, and itchiness went completely away, after years! Then continued eating raw vegan, perfect, after a few months I started again with gluten (cookies, bread) and dairy and blooom, instantly dandruff and itchy scalp went back heavily, until I started to loose hair (I'm female 28 years old! ) and then I said stop! Did a 2 days fast to cut straightforward, and went back to eat fruit fruit fruit, and cooked potatoes, pumpkin, veggies, but nothing else. No oils at all, no avocado, no chocolate..

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Replied by Diane
(Edgewater, Md)
09/26/2015

OMGoodness...After reading your story I have hope that what has been going on with me and my scalp is something that can possibly be cured or controlled. I started having issues with my scalp and then my hair...which I was proud to say, were the most beautiful locks and I never realized that what has happened to my hair , was possible . I am 49 years old and seems like out of nowhere I started getti g random pus pockets or blisters on my scalp . They didnt so much bother me other than they were very weepy once it popped and then my hair started feeling like I had put glue in it...kinda like the old time rubber cement from back in the day. Then my hair started falling out by the handfulls at my temples and top and crown of my head, but I think the strangest thing of all for me was the amount of gray hair I started to have...literally over a month or so time and it is very weird hair .In the beginning it was thick gray long hairs that were as strong as fish line and then it started to change into spiderweb looking hair as one peice would come out ...it would just keep coming and coming as if I had 3 feet of this silvery white spiderweb mess...and then there were the bald spots from losing it . I am sorry for rambling but I havent felt hopeful in so long thatI had pretty much just accepted that I was going bald and wither away!!!!! Please tell me what if anything has changed and if u found out what it is and what it is called . And thank you so much for posting, Diane

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Replied by Bell
(Usa)
11/09/2015

That sounds like the all around absolute best advice I have heard!! I think that gluten for many people causes a lot of ills. Thanks for posting and spread it around.

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Replied by Gwen
(Pa)
07/20/2016

Please get your Thyroid checked. I had the same happen to me. I made an appointment with an endocrinologist. I had low thyroid and a small area of cancer. Gwen


Dietary Changes
Posted by Coregon (Medford, Or) on 11/03/2010
★★★★★

My friend's 7 year old daughter had smelly scalp and she tried everything (shampoos, etc.), but nothing helped. I suggested she take her to my acupuncturist. She did and the acupuncturist tested her daughter for food allergy and determined it was MILK that was causing the scalp odor. She took her daughter off dairy and within a week all odor was gone and didn't return.


Grapefruit Seed Extract

2 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  100%

Posted by Sheila (Hallandale, Florida) on 01/07/2016 2 posts
★★★★★

I was originally using Tea Tree Oil for the scabs on my scalp. When it got worse (not from Tea Tree Oil) I used 3 drops of grapefruit seed extract in my shampoo, as suggested by someone. After only 2 hair washes, the scabs are 3/4 gone. I also use grapefruit seed extract for teeth and gums.


Grapefruit Seed Extract
Posted by Mike (Wellfleet, MA) on 12/25/2008
★★★★★

I had recurring problems with scalp fungus. It wasn't too bad in summer, when I was out in the sun and swimming in salt water, but come late fall and winter I would get large pieces of scalp flaking off and my hair would be greasy. My hair was thinning out and my scalp was itchy.

I tried GSE (grapefruit seed extract) by putting a few drops in my shampoo. I mixed them together in the palm of my hand each time I shampooed, which was every other day.I left the lather in for two minutes or so. The results were immediate, now I just have a slight touch of dandruff, no itch and my hair seems to be getting a little thicker. My hair and scalp definitely look better as well.


Iodine Rinse

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Kate (Maidenhead, Berkshire, England) on 01/16/2012
★★★★★

I've had an itchy scalp for over a year, lost over 3/4 of my hair. I've been through all the meds the recommendations offered by everyone, don't think there is anything I haven't tried.

Well anyhow, this is what worked for me and it may or may not work for you: In a plastic container add a quarter teaspoon of tincture of iodine (the brown liquid) and about a quarter cup of warm water, mix. Daily during your shower, wash hair with cool water without any shampoo or conditioner, then apply this mixture as a final rinse, whilst ensuring none of it gets in to the eyes. Immediately wrap a clean towel to the hair. Leave hair to dry naturally and before you know the hair feels softer and manageable - the plus factor 'No Itching".... Hurrah! I also use this mixture for my final rinse after my weekly shampoo and conditioner application. Initally I used this mixture for 4 days, had a break for a couple of days, the itching returned with a vengence. Good luck. Kate

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Replied by Francisca
(Zug, Switzerland)
01/17/2012

Hi Kate, my scalp doesn't itch normally speaking but I am interested in this rinse to make my hair feel softer without using a commercial rinse! Did you come up with the idea yourself or did you base it on some known method?

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Replied by Kate
(Maidenhead, Berkshire, England)
01/31/2012

Hi Francisca, I came up with this remedy myself. Initially I used to pour the iodine in a bowl and apply it to my scalp with my fingertips. As my hair roots were weak due to the fungus or whatever was causing the itching the iodine strength was too strong. I thought of the idea of diluting the iodine which has seemingly worked. I also steam my hair once a day to get rid of the calcium deposits. I wish you the best and hope something will help you with your hair. Good Luck.


Jojoba, Tea Tree Oil, Clove Oil

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Lenore (Massachusetts) on 02/17/2016
★★★★★

Staphylococcal Folliculitis Scalp Infection:

I have been very successful with a mixture of jojoba oil/tea tree/clove oil in a spray bottle. I put the nozzle to my scalp and get just the right amount with no mess. I massage my scalp and leave this on overnight. No more itch or follicle pain and my hair is growing back. I also added biotin to help the hair grow.


Lemons

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Jeanmae (Wichita, Is.) on 08/09/2017
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I had scalp issues for 4 years after 3 dermatologist & many scalp prescriptions.... I used two lemons just squeezed them on scalp and it cleaned my whole scalp from fungus, dandruff. & dustmites.


Listerine

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Cat (Austin, Tx) on 10/28/2016
★★★★★

My scalp was badly embedded with an infection/fungus with extreme itching and hair loss. VCO & ACV did not help. What finally worked after trying so many products was non-deodorized mouthwash - cheap lysterine. From the first wash -- less itching. After daily use for a week, the infection and itching was gone and my hair started filling in where it had thinned. I applied to hair and scalp, scrubbed and massaged, waited 15 minutes, then thoroughly rinsed. No shampoos or conditioners required. It worked so well that this cleaning method is all I use and only once a week. I was hesitant at first but realized I occasionally use mouthwash in my mouth! As long as it beautifully works and I have no side effects, I'll continue using this cleaning method.


Lugol's Iodine and Borax Spray

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Missm (Ny) on 07/16/2020
★★★★★

This helped me rid my scalp of the itchy, peeling condition.

You'll need:

  • 2 ounce sprayer bottle
  • 1 ounce distilled water
  • .75 ounce 70/30 alcohol. Having this amount alcohol will keep this self-preserved!
  • 8 drops Lugol's Iodine
  • 1/8 tsp borax, this is equivalent of a tiny pinch

Allow solution to sit and dilute the borax or it will clog sprayer.

Note: You can use without borax.

Use several times a day. If you have demodex, spray as soon as you feel a tickle.

This may hurt on affected area, but as they dry up and flake off this will no longer happen. Benefits easy to use, less discoloration than using full strength iodine.

Use on body parts without having iodine stain, knees, feet etc.

Do not add any other oils, or herbs to this - it will make it hard to preserve and you can make the spray bacteria soup.



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