Nobody likes acne on their face. Most people try to get rid of them as soon as possible. Over the counter medications in all forms, sizes and prices are selling like hotcakes in pharmacies and drugstores nationwide. The promise of clear, acne-free skin in a matter of days – and some brands even go as far as promising “overnight results.” With advertising like this is no wonder most people end up disappointed. What consumers also don’t know is that these acne medications contain high levels of chemicals which are harsh to sensitive skin, even with those that brand themselves as ‘made for sensitive skin’. It’s no surprise that the skin reacts to these chemical compounds, that’s why more and more users of these ointments report bad scarring, extreme redness, and spreading of acne to various areas on both face and neck.

What can acne-prone people do? One thing is for sure, that it’s better to rely on natural and organic products rather than depend on chemical mixtures to take care of our skin.

An all-natural cure to acne comes in a clear oil with antiseptic and antifungal properties. It is known as Melaleuca Oil, one of the best essential oils used for medicinal purposes. You might have heard of this substance, as it is more popularly known as Tea Tree Oil. International brands like The Body Shop, Johnson & Johnson, J/A/S/O/N, SkinFood (Asia), Aubrey Organics, Kiss My Face, Burt’s Bees and so many more have Tea Tree Oil lines for their anti-acne face creams and lotions.

For a more home-remedy type, an ordinary bottle of tea tree oil is enough. No need to shell out too much money for branded products at all. Tea tree oil diluted in water or another “carrier oil” such as natural baby oil, or better yet, emu oil, is highly regarded as an effective anti-acne treatment. In terms of acne eradication, it has been shown that a 5% mix of tea tree oil and a 5% benzyl peroxide have almost the same anti- acne properties. Tea tree oil is slow to take effect but your much better off than with a natural oil than depending on a benzyl peroxide.

There are also soaps and creams that contain tea tree oil that can be used for the body, because not only is it great for acne, but since it contains a anti-microbial properties, it helps in eradicating fungus that forms around the hidden corners of the body and removes bad body odor, too! Not only that, it helps your scalp when it’s flakey and helps scabs and scars. If you have body odor you’d like to get rid of or some fungal infection on your toes, hands, or back, then just find a product for the body with tea tree oil in it. Or you could just create a tea tree oil mix by yourself and apply it on the infected area with a cotton square.

Just remember though that pure 100% tea tree oil shouldn’t ever be put on your face as is because it is highly irritating. That’s why it’s important that you need to dilute it with water or some other unscented oil. Health departments all over the world have set the minimum content to be 15%-30%. A rule of thumb, mix 5% tea tree oil and 95% carrier oil or water.

One of the best things that you can do for your skin is stop using acne medications and rely on organic methods because the more natural, the better!

Itchy scalp and tell-tale flakes on your shoulders? That’s dandruff and you don’t want that on your head! It is extremely itchy and it is quite annoying to scratch your head over and over especially when you’re with company or even somewhere public.

Though shedding of dead skin on your scalp is pretty normal, an unusual amount is quite worrying. A person may experience this when they use the wrong shampoo or conditioner, irritation from various hair products or even from exposure to extreme and varying temperature. Dandruff can be a symptom of a fungal infection as well, so it’s best to get it checked and find the cause of it.

Not only is dandruff very itchy and an inconvenience, but it is also embarrassing! It makes a person self-conscious if the flakes drop from the scalp to the shoulders or are all over your hair. The dandruff flakes are gray to white and it becomes more pronounced on dark clothing.

Common cases of dandruff reveal that it doesn’t go away by itself or disappear eventually, so that’s why dandruff treatment is essential. There are shampoo and leave-on treatments for it. Though it is very rare to have a serious disease from dandruff alone, and it’s not really contagious, it is something that we’d rather not have in our hair if we can help it.

WHY DO WE HAVE DANDRUFF?
Our skin changes constantly, without us even knowing. It is only when our skin peels off that we do. This is the same for the scalp as well, as it is part of our skin only covered with a full head of hair. The skin has an epidermal layer that replaces itself over time and the scalp usually does this periodically. However, there are certain triggers and conditions that can cause a more rapid development and shedding. This is what people with dandruff are experiencing.

As mentioned before, it can be a fungal infection, an inflammatory response and results in dandruff. But more and more cases have shown that dandruff is also caused by chemicals that we put in our hair that doesn’t sit well on the skin. As people use lots of hair products, the higher the chances of product chemicals settling on the scalp and on the roots of the hair.

When a person has dandruff, they mostly tend to buy whatever available anti-dandruff shampoo that’s currently popular in the market. There are a whole lot of brands offering relief from dandruff, but most of them take too long to take effect, usually after 2-3 months of usage. There are also medicated creams and gels but you still should be careful of what you put into your own scalp as it might just trigger it more and you are left with more flakes than before.

THE WAY TO NATURAL DANDRUFF TREATMENT
Strategies for dandruff control are vast and expensive. Some products do remove the flakes but do not get to the root of the problem. The total removal of the fungal infection is even more difficult. Here are tried-and-tested natural ways to help you alleviate dandruff problems:

1. Tea Tree Oil – a simple oil that has been regarded as very useful when trying to revitalize the skin. It is also found to be very useful when zoning in on the fungal infection without affecting and damaging the hair and roots around it like what most fungal creams would do. The application is very simple. Just wipe a generous amount on the infected area after washing your hair or before going to sleep.

2. Virgin Olive Oil – a home remedy that has been passed down from generations. Olive oil is a popular home treatment all over the world because it has been proven to cure dandruff. Not only is this very affordable since you can find olive oil in your kitchen, the application is as easy as the tea tree oil as well.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar – This supposed “cure-all” also helps people with dandruff. A half cup of ACV is all you need, diluted in water to wash your hair in. Some people swear by ACV and they also practice swiping a cottonball dipped in vinegar and leaving it on the scalp overnight to be rinsed out in the morning bath.

4. Beer – Rich in Vitamin B, beer is a great cure for dandruff because it helps clear up the dry, scaly patch. Normal usage is a bottle of ordinary beer, drizzled all over your head. Massage the scalp and rinse off with water. Beer is also a hair revitalizer, so don’t be surprised if your hair feels softer and shinier after rinsing!

Dandruff is one of the most common hair problems and you shouldn’t stress over it too much. With the right treatment, even the most stubborn dandruff will go away! So remember to not overdo it with styling products you love so much. Take it easy on the hairsprays and gels, use mild and cleansing shampoos to get rid of the build up in hair and when necessary visit a doctor or a specialist.