Home Remedy for Dandruff in Kids
As your child enters puberty or adolescence, he might notice the presence of dandruff. Also known as sebhorreic dermatitis, dandruff can leave unsightly white flakes on his shoulders.
As your child enters puberty or adolescence, he might notice the presence of dandruff. Also known as sebhorreic dermatitis, dandruff can leave unsightly white flakes on his shoulders. According to KidsHealth, children who suffer from eczema might be more likely to develop the condition, but treating dandruff doesn't require a trip to the doctor unless it becomes severe. Any one of a number of home remedies can resolve your tween or teen's dandruff problem and stop his scalp from itching.
Step 1
Mix 12 drops of tea tree oil into 1 ounce of carrier oil such as almond, jojoba or olive oil. Apply the oil to the scalp and leave it on for 30 minutes before shampooing.
Step 2
Wash hair with a medicated dandruff shampoo. As an alternative, crush two uncoated aspirin in a mortar and pestle and add it to the amount of shampoo your child normally uses to wash her hair.
Step 3
Wash hair with baking soda instead of shampoo. Mix a handful of baking soda with enough water to make a paste. Massage the paste into the scalp and leave it on while showering. Rinse at the end of the shower.
Step 4
Follow regular shampooing with a scalp rinse. Add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice or alcohol-based mouthwash to 1 cup of water. As an alternative, mix 2 cups of apple cider vinegar with 2 cups of water. Rinse hair with plain water after shampooing and follow by pouring the scalp rinse over the scalp. If dryness is a problem, follow with an oil-free conditioner. Otherwise, it is not necessary to rinse with water.
Step 5
Make a hair mask using 1 tablespoon of plain Greek yogurt, half a mashed banana and 4 tablespoons of carrier oil. Massage the mask into the scalp for five minutes and leave it on for 15 minutes before shampooing.
Tip
If using a medicated shampoo, reduce usage to twice a week after the dandruff problem subsides. Use a mild shampoo on other days. If you don't want your child using a medicated shampoo and greasiness is a problem, have her wash her hair daily with a shampoo for oily hair. If your child suffers from dry scalp, have her wash with a mild shampoo every other day. Choose one remedy and try it alone before adding others to the mix.
warning
Hair gels and other styling products can exacerbate dandruff. Some people are allergic to the medication in dandruff shampoo, so make sure to do a patch test on a small section of skin and wait 24 hours before using the shampoo.