5 Benefits Of Using Neem Oil For Skin And Hair

Hailing from the mahogany family of plants, neem is a drought-resistant and fast-growing tree that is cultivated all over the arid zones of Asia, Africa, and Central America.

The oil extracted from the seed kernels of neem has emerged as a natural elixir for the treatment of various skin, hair, and overall health issues. The chief biologically active compound in neem oil is azadirachtin, which is one of the most potent naturally occurring pesticides.

The bitter-tasting oil also contains triterpenoid compounds including nimbidin, nimbin, nimbinin, nimbidol, and tannin along with triglycerides, vitamin E, sterols, linoleic acid, healthy fatty acids, palmitic acid, stearic acid, and oleic acid.

All these compounds contribute to the medicinal potential of neem oil in terms of its antibacterial, antiarthritic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, antitumor, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective properties.

Premium-quality, organic neem oil works as a safe and natural adjunct to your skin protection arsenal. This herbal potion is a commonly used ingredient in a wide range of cosmetic and skin care products such as soaps, lotions, and creams.

It has all the makings of a dermatological panacea that helps to beautify and rejuvenate your skin and hair while saving you from the toxic side effects of conventional beauty products.

# Kills Head Lice

Head lice infestation may not be a serious medical concern, but it reflects poorly on your hygiene and can be a source of embarrassment and discomfort.

The lice sustain themselves by feeding on human blood several times a day, which causes your scalp to get excessively itchy. The constant urge to scratch that uncontrollable itch can be a nightmare to live with.

Neem oil is one of the strongest natural insecticides there is due to the presence of azadirachtin in it. This chemical compound keeps the lice from reproducing. By arresting the growth of lice, regular application of neem oil can help wipe out the infestation over time.

This is compounded by the activity of other ingredients in the oil that disrupt the swallowing system of lice and inhibit their appetite to the extent that they starve into extinction. The pungency of its smell deters the lice from crawling into your head and, thus, prevents an infestation from occurring in the first place.

For centuries, neem oil has been used as a traditional medicine to treat head lice and nits, particularly in Asia. It promises successful results minus the common side effects associated with medicated lice repellants that are commercially available.

Neem oil does not require prolonged contact time to yield positive results. In other words, it does not have to stay wet on the scalp for very long to breach the protective shell of the lice, exercise its disinfectant properties, and kill the parasite.

- Mix 1 teaspoon of neem oil with 1 tablespoon coconut or olive oil.
- Massage this oil concoction onto the scalp and hair, and leave it on for a minimum period of 1 hour. Letting it stay overnight yields better results.
- Thereafter, rinse the oil from your hair and scalp by shampooing as usual.
- Even though the lice infestation will most likely be resolved within a week or so, you must continue treating your head with neem oil this way to ensure that all the nits that are hatching are decimated as well.

It is recommended to repeat this remedy on alternate days for a month or two.

# Reduces Hair Fall

Neem oil is a wholesome hair tonic that can improve the quality of your tresses to a great degree if used regularly.

It has been credited with significant hair-strengthening properties that can avert hair loss, which was demonstrated by a 2013 study published in the African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines.

A considerable decrease in the extent of hair loss was observed among those who used neem oil regularly as opposed to those who did not.

At the outset of the study, subjects reported losing almost the same number of hair, which figured in the range of 390-434 during each combing. The subject group that started using neem oil reported a steady decrease in hair fall, from 291-361 after 10 days of oil usage to 15-82 hairs per each combing on the 60th day of the experiment.

Thus, hairfall reduced by 96.38% after 2 months of neem oil usage, which justifies its use as a credible hair loss treatment. The findings of this study suggested that the oil derived from Indian lilac is nutritionally appropriate to be used as an ingredient in hair oil formulations.

Moreover, the study subjects that were treated with neem oil also reported an improvement in their hair texture, which was far smoother than that of the control group.

- Dilute 3 drops of neem oil by mixing it with 2 teaspoons of a bland carrier oil such as jojoba oil or grapeseed oil. You can also add 3 drops of tea tree oil, lavender oil, or any other essential oil of your liking.
- Give yourself a nice head massage with this oil mix on a daily basis to rejuvenate your brittle, lifeless hair, and to make your scalp healthy.

# Treats Acne

Neem oil packs quite a lot of potential as a natural skin care agent, due to its inherent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. This is particularly true in the case of acne breakouts, which usually have a bacterial foundation.

The essential fatty acids, including oleic acid, stearic acid, palmitic acid, and linoleic acid, that constitute neem oil work together to eradicate the acne-causing bacteria.

At the same time, the salicylic acid present in the oil helps to alleviate the skin redness and inflammation associated with this condition. By improving the skin elasticity, neem oil enables the skin to bounce back to a healthy appearance after a breakout.

As far as acne treatment is concerned, neem works along the same lines as conventional medicinal products due to the activity of several ingredients that are common among them.

- Mix 6 drops of neem oil with 1 teaspoon of a carrier oil of your choosing, such as hemp seed oil, sunflower oil, prickly pear seed oil, safflower oil, or black cumin seed oil.
- Use this oil mix to moisturize your acne-ridden skin by applying it to your face.
- Let the oil sit on your skin for some time so that it gets adequately absorbed.
- Then, rinse your face gently and pat it dry.

# Fights Premature Skin Aging

Enriched with essential fatty acids (EFAs), triglycerides, vitamin E, and calcium, neem oil is regarded as one of the best skin-protective, skin-healing, and anti-aging oils there is.

As we get older, our skin tends to lose out on its elasticity due to diminished collagen synthesis. This is compounded by the continuous onslaught of free radicals that accelerates the premature appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and other signs of skin aging.

While there is nothing you can do to turn back time, there are ways to make your aging skin far better. Neem oil can delay the onset of premature skin aging by stimulating collagen production. Collagen is the most important skin-building protein that helps your skin retain its youthful texture, glow, and tightness.

Vitamin E is one of the most potent natural antioxidants, and neem oil contains plenty of it. Vitamin E works as a free radical scavenger to neutralize the activity of these unstable elements.

Free radicals cause tissue damage through oxidative stress, which is reflected in the form of dry skin, cracks, wrinkles, fine lines, and other premature signs of skin aging. Applying neem oil to the skin can hinder the oxidization of the skin cells at the hands of the free radicals.

In the case of severely dry skin, the fatty acids and vitamin E present in neem oil penetrate deep into the pores to repair the cracks from within.

- Pour 15 g of pure neem oil, 225 g of organic jojoba oil, and 4-5 drops of pure lavender essential oil in a small cosmetic container or bottle.
- Shake the container well so that all the ingredients are blended together.
- Apply this oil mix to your skin to moisturize it from within.

# Heals Cuts and Bruises

Neem oil is known to accelerate skin healing of a wide range of wounds, including cuts, bruises, lacerations, and burns. When the surface layer of the skin gets compromised, applying this antimicrobial oil provides a protective cover against bacteria and other microorganisms that can infect the wound or lesion.

This natural skin balm is enriched with benzoic acid, salicylic acid, and sulfur, all of which exhibit significant disinfectant properties. Neem oil also helps to relieve pain and fever, mainly due to its salicylic acid content.

In addition to faster wound healing, neem oil application helps to minimize the risk of scarring or post-healing skin discoloration.

Clinical studies have also revealed the anti-inflammatory properties of neem oil, which add to its skin-healing benefits. Keeping inflammation under control is key if you wish to ensure fast and complete skin regeneration. This safe and effective herbal oil boasts of a skin-friendly composition, which includes glycerides or fatty acids, margosic acid, butyric acid, and traces of valeric acid.(9)

- Mix neem oil with Vaseline or a carrier oil in a ratio of 1:5.
- Apply the remedial preparation to the affected skin.