Kefir Scalp Treatment

Cranky, itchy, stinging, reactive scalps, this is for you!

And - disclaimer - this is not a substitute for advice from a licensed healthcare provider, it is not medical advice. If you have a new or a chronic scalp problem - see your healthcare provider. You need to know what you’re treating so you can choose the right treatments. Use unconventional treatments such as this at your own risk!

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We’re going to talk about using kefir on the scalp for Seborrheic dermatitis (itchy, inflamed, flaky scalps). So you can mix up your own messy scalp-mask. 

You might think (based on my “recipes”) this blog focused on natural products, but it’s not - quite. I have inflammatory skin issues and because of that, a lot of products are off-limits to me. If you’re like me, you want as many skin-management tools in your toolbox as possible. 

Seborrheic dermatitis is a form of eczema. And all the forms of eczema share a vulnerable, sensitive skin barrier that becomes inflamed when irritated and can cause dryness, oiliness, itch, burning, and small/dry or larger/waxy flakes. Our easily-inflamed skin tends to be home to a more-inflammatory set of skin microbes than non-eczema skin. Usually that means more Staph and Malassezia yeasts. Those are particularly irritating microbes, and they can really dig in to irritable skin, causing their own problems.

Kefir is a fermented dairy product that is full of probiotic microbes and widely available. It’s like yogurt, except it contains more diverse species of lactic acid-producing bacteria, acetic acid-producing bacteria, and some yeasts. It has anti-inflammatory properties in the body overall. See here, and here. 

Kefir (dairy kefir unless indicated) can help improve skin hydration in people with eczema when they drink it daily. But let’s talk topical - applied to the skin.

Topical kefir (or the probiotics it contains) can improve wound healing in burns and other wounds through discouraging infection with inflammatory bacteria (like Staph), and by stimulating the immune system and healing responses. Burns can be hard to heal, easily infected, and involve inflammation, so that is an impressive benefit.

Redness of Seb. dermatitis in the
background of salt-and-pepper hair.

Biofilms

Staph and Malassezia both can form biofilms, either alone or together with other microbes. Organisms produce these films to protect themselves, but they can keep OUT the very medications you use to treat your irritated skin. Kefir can inhibit the formation of biofilms - which might give other topical treatments - or your own immune system - a chance to work better.

Specifically for Seborrheic dermatitis, probiotics in some of the same groups (lactic acid bacteria), have proven helpful, or indicated they might be. 

What does kefir do for a cranky, peely, flaky scalp?

• May help reduce inflammation through controlling inflammatory microbes.

• Lactic acid may do some mild skin exfoliation (that’s good - removing flakes means less moisture and microbes trapped near your skin).

• May discourage inflammatory microbes from taking over the neighborhood and setting up shop on your scalp (biofilms).

Cautions: If you are allergic to dairy, or if you have negative physical reactions to eating fermented foods and drinks (yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir, beer, wine) - this might not be for you. Do a patch-test if you have severely-reactive skin. Use good judgement!

How to: Most of the studies linked above use gels or creams containing specific probiotics or kefir extracts. We can’t really leave whole kefir on our scalps - it would dry all crusty and smell bad.

• Dilute plain, unsweetened kefir in water. Start with 2-3 parts water to 1 part kefir. I like a 1:1 kefir:water mixture - but try it more-dilute first. It can be quite acidic, so it’s best NOT to use it undiluted.

• Apply to your scalp (technique below). Massage in and leave it on for a few minutes. Then rinse...

• Cleanse and condition your hair.

Application technique: We only want to apply a little to the skin, not soak your hair. If you apply too much, you might end up with tangles. 

I use a pipet (pictured at right) or a children's medicine syringe. 

Apply this in drops along your parting(s) and massage it in.  This is a scalp treatment, not a hair treatment. (Don't overdo it).

How Often Should I Use It?

In would-healing and inflammation studies, these topical kefir extracts or probiotic preparations are applied daily. But whole kefir is more difficult to do that with because it's messy - and you might not wash your hair every day. And - it’s acidic - so we don’t want to create irritation.

• Every 1-2 or 3 weeks might be a reasonable frequency if this does not irritate your scalp.

Side Effects?

• This exfoliates, it could feel a little dry/itchy. That may mean you need to adjust the water:kefir ratio. 

• Ideally, your scalp feels better in the days after using this.

If this DOES irritate your scalp, stop using it all together. Irritation can appear as itching, increased hair loss, pigmentation changes, new bumps.

• Not sure? Test it on the inside of your wrist or in front of your ear the same way you'd apply to your scalp and watch the spot for the next 48 hours for a reaction.

Is Kefir Good For Hair?

• Kefir is acidic, diluting it will bring the pH into a safer range for hair (kefir has a pH around 4.5, hair’s safest range is around 6.5). 

• Lactic acid in kefir is hydrating for hair and skin. 

• Hydrolyzed proteins and sugars in kefir are also hydrating for hair. If your hair tends not to do well with protein, test this on a small area first.

Can't I Just Buy a Product? (Sure. A couple examples containing Lactobacillus ferment)

• Just Human Probiotic Dandruff Therapy Shampoo 

• Yobee Naturally Rebalancing Shampoo 

What about dairy-free?

Almond or oat kefir may be better choices than water kefir. Almonds and oats have protein and fats and fiber - more food for microbes, resulting in a diverse probiotic community. 

Is this better than commercial or prescription treatments for Seborrheic dermatitis because it's natural?

Heck, no.

If you have a product (prescription or over-the-counter) that works for you, and that you like, this is not better than that! This is something you can add on if treatments aren't working for you, or they're not working well enough. Or if you are curious about trying something different, and your scalp isn't currently having an emergency.

If your doctor gave you medication, they chose that for a reason. If it's not working for you - that is a conversation you need to have with them.

If you try it and like it - let me know in the comments!