5 Benefits Of Using Lavender Oil For Skin And Hair

Native to the Mediterranean mountains, lavender oil or LO is one of the most widely used essential oils, not just for its calming fragrance, but for its many health properties. The oil, extracted from the small blue-violet flowers of the short lavender shrub, has a distinct aroma and is used as a remedy for conditions ranging from anxiety to alopecia, insomnia, eczema, fatigue and even depression. Lavender oil is often claimed to be a good stimulant for hair growth and an effective remedy for skin problems. Don’t take our word for it? Here’s what lavender oil can do for your skin and hair:

# Hair Loss

Losing a lot of hair? Or worse, diagnosed with alopecia (hair loss from the immune system mistakenly attacking hair follicles)? You should definitely invest in a bottle of lavender oil. Animal studieshave found that lavender oil led to faster hair growth, increased number of hair follicles and deepened hair follicle depth in female mice. However, there are no available human studies to compare this claim with.

# Lice And Dandruff

Journal Fitoterapia claims that lavender oil is the second best in getting rid of head lice after tea tree oil.However, it is not just head lice that this essential oil can combat. Going by user anecdotes, lavender oil is a good home remedy for dandruff because of its antifungal properties.

# UV Rays Screen

Using lavender oil on your face and body before stepping out can protect your skin from harsh UV rays of the sun. Aging is a real concern for a huge population. Lavender oil has an answer to wrinkles, lines, and crow’s feet. The essential oil is a part of a compound oil which is made by the combination of four other oils that fights aging. This compound oil, which also contains jasmine, chamomile, and jojoba oil among others, has been awarded a patent for the curative effect it has on the skin and for reducing laxity and early signs of aging.

# On Wounds, Bruises And Insect Bites

Nursing a wound is simpler with lavender oil. According to a study published in the BMC Complementary And Alternative Medicine, lavender oil showed positive results in wound healing in just four days of application. It also increases the number of fibroblasts that synthesize collagen in our body leading to faster wound contraction. Lavender oil is also one of the main ingredients in a patented formulation to heal cuts and bruises. Moreover, lavender oil is also found to be effective in treating burns and insect bites.

# Skin Irritation

Applying a few drops of lavender oil or a mixture of the essential oil in any other carrier oil to your skin can be the antidote to all skin irritations. Herbalists have always been using lavender oil for acne, eczema and psoriasis. Massaging the affected area with the essential oil reduced itching, dryness of the skin and lesions.