Neem oil: 10 benefits for hair & skin

Its cleansing and soothing properties make it particularly useful for scalp issues that may be impacting healthy hair development. 

Since hair grows from the follicle, you’re treating it directly at the source - and a healthy follicle is a good indicator of thick, healthy growth to come.

Dandruff is mainly caused by a fungal microbe called malassezia globosa, which feeds on the fatty acids your scalp naturally produces.

The more oil there is to feed on, the more it grows. But if the malassezia grows too much, it can disrupt the scalp’s skin cell renewal and cause skin to cluster together in what we know as dandruff. 

Applying another fatty acid may seem contradictory, but neem oil is cleansing and soothing and helps to control the excess malassezia growth.

The humectant vitamin F in neem oil is responsible for protecting the cuticle barrier and sealing humidity out. 

Combined with its softening properties, using neem oil for hair could help it look smoother and sleeker.

Oxidative stress occurs when a high number of free radicals (unstable atoms that can damage cells) are present in the body. Factors like pollution and UV rays can all contribute to free radical presence.

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A high presence of free radicals can cause damage to your body’s cells and, in the hair, contribute to premature greying and hair loss.

Neem oil is full of antioxidants, which disarm the free radicals and help to maintain a more stable composition of atoms.

Applying diluted neem oil to your scalp can help control head lice infestations by killing lice and their eggs.³

It can make a good complementary product for blemish-prone skin and keeps the face and body in good stead to help protect against further breakouts.

While neem oil is good at moisturising dry skin, it may also be useful for oily blemish-prone types.

It’s rated as a 1-2 on the comedogenic scale (which runs from 0-5), which means it’s officially non-comedogenic and has a low likelihood of clogging pores.

The Vitamin F (linoleic acid) in neem oil could also support healthy skin. 

A 2002 study found that topical application of linoleic acid showed an almost 25% decrease in the appearance of spots compared with a placebo.³

It also contains antihistamines - the same substances used to relieve symptoms of allergies.

Thanks to this, neem oil may help ease the uncomfortable itching and swelling associated with eczema and psoriasis.

A main component of vitamin F, the linoleic acid in neem oil is an excellent moisturiser and can assist your skin in healthy ageing. 

Linoleic acid is a humectant, which strengthens the skin’s barrier. It keeps moisture in and pollutants out. Not only will this promote plumper, brighter skin, but it can help protect against free radicals: collagen-destroying molecules which contribute to uneven skin tone, texture, and fine lines and wrinkles. Even better, using neem oil for skin has been found to increase levels of a collagen-producing enzyme (procollagen) and a protein called elastin.⁴

Collagen gives skin its plump, youthful appearance, and elastin helps to retain skin firmness and shape.

Free radical damage can contribute to the hyperpigmentation we see as we age. So, if you’re experiencing discolouration, redness, and uneven skin tone, you might benefit from neem oil.

Neem oil’s cleansing and soothing properties help kill the fungus responsible for athlete’s foot and balance the environment that foot conditions like to thrive in.