Psoriasis scales on the scalp can be hard to hide and tough to treat because of the way your hair grows and the natural oil your scalp produces. Could using another type of oil — specifically, jojoba oil — offer a safe solution for managing the thick, itchy plaques that form on the head and hairline and resemble dandruff?

Many people with scalp psoriasis prefer to use natural remedies if they can. Compared with prescription medications, some home treatments may lead to fewer side effects and be easier to obtain. One of the most common natural treatments for scalp psoriasis is jojoba oil. If you’re considering this product, here’s what you need to know.

What Is Jojoba Oil?

Jojoba oil (pronounced ho-HO-ba) comes from the woody jojoba shrub. This plant lives in arid places in Arizona, Southern California, and northern Mexico. Related plants or variations, also sometimes called jojoba, grow around the world.

The seeds of the jojoba plant hold oil, which helps protect them until they can start growing when scattered or planted. For centuries, people have extracted and used the oil — for example, Native Americans used jojoba oil to treat open sores. More recently, jojoba oil has become a common (and often costly) additive in hair care and skin care products.

What Are the Health Benefits of Jojoba Oil?

Researchers studying jojoba oil’s effects on the skin, the scalp, and throughout the body have reported a number of health benefits, including for treating acne and psoriasis.

Jojoba oil has anti-inflammatory effects, helps fight fungi and other microbes, and seems to help with both pain and swelling. It’s also an antioxidant, and researchers have suggested that jojoba oil could be beneficial for preventing and treating metabolic syndrome (a group of conditions that raise the risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and other diseases).

Does Jojoba Oil Help the Skin?

Some people with psoriasis report that jojoba oil helps them feel better, such as a MyPsoriasisTeam member who said, “Nothing worked for me until I used jojoba oil.”

Science seems to back these claims. According to one review, jojoba oil acts on and inhibits certain parts of the immune system — namely, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, neutrophils, and nitric oxide. All of these substances can be involved in psoriasis and its symptoms, such as itching, so blocking their functions might help you feel better.

Jojoba oil also enhances skin hydration. Unlike many moisturizers, jojoba oil acts similar to the natural moisturizer that the skin produces, rather than like a foreign substance. This characteristic may help people with psoriasis tolerate jojoba oil for keeping skin hydrated.

Does Jojoba Oil Help the Scalp?

Because the scalp is made up of skin, jojoba oil could be helpful for scalp psoriasis, too. In fact, several MyPsoriasisTeam members have found it useful.

“Since switching to jojoba, I have found some much-needed relief to my scalp!” shared one member. “I have long hair and do a slicked-back style in order to have it on my scalp for 24 hours. It’s not a miracle, but it does relieve the itching and dryness!”

Another said, “I have psoriasis in my hair. I have been using jojoba carrier oil with antioxidant vitamin E.”

If you are living with scalp psoriasis, jojoba oil may be one way to remove those annoying, itchy plaques so you can get some relief. However, just because this oil may work for some people doesn’t guarantee that it’ll work for you.

What Are the Risks and Side Effects of Jojoba Oil?

There are few known risks or side effects of jojoba oil. Even in large doses, it does not seem to be toxic either on the skin or when ingested. Experts suggest, however, that you do not ingest it or use it in your eyes, unless you are doing so under the care of your doctor or dermatologist.

Allergic reactions are always possible but are rare with jojoba oil, and they usually occur only in people with extremely sensitive immune systems or sensitive skin.

How To Use Jojoba Oil Safely

There are many ways to use jojoba oil to treat psoriasis on the scalp. But before you try any of these approaches, talk with your dermatology expert to make sure that using jojoba oil is a good idea and safe for you.

Massage It Into Your Scalp

After bathing, you can massage jojoba oil into your scalp and leave it there for several hours. You may choose to apply the oil only where you have psoriasis plaques or to your whole scalp as a preventive measure. You can use a product such as an ointment, an oil, or a cream, as long as it doesn’t trigger psoriasis symptoms and has jojoba oil as a main ingredient.

Some MyPsoriasisTeam members apply jojoba oil to their scalp, sometimes mixing it with other ingredients. Talk to your health care provider before trying these strategies, too, to make sure they’re safe and right for you.

One member said, “Mix up 4 ounces of jojoba oil. Put it on in small amounts, and spread it naturally. Rub it on your scalp and wait for at least eight hours before washing your scalp/hair etc. Try it for at least five to seven days. That’s when my sores started softening and drying out.”

“Give yourself a stimulating scalp massage with jojoba oil,” suggested another member. “It may help you to relax and feel a bit better.”

If you worry about oily hair, use jojoba oil when you’re at home. You could try this overnight method: Apply the oil to your scalp at night, wrap your head in a towel, and wash out the oil in the morning.

You can also try just a few drops of jojoba oil at a time. This way, the oil goes exactly where it’s needed on your scalp, and it’s less likely that all your hair will look oily.

Try a Shampoo or Conditioner With Jojoba Oil

A few shampoos and a wide variety of conditioners and cream rinses contain jojoba oil. Your health care provider may be able to help you select a product if you aren’t sure what to choose.

Be sure to follow the instructions on the label or from your doctor. Generally, you’ll apply the product, leave it on for several minutes, and then rinse it out. You may need to step out of the shower and wrap your head in a towel for a while to let the jojoba oil penetrate into your scalp. It may take some time, but using jojoba oil may slowly help your scalp heal.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyPsoriasisTeam is the social network for people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and their loved ones. On MyPsoriasisTeam, more than 117,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Have you tried jojoba oil for your scalp psoriasis? What method did you use? Share your experience or your questions in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.