Atlas Cedar essential oil as an ally against dandruff?

Affecting on average one in two people, dandruff consists of scalp flakes that detach and disperse in the hair or fall onto the shoulders. It is caused by an acceleration of cellular renewal in the scalp's epidermis, coupled with abnormal desquamation. Several factors promote the development of dandruff, such as the growth of the fungus Malassezia, a genetic predisposition, a significant secretion of sebum, as well as external factors. In some cases, dandruff is accompanied by itching and irritation of the scalp.

To combat dandruff, many people in search of natural products turn to essential oils, such as Atlas cedar essential oil, known for its soothing, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory virtues. But does it have a proven effect on this hair issue? While no clinical trial conducted directly with Atlas cedar essential oil has shown that it can fight against dandruff, some of its properties suggest a potential action.

• The essential oil of Atlas cedar is believed to have an antifungal effect.

  Within Atlas Cedar essential oil, certain compounds are found to have antifungal action, notably sesquiterpenes. Their cyclic chemical structure indeed allows them to disrupt the cellular membrane of fungi, thereby causing multiple damages to these microorganisms and leading to their death. The antifungal activity of this essential oil was tested in 2019 by KORAICHI and his team on various types of fungi, notably Aspergillus niger, Thielavia hyalocarpa and four fungi derived from the genus Penicillium. The measured minimum inhibitory concentrations ranged from 0.5 to 1%, demonstrating a relevant antifungal activity on the various tested fungi.

  One could therefore hypothesise that the antifungal effect of the sesquiterpenes in Atlas cedar essential oil could also allow it to act on Malassezia and thus help limit the formation of dandruff. However, this hypothesis should be approached with caution as, so far, no study has been conducted on the effect of Atlas cedar essential oil specifically on the fungus Malassezia.

• The essential oil of Atlas cedar possesses anti-inflammatory properties.

  The anti-inflammatory effects of Atlas Cedar essential oil could be relevant in combating the itching and irritation caused by dandruff. Indeed, this oil is capable of inhibiting the activity of the enzyme 5-lipoxygenase (LOX), a protein capable of generating harmful hydroperoxides through the oxidation of fatty acids and stimulating the production of leukotrienes, pro-inflammatory mediators. It would be interesting to see if the anti-inflammatory properties of Atlas Cedar essential oil, demonstrated in vitro, are confirmed in vivo, particularly when applied topically to the scalp.