I’m a big fan of DIY skincare. There’s nothing I love more than painting my face with a homemade mask to just sit back, relax, and let nature do what it does best… pure magic. Now you can add fennel to your list of DIY skincare ingredients! Here are 4 amazing benefits of fennel seeds for hair and skin health.
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Fennel Seeds for Hair & Skin Health
There are many whole foods that have nutritional and medicinal properties that are just as good for the inside of our bodies as they are for the outside of our bodies. Those properties that make them healthy and good for us to eat, such as their antioxidant or anti-inflammatory capacities, can serve the same function for our skin and hair.
We hear all about the benefits of oats, avocado, yogurt, honey, and even egg yolks for our hair and skin, but rarely do we hear much about using fennel in our body care.
Oats are good for our skin due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They are hydrating, conditioning, soothing, and nourishing to our skin. Plus, they’re a great exfoliator.
And avocado, with its high healthy fat content, is a great deep moisturizer for both your hair and skin. Plus, its high vitamin C and E content help protect your skin from free radical damage, just as they would on the inside of your body.
Accordingly, fennel, due to its antimicrobial, anti-fungal, and antioxidant properties (and more!), is equally as good for our hair and skin.
1. Fennel may help improve the appearance of your skin.
The essential oil of fennel has been found to contain as many as 87 volatile compounds, 28 of which are in the seeds alone. These compounds include a whole slew of antioxidants that help to protect our cells from the damage that not only causes aging, but can lead to diseases and other chronic health conditions.
In addition to the antioxidant compounds, fennel’s high vitamin C and E content also serve as potent antioxidants. The higher our diets are in antioxidants, the better, and the same goes for the stuff we’re putting on our skin. Together, this arsenal of antioxidants may help improve skin cell longevity and slow the aging process.
2. Fennel may be helpful in the treatment of common fungal skin conditions.
A 2015 study found that fennel essential oil is beneficial in the treatment of some of the most common fungal skin conditions like athlete’s foot and ring worm. It not only showed greater anti-fungal activity than more commonly used over-the-counter (OTC) anti-fungal treatments, but it also showed that the risk of the fungal microbes developing resistance to fennel is incredibly low.
Oftentimes, OTC anti-fungal creams stop working when, over time, the fungus learns how to outsmart the cream. When that happens, the cream is no longer effective. If OTC anti-fungal creams aren’t working for you, fennel seed essential oil just might. (Just be sure to dilute the essential oil in a carrier oil first.)
3. Fennel may help to strengthen hair and stimulate growth.
The potent nutrient content of fennel helps to nourish the scalp. Combined with the antioxidant properties of fennel helping to prevent oxidative stresses, fennel can help to create a better foundation for stronger, healthier hair. Packed with B vitamins, iron, and copper, fennel may also help to actually stimulate hair growth.
4. Fennel may help treat dandruff and relieve an itchy scalp.
Fennel is also often used to treat dandruff and an itchy scalp. Being both antibacterial and anti-fungal, fennel can help to inhibit the growth of a wide spectrum of bacteria and fungi that can contribute to dry, flakey, and itchy scalps that affect nearly 50% of the population.
Wanna know more about the health benefits of fennel? Check this out:
All About Fennel | The Health Benefits of Fennel Seed & More
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Resources & Further Reading
- Zeng H, Chen X, Liang J. In vitro antifungal activity and mechanism of essential oil from fennel (Foeniculum vulgare L.) on dermatophyte species. Journal of Medical Microbiology. 2015;64:1.
- Badgujar SB, Patel VV, Bandivdekar AH. Foeniculum vulgare Mill: a review of its botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, contemporary application, and toxicology. Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014:842674.
