Yogurt is a food made from fermented bacteria that is beneficial for digestive health. But yogurt can also be used to maintain facial beauty and strengthen hair. So, what are its beauty benefits, and how can it be used?

Beauty benefits of yogurt for face and hair

Beauty treatments using yogurt have long been known in the Middle East. Yogurt, produced from a bacterial fermentation process, is believed to be an alternative home treatment to care for healthy facial skin and prevent hair loss.

It is easy to use; you must apply yogurt to the face or hair area, depending on which area needs treatment. Mix 1 spoonful of honey or lime juice to give a better effect. After mixing well, apply to face or hair, let stand for 20-30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

Some of the benefits of yogurt for facial and hair beauty include:

Face mask

Yogurt can be used as a face mask to increase skin moisture. An in-vitro and in-vivo study revealed that one of the benefits of using yogurt masks on the face is that they can lock in facial skin moisture.

Brightens the skin

A 2011 study mentioned that yogurt masks could potentially brighten skin tone. The yogurt masks can also disguise scars or sunburns that cause uneven skin color. The researchers suspect that the probiotic content in yogurt helps brighten skin color evenly.

Disguise fine lines

The probiotic content in yogurt is also believed to encourage skin elasticity so that it can disguise fine lines and wrinkles. Probiotics in yogurt can also change the appearance of the epidermis, where fine lines are most prominent, making the skin look youthful.

Read more: Inilah Kebaikan Yoghurt Bagi Kesehatan Tubuh

Cleanses the scalp

Besides being used for face masks, yogurt can also be used as a hair mask. When used as a hair mask, yogurt can help cleanse the scalp and remove dead skin cells, oil, sweat, and dirt that stick to the hair and scalp. Routinely using yogurt masks can help the scalp to be healthier and reduce the smell of sweat in the hair.

Repair dry and damaged hair

Yogurt mask for hair is believed to help hair follicles grow healthier. The protein and lactic acid content in yogurt is believed to help overcome hair damage due to sun exposure, hair styling chemicals, and hair products such as hair paint, hair straighteners, and curling irons.

Treat dandruff

The benefits of yogurt for hair and face can not only be felt by using it as a mask. Consuming yogurt regularly can also help reduce hair health problems. In a 2017 study on 60 healthy men aged 18 to 60, yogurt significantly reduced the signs and symptoms of moderate to severe dandruff.

The study revealed that these benefits are thought to be caused by yogurt's probiotics and their impact on the skin's immune system and barrier.

Read more: Memilih Sampo Sesuai Jenis Rambut

Side effects of using yogurt for beauty care

Although the use of yogurt can benefit the health of hair and facial skin, there is not enough scientific research to reveal the benefits and side effects of yogurt for the skin and face. The use of yogurt for hair and face masks can also trigger several sides effects such as:

• The occurrence of allergic reactions such as itching, redness, or else
• Oily hair and scalp
• The sour smell of yoghurt that is hard to get rid of 
• Hair fall/hair loss

If you experience any of the side effects above and do not see any improvement in your face and hair, you should stop the treatment. If you have questions about hair and skin beauty treatments, you can consult a dermatologist or use the consultation feature found in the Ai Care application.

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