Dry scalp

[*manda*]

I've suffered badly in the last few years with a dry scalp- which flakes off and annoyingly means i can never wear black tops. I have tried anti-dandruff products, tea tree oil products, olive oil type products and nothing works. Anyone else have any tips?

I have very thick hair and do spend time rinsing shampoo out properly but i am wondering if this is part of the problem as it never seems as bad when the hairdresser does my hair?

[Fern Merkin]

I swear by Oilatum shampoo. I have sebacious dermatitis which affects my face but mostly my scalp when I don't use this shampoo. If you have tried lots this may well work. I had no luck with anti dandruff and tea tree either. Or Nizoral. It's a little expensive but I get mine from Home Bargains for £2.99 / 50 ml. You don't need much and if it works it's worth it. http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Best of luck!
FX

[gordonstights]

I have the same problem and my scalp also is better when the hairdresser has washed it. The best shampoo I have found that minimises the problem is the Avon 'Advance Techniques' haircare range. The 'Keep Clear' Oxygenating scalp treatment is good, along with their regular shampoos. You can buy online or from a rep if you have one locally.

[littleredhen]

T-gel shampoo - the non perfumed one

[Savvy_Sue]

Have you checked with your GP that it isn't something they should be treating?

[whatatwit]

My mum buys the shampoo that The Body Shop sell for dandruff/dry scalp, I think it's the ginger one.
It's not cheap, but does last a long time, she goes to the hairdressers about every 5 days, (not cheap, but her only pleasure in life :eek: ) the bottle lives at the hairdressers and lasts for months.

[bargainbird]

I got mine on prescription(which i dont pay for ... so a result)

Its called Capasal Therapeutic Shampoo made by Dermal.
I use it once a week

It smell like tarmac luuuuuuuuurvly..........

[angel]

I got mine on prescription(which i dont pay for ... so a result)

Its called Capasal Therapeutic Shampoo made by Dermal.
I use it once a week

It smell like tarmac luuuuuuuuurvly..........

That's the one that my boyfriend is prescribed in Canada!

[ninsy75]

I suffered the same problems- dry scalp and itching which drove my husband mad!!!

The best products i found were Philip kingsley - dry and flakey scalp treatments. i use the shampoo and the dry scalp tonic and all my problems have disappeared!!

Philip Kingsley is expensive but worth it. i buy it from lookfantastic.com

[noonesperfect]

Please avoid any shampoo with sodium lauryl sulphate in it.

SLS is strong detergent used to de-grease engines - imagine what it does too your scalp and hair!!! :eek:

[Fen1]

Ditto going to the doctor. It could be something like a fungal infection that will need treating or dermatitis.........

Ditto Philip Kingsley. He is a trichologist - a medical specialist on the hair and scalp - so his products are very good. If you get them through QVC you get a 30 day moneyback guarantee if you don't get on with them. THe scalp tonic is excellent.

[belfastgirl23]

As nooneisperfect says above, I too find SLS makes my scalp problems much much worse so I avoid it. Usually end up using healthfood shop shampoos, there are no major brands these days that are SLS free as far as I can tell. Even TGel seems to have caused me problems lately.

I also think diet plays a part - if I eat too many refined carbs it makes things worse (that's a nice way to say if I just stuff myself with bread and pasta and ignore all the F&V etc :))

It is horrible though :(

[*manda*]

Thanks for all the advice guys, may try a few of the recommended products. My diet is pretty good as i wondered if that may be the problem, but it hasn't. The main reason i've not been to the doctor as it isn't a huge issue for me, and when i do make it to the surgery it has to be for a damned good reason!!

The only annoying thing about it really is not being able to feel comfortable wearing black.

[pattycake]

My son used to have a problem scalp especially when he was stressed. The GP suggested Polytar shampoo which did the trick. You can buy it at Boots. I now always keep a bottle in the bathroom cabinet and then whenever any of the family has an itchy scalp it can be put into action.

It does not smell very nice - my kids always referred to it as sheep dip:rotfl:.

[noonesperfect]

Re my previous reply - Palmolive (shampoos/shower gels/liquid soaps) don't have sodium lauryl sulphate in if that's any help.

[curlygirl1971]

i had very dry flaky scalp for about 15 years - to the point where it would bleed.

I used a number of shampoos - mostly prescribed and over the counter. Some of them were more effective than others but mostly they just aleviated the itching temporarily

I have thick curly hair and I used to find straightening it helped....bizzarely. Not sure if this was because air could get to my scalp better or perhaps It was because I used to brush my hair when it was straight and this stimulated the scalp

However about a year ago - I don't know why - I picked up a bottle of Vosene for £1.69. I've never had a flake since. Perhaps it was a conicidence, maybe I just grew out of it. But at £1.69 its worth a try

Best of luck

[marybishop]

Have you tried Selsun? Read about it somewhere and got a bottle for my daughter, similar to Polytar, etc. She's followed the instructions on the bottle and I think it's helped a bit if not completely (she and I have very dry skin so not sure if it will ever be completely cured!). Other DD recently had sore patches on her scalp (started off like spots which she then scratched which then went into bigger sore patches). She had been leaving her hair to air dry but once she started blowdrying it again the problem cleared up. Hairdresser said that if you've got thick hair (which she has) and you leave it to dry naturally the scalp can stay damp for a while which can cause this problem. HTH someone!

[gordonstights]

Re my previous reply - Palmolive (shampoos/shower gels/liquid soaps) don't have sodium lauryl sulphate in if that's any help.

Regarding the sodium lauryl sulphate thing - I have a Philosophy body wash that appears to not list this ingredient and it does make my skin less flaky! I want to give the Palmolive shampoo a go, but can't see it in my local Sainsburys! I've looked on their website but it doesn't tell you stockists. noonesperfect if you could tell me where the shampoo is sold I'd be grateful. (I know everywhere sells the Palmolive shower gels but the shampoo isn't readily available locally to me!)

[**woody123**]

Was going to start new thread but thought i would add to this one..

I started using T-Gel a couple of years ago whilst abroad and for 3 weeks it worked, i was shaking my head for ages wearing black tops and didn't see a speck of dandruff but after that it came back.. since then i've tried various other well known brands of anti-dandruff shampoo but it is still there.

On searching the net i've found a few tips like not scratching the scalp when washing my hair.. What i haven't found though is advice on an anti-dandruff shampoo which a company isn't trying to promote to me..

I thought i would ask which shampoo worked well for you, on reading this thread i have some choices of shampoo but was wondering if there were others.

Thanks

[poe.tuesday]

have any of you tried using a cider vinegar rinse?

[angeluk69]

I have suffered with flaky/dry/itchy/bleeding scalp for approx 4 yrs since i had my dd.

I tried EVERY shampoo on the market, you name it I tried it, also things like baby oil overnight, extra rinsing, not washing my hair all a complete nightmare and some of these things were even advised by GP.

I now use a combination of Nizoral and a scalp treatment which begins with B that I can't pronounce. The best thing to do is go to your GP, they will be able to help you long term. It has taken a lot of experimenting but hopefully things are better for me, it's just a case of finding what works for you.

[**woody123**]

Thanks

I saw Nizoral on my search of net, is it expensive? can i buy it from my local chemist? I don't want to bother my doctors again i saw them last week so i'm going to try and sort this out myself..

Cider & vinegar rinse - tell me more but i'm think i'm going to try a couple more shampoo's first..

[angeluk69]

I think Nizoral usually costs about £5.99 from Boots but if you are exempt from prescription charges it would be an idea to go back to your GP