Itchy scalp

elisabeth76

I am at my wits end trying to soothe my itchy scalp. I've had it for a couple of years affecting just the back of my head. I point that out as initially I blamed chemicals used by my hairdresser to colour my hair, she doubted they were to blame particularly as the back of my hair is not treated when she's applying colours.
I can feel a few itchy spots and I have lots of fine skin flakes falling. So far I have tried coconut oil, sodium laureate free shampoos and conditioners, every type of shampoo for itchy scalp on the market, T gel shampoo, Eucerin, Eurax cream, HC45 cream, tea tree both oil and shampoo. I am in my mid 60s and don't usually have skin conditions.
Is there anyone out there who can suggest what this might be and how to treat it? Thank you so much for reading my post.

happyandcontented

Have you seen your GP? I have similar and it is Dermatitis according to my GP.

elisabeth76

Thank you happyandcontented for your reply and suggestion. When I read up about dermatitis it makes a lot of sense! Is there an over the counter treatment, I would feel embarrassed to go to my G.P. with something so trivial?

Techno

Probably not likely as the flaking etc sounds more skin related but worth checking all the same - headlice - particularly if you have grandchildren.

happyandcontented

elisabeth76 wrote: »

Thank you happyandcontented for your reply and suggestion. When I read up about dermatitis it makes a lot of sense! Is there an over the counter treatment, I would feel embarrassed to go to my G.P. with something so trivial?

My GP gave me a cream but as it is greasy it isn't much use. I have just bought a new shampoo off Amazon that others swear by. It arrives tomorrow, so I will let you know.

Misslayed

It sounds just like my seborrhoeic dermatitis, I get it in little patches on my face and in my ears too. I use Nizoral shampoo and that controls it. I also have Nizoral cream for my face. You can buy the shampoo over the counter but it's about £10 for a fairly small bottle. I get mine on prescription. It may take a couple of weeks to make a difference but it's worth persevering, and once it's under control you don't need to use it all the time. BTW my GP was very sympathetic when I told him "I just want to scratch my face off"

debtisnotme

You have tried so many things, have you tried any of them alone and for a period of time? None of them will work overnight and using lots of different products to try and resolve it may just exacerbate the issues. I suffer with this problem across my whole scalp and its really difficult. I have started using Phillip Kingsley flaky itchy scalp shampoo. Early days but really seems to be making a difference.

I think my problem is in some way linked to the heat on my scalp, my head always seems to be really hot!

DollyDee_2

I too have sebeorrhoeic dermatitis. Started 30 years ago. Drove me demented as I had never had dandruff before. I tried everything. It was similar to dandruff but stuck to my scalp and if I scratched it off my scalp would be red raw and looked like a snow storm plus the itchy spots which I always caught with the brush or comb. Oh, and my hair would go greasy really quickly and I had never had greasy hair before.

Finally went to my GP who prescribed Polytar Shampoo which was great but it was taken off the market about 5 years ago. He then prescribed TGel Therapeutic Shampoo (different to ordinary TGel shampoo) which was nearly as good. Polytar came back on the market last year or 2015. It is different to the original but 95% as good so I'm back on that now.

It costs £5.86 for a 150 ml bottle over the counter so perhaps you could buy a bottle and if it works go to your GP and as we are both in our 60's, we don't have to pay for our prescriptions .

Sadly, that's the only good thing about being in my 60's:(.

If it doesn't work, still go to your GP.

DollyDee_2

http://www.boots.com/polytar-scalp-shampoo-coal-tar-solution-10020476

Bit cheaper at B00ts!

elisabeth76

Thank you to all for your helpful responses. At least I have a plan now.
I do have grandchildren but I don't have nits. I have had this problem for about 4 years intermittently and as a retired nurse know to give each remedy a good chance and not to dot backwards and forwards.
I realise this is probably also what causes my ear canals to also be itchy and on occasions sore, so I'm guessing seborrhoeic dermatitis is the most likely diagnosis. I'm planning on trying the Polytar shampoo and would be very interested to know how debtisnotme gets on with the Philip Kingsley itchy scalp shampoo and also happyandcontented, how you get on with your Amazon purchase. Feeling much more positive this evening, thanks all.

System

Could it be stress-related? I know somebody who has this condition and it gets worse when he is stressed or under pressure.