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Dry scalp

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  • belfastgirl23
    belfastgirl23 Posts: 8,025 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper I've been Money Tipped!
    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*
    *manda* Posts: 1,301 Forumite
    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
    pattycake Posts: 1,588 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    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
    noonesperfect Posts: 1,831 Forumite
    Re my previous reply - Palmolive (shampoos/shower gels/liquid soaps) don't have sodium lauryl sulphate in if that's any help.
    :wave:
  • curlygirl1971
    curlygirl1971 Posts: 1,367 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    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
    marybishop Posts: 761 Forumite
    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!
  • 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**
    **woody123** Posts: 598 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    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
    poe.tuesday Posts: 1,858 Forumite
    have any of you tried using a cider vinegar rinse?
  • angeluk69_2
    angeluk69_2 Posts: 563 Forumite
    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.
    Proud to be me, proud to be who I am!!
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