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Hair/scalp problems
BradicusMaximus
PssssssssyyyyyyyyduckRegistered User regular
PssssssssyyyyyyyyduckRegistered User regular
So before I start I just wanna say that I bath regularly, and when I do wash its usually with tepid to fairly warm water. Also, I use Head and Shoulders.
So my scalp. Its really flakey. It feels as though no matter how thoroughly I wash or how often its still constantly flakey. Its near the roots/scalp so its quite hard to see unless I (or someone else) am running my fingers through my hair and lifting up. Even though its nearly impossible to spot, it doesn't mean I'm still not self concious about it. Does anyone have any suggestions? Maybe someone who has had the same problem. Is it possibly BECAUSE of head and shoulders? If so, is there anything someone can recommend?
So my scalp. Its really flakey. It feels as though no matter how thoroughly I wash or how often its still constantly flakey. Its near the roots/scalp so its quite hard to see unless I (or someone else) am running my fingers through my hair and lifting up. Even though its nearly impossible to spot, it doesn't mean I'm still not self concious about it. Does anyone have any suggestions? Maybe someone who has had the same problem. Is it possibly BECAUSE of head and shoulders? If so, is there anything someone can recommend?
BradicusMaximus on
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Well, for one, stop using Head & Shoulders because it's garbage. I've personally never had dandruff or dry scalp, so I can't really recommend a shampoo or conditioner for that, but you definitely need to step up the quality a little (a lot).
E: And its not as if I care about possibly having to spend more for a better shampoo. Its just I've never been told about one that would yield better results
If it's as bad as you say you'll probably need a medicated shampoo.
Also, it's not a great idea to wash your hair as often as you wash everything else. Shampooing dries your scalp out, so you might try shampooing every other day (or less often as needed) and see if that helps.
that's why we call it the struggle, you're supposed to sweat
Seeing a dermatologist isn't the worst idea, but I don't think you sound TOO bad from your description... You sound kinda like how I was before I stumbled upon this shampoo. I had sort of given up on finding something that would make my scalp happy, and instead had just grabbed whatever made my hair look nicest, but this stuff does both, so it's a pretty cheap experiment for you to try before dealing with a dermatologist.
"Edit" while posting: Alternatively, you can try the Neutrogena stuff also recommended. I don't have any experience with it... I just know that the KMS California stuff works with a sensitive scalp as well as taking care of the dandruff, which is kinda rare.
There's also Soak and Float which smells like a campfire from the cade oil but it's good at preventing itching and knocking out a lot of flakes. Cade oil is soothing and anti-microbial and it's help balance the pH of the scalp some. Rose and marigold will help with the itching and any irritation as well.
i started using a prescription shampoo twice a week for a month, but since then i've been using T Gel shampoo about three times a week, and while it does dry out the scalp, it does keep away the flakes. i usually wash my hair with the Tgel and then do another wash with a sensitive shampoo like Dermaveen.
http://www.dermaveen.com.au/
http://www.tgel.com/
Head & Shoulders is a pyrithione zinc shampoo. Not sure what Esh means by "garbage", especially since he has no experience with the problem, but it works for me. Pyrithione zinc is pyrithione zinc. It doesn't work for you, apparently, so try a different ingredient. KMS Head Remedy is unfortunately the same ingredient, so don't bother.
T-Gel is coal tar. Selsun Blue is selenium sulfide, which can turn your hair a different color if you have light hair. Nizoral is ketoconazole. Try them until something works. Be patient, give it a few weeks before you move on to the next. Some people use salicylic acid scrubs but they can dry your scalp and make it flakier. I don't know anything about rose and/or marigold but tea tree oil didn't do anything for me, ymmv of course.
It's a $5 bottle of grocery store shampoo and it's not good for your hair. It's much more than just the one ingredient. Not all shampoos are created equal.
This for yes. I had this and dandruff shampoo was useless. The way I eventually got rid of it was to literally goop up my scalp with Aveeno skin cream every night for months. My husband would do it for me while we watched TV, and we did it just before we would go to bed, so your scalp is getting moisturized all night. In the morning, my scalp would be so much better, a lot less flaky, but you have to continue this treatment for a while. Still make the appt with the doc, but for 8-10 bucks you can pick up one of the Aveeno creams (for eczema...I think it's got a blue trim on the bottle) and see if that helps while you wait for your appt.
Lavender Mint Moisturizing Shampoo
Lavender Mint Moisturising Conditioner
Those two I use every day. Then, once or twice a week, I'll use the Tea Tree Hair and Scalp treatment. This is particularly excellent for my dry scalp.
I also have a leave-in conditioner, but that's not really dry scalp/flake related. I just use it for extra moisture, especially when styling.
Also, you may be washing your hair/scalp too much. Some people who have sensitive or dry skin cam end up super oily and flaky from overwashing. Oh, and you may have a sensitivity to sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS, a surfactant added to a lot of soaps and shampoos), I know it dries my skin out like crazy. Again: dermatologist.
Also also, I'm a dedicated shampoo snob but I have no problem saying I like Head & Shoulders a it does exactly what it says it does, and while I wouldn't use it every day once or twice a week when my scalp is hella itchy works perfectly. And then I go back to the $30 shampoo.
Wait, because it's cheap it is garbage? You admitted to not having this problem and really not knowing what you're talking about.
Everybody's head is different, along with everybody's hair. I used to have terrible dandruff that was very noticeable. I could lean my head down and scratch my head and it would be like flaky gross snow. Yeah, no thanks. I started using Head & Shoulders and now if I do it? Nope, nothing.
Now, that's not to say that Head & Shoulders is the best shampoo or anything like that, but it DOES work for some people. It entirely depends on what's causing the issue, which, as most people have mentioned, a dermatologist is your best bet if the standard dandruff shampoos don't help.
Yeah, I kinda dismissed that after I read the "I've personally never had dandruff or dry scalp, so I can't really recommend a shampoo" part. Its probably too early to really say anything, but right now I've noticed a drastic improvement on my scalp. As of right now I can scratch my head without seeing anything fall out, and when I look at my roots I'm not seeing any flaky chunks. So far so good
You forget that Esh has a monopoly on advice, truth, and being right.
OP is your scalp dry/flaky throughout the year or only during certain times? My scalp dries out pretty bad in the winter especially if I keep my hair as short as I do during warmer months. In those cases H&S works for me but I usually buy the stuff with the sea minerals as it tends to do a better job than the standard stuff. Also smells much nicer.
Try a few store brands and if your problem persists definitely look into a dermatologist. I've also had a lot of success with several Lush products but I don't have their names handy at the moment and they are quite expensive. (But so, so worth it.)
Shogun Streams Vidya
Esh also worked as a receptionist at a Bumble & Bumble salon for two years. While we didn't have shampoos specifically for dandruff, I can tell you we definitely knew the difference between grocery store shampoo and spending a couple extra dollars on something salon quality be it for dandruff control or no.
The first step in head/hair problems is step up the quality of your shampoo/conditioner (and don't use an all-in-one). If that doesn't work, which the OP later described outside of the first post, see a dermatologist.
EDIT: OP also said that buying a more expensive shampoo did help over Head & Shoulders. So, that somehow makes me wrong? I'm guessing I just stepped on some toes of H&S users who it works for. I recommended stopping using it because it wasn't for the OP.
I've actually gone off the stuff and use a less intense dandruff shampoo regularly but what actually seems to keep it away, now, is proper maintenance of my hair. That is, NOT using shampoo too regularly or too little. It's actually important to keep some of your natural oils in your hair and, in my opinion, I probably washed my hair too harshly in the past, too often and with too much shampoo.
Secret Satan