If you have a dry flakey scalp, what helps?

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

My teen DS has a very flakey scalp, bless him.
Not sure if it's psoriasis (family history, I have small patches myself but it's drier flakes)

I've bought him BodyShop Ginger shampoo to try.

In the past he;s tried Eucerin shampoo , I bought him the conditioner (leave in)
E45 shampoo made him worse
Phillip Kingsley Itchy Flaky Scalp shampoo made no difference

T-Gel made his face sore

If I need to, I'll take him to the GPs but I want to try something non prescription first

TIA

[carameldecaflatte]

You could try coconut oil. Rub it in and leave for a while before washing it off. Wonderful stuff, apart from cooking, we use it for dry skin, as a hair conditioner and it works better than sudocrem for nappy rash.

[Sunflower1985]

I find cheap fruity shampoo/ conditioner works better than the expensive types with my scalp eczema. I leave the conditioner in for a few minutes.

[Furball]

I would check the ingredients for sodium lauryl sulfate it's an oil stripping ingredients in alot of high street brands, but it foams nicely so they like it - and then obviously make the skin dry and flakey

You really need to check the ingredients as you will surprised how many you though were innocent have snuck it in

This article is very helpful about it

[Furball]

This Company is the one I use it's about 4.50 on Amazon

[thebeesankles]

Nizorelle (over the counter at chemists inc Boots) works for my teenage son. Scalp sounds similar.

[Delphine31]

I also used to use Nizoral as a teenager with good results.

At the moment I'm using Capasal prescribed by my GP. This is good stuff but definitely not a cure.

For 2.5 years (until recently starting with the Capasal) I've used SLS-free, sulfate-free, gentle shampoo because I've gone down the more natural route to tame my curly hair but I have to say that during this time my scalp has got worse, so I'm really not sure that avoiding all the known 'nasties' is the best course of action here if there are medicated shampoos that might help.

[stonelog]

Cider vinegar rinse followed by SLS free shampoo.

[Delphine31]

That's interesting stonelog

Do you leave the cider vinegar on at all or is just a case of applying it and rinsing straight off?

[Groovee]

Nizarol was great but brought my neck out in awful sores.

T-Gel is the only thing that works since they discontinued one which was fantastic for me.

[chocolateyay]

I use a spray moisturiser for very very very dry skin on my scalp and that works (salcura, boots sell it). I also think I need to drink more water and have more vit d.

[stonelog]

Cider vinegar would be 1 part to 4 parts water and rinsed out afterwards, otherwise it's too harsh on sensitive skin and stinks a bit

[LaBette001]

I tried a million things none of them worked, scalp was so flaky it was embarassing.
Went to the GP was prescribed a shampoo which has been incredible. Flakes completely gone.

Just go straight to the GP!

[Allinafankle]

I've had scalp psoriasis for 20 odd years and think I've tried every shampoo known to man. None of them are very effective on me for any length of time - my bathroom is full of half used shampoo bottles. I find switching between them helps. Currently I'm alternating between Alphosyl, Lush Soak and Float and the L'Oreal dandruff one that's recently changed packaging. I also have a couple of prescription ointments and lotions from the GP. Like Delphine31 I too find non SLS products cause me more problems than they solve. I so sympathise with your DS!

[beastling]

I was like this- had to use head and shoulders for about 15 years. Nothing else worked and with about 3 days it would be bad if I dared swap shampoos. I started using Avalon organics tea tree shampoo- it has been amazing. Also use faith in nature tea tree which is a little less harsh, but I think a combo of the sls/ silicate free and the tea tree has done the job, and it doesn't make the skin on my shoulders dry and blotchy like head and shoulders did. Poor thing, hope he finds something that works

[beastling]

Oops- I see furball linked to the faith in nature stuff. It's also available in wholefoods, and I picked some up in HomeSense (same as tk max I think!).

[BabyClam]

I used to have red patches around my hairline after each wash whichever shampoo I used.

The only thing that helps is Oilatum shampoo, the normal not the intensive one.

It's so good that every so often I think I am cured and stop using it, then realise I am not.

[AmelieinOz]

That's seborrheic dermatitis.

Use this:

www.boots.com/en/Nizoral-Dandruff-Shampoo-100-ml_11359/

Use mild shampoo in between Nizoral.

[winterwalks]

For my son and I - coconut oil has worked very well. I add a few drops of pure tea tree oil.
Leave on for a few hours\overnight then shampoo and condition.
Put the shampoo on the hair before washing.
For us shampoos on prescription, head and shoulders type shampoos work in the short term but over time make the condition worse
After bad eczema my son cut out dairy [ eating goats cheese] and wheat and his skin had improved dramatically

[GlitteringJasper]

Apple cider vinegar diluted and left on for an hour

Tea tree oil, quality stuff, neat left overnight.

[avagosling]

This will sound very strange, but to add to all the natural alternative recommendations, I would like to suggest Ghee. My own reaction when I first heard this was also - what, butter in your hair?! But it totally works... Ghee is clarified butter, cleared of milk proteins and water, and all is left is beneficial fatty acids and vitamins, which help to nourish the skin. Give it a try!

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Loreal mens anti dandruff shampoo. Black bottle with an orange lid. Ended 25 years of misery for me after trying EVERYTHING!

[mamajones1]

My husband and my daughter both have dry scalps, and I have found that the Faith in Nature tea tree Shampoo and Conditioner work great for this. They have just launched an anti dandruff range, which i have just ordered and can't wait to try. There is a lemon and tree tree range and a lemon and mint range, which both sound amazing. They are reasonably priced as well, so for us, these are a great solution for our family.

I also love that they are cruelty free and made in the UK and don't contain SLS or Parabens.