Itchy scalp

[WelshMoth]

DD (14) is a red head with (I think) a sensitive scalp. It's not badly dandruffy but we've tried all the shampoos for dandruff and sensitive scalp on the market. The itch drives her crazy at times though and instead of white bits through her scalp here are large flakes in certain patches. There seems to be no eczema or anything like that going on.

Will SLS free stuff help her?

[WelshMoth]

Perhaps I should have put this over in the Health section 😫.

Any advice greatly appreciate.

[BillywigSting]

If you've tried all of the otc stuff and it's still itchy and flakey then a visit to the gp is in order.

It could be dandruff, or it could be something else (could be psoriasis or fungal for example)

[Smidge001]

Have you tried a shampoo with selenium sulphide in it? I have only found one on the market (there used to be others) and it is the only thing that works. There have been a lot of other threads on here on this topic and it always comes up.
I think you can only buy it in sainsbury's (I can no longer find it in Tescos or boots).

It comes in a small box. Head and shoulders clinical solutions. Either itchy scalp or scalp relief versions. Best thing ever.

[Flump9]

Large flakes in patches sounds like psoriasis to me. Have you tried nizoral?

[mrssmiling]

Have you tried E45 dry scalp shampoo? Works for me, and the rest of family to treat itchy and flaky scalp. Nizoral works really well as an occasional treatment, but E45 seems better, and is gentler for regular use.

[Ghostlyportrait]

It sounds more than just a bit of a sensitive scalp that a change of shampoo might sort. I agree I’d let the GP look at it especially as there are large flaky patches and you’ve tried all the OTC products. It sounds like a job for the professionals.

[Rainydays200]

I’ve struggled with itchy flaky scalp for years. For a long time the Philip Kingsley shampoo and scalp tonic for itchy scalp kept it under control. More recently I’ve been using Aveeno scalp soothing shampoo which has been great. Very soothing and not expensive, so might be worth a try. I’ve never found GPS very helpful myself, but definitely worth trying that route.

[BigGee]

I get sebhorric dermatitis on my scalp (apologies, I've probably spelled it wrong) and found the best solution for me is Head and Shoulders 2 in 1 shampoo for Itchy scalp. It worked like magic. I'd tried the T gel stuff on doctor's instructions, and honestly, that just made it worse. I'm using a different H & S shampoo just now but it's not as effective and a patch has come back (though not as bad as before H & S) so I'll be back on the 2 in 1 itchy scalp stuff in a few days once this other stuff is finished.

[eurochick]

This sounds exactly like my scalp. Mine started in my teens too. It took me 20 years of trying every products on the market to find something that worked. I tried loads of fancy scalp products, gently products, medicated products - everything. What works for me is Low Shampoo. A bog standard L'Oréal product. It doesn't foam. It seems I react to foaming agents and they are present even in all of the fancy "everything -free" shampoos.

[ShortAndSharp]

Lush do a solid shampoo called 'Soak & Float'. It's the only one I tried that made any difference. Good luck.

[WelshMoth]

Loads of excel suggestions here. Huge thanks!

[Rainydays200]

It’s really interesting to read this thread. We’ve all found different shampoos that work for our scalps. I really think it is a bit of trial and error. Good luck

[PunkecitoMum]

I have itchy scalp and tried lots of shampoos, some of them were expensive and the only one that works for me is Garnier Ultimate Blends Oat Milk Sensitive Scalp Shampoo. The best thing is that is cheap. Give it a try!

[yellowsunset]

Try anti-fungal shampoo (like nizoral). It's only about £6. Though you should really take her to the gp, it could psoriasis or seb derm that they can prescribe something for. Her current shampoo may be making it worse.

[Passmethechocolatecake]

My ex used to swear by soak n float that was mentioned upthread. He’d tried everything and that was the only one that made any difference.
It stinks though. Like bonfire. It used to make me feel a bit sick if I’m honest!

[CoolShoeshine]

Yy to shampoo containing selenium sulphide, my scalp used to kill me before I discovered that, stinging and itching and dandruff on my clothes. I don’t know why but the head and shoulders one in the box mentioned above is about the only selenium sulphide one available in the shops right now. The first time you use it, it takes the soreness away but it might make the dandruff worse (it’s like it lifts it away from the scalp) but by the second wash it’s like a miracle, dandruff and itching gone! If I remember correctly I discovered it on here.