Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Scalp psoriasis shampoo v nice hair: AIBU To wonder if there is a scalp psoriasis solution which doesn’t cost £81 and doesn’t wreck your hair?

82 replies

AStitchInTimeSavesN1ne · 23/02/2026 12:22

I don’t know if I’m missing something. My hair is like Worzel Gummidge at the best of times and psoriasis stuff prescribed by the GP or bought over the counter seems to make it worse. Some shampoos seem to make it worse.

Then Phillip Kingsley itchy scalp shampoo caught my eye. So I sent off £11 for a teeny sized bottle. Lo and behold, it was okay. But then I discover the full bottle retails at £81!!!

AIBU to think there is a magic solution which might both sort the psoriasis & not leave your hair like a dish brush? Other people will have had this problem before and must be equally vain.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Makingadecision · 24/02/2026 22:26

I used soak and float by Lush and then banana hair treatment from body shop. Worked far better than psoriasis shampoo

Kazzaa46 · 24/02/2026 22:23

I’ve had this for problem for 30 years and after trying everything, only thing that helps me is shampoo with selenium in. There aren’t many about now but head and shoulders do a clinical strength one with Selenium Sulphide in.

BertieBotts · 24/02/2026 21:56

I find this good, I don't know that I have psoriasis but I do get a dry itchy scalp which isn't soothed by anti dandruff shampoos, and seems to be extra irritated by SLS.

www.amazon.co.uk/Garnier-Treasures-Nourishing-Regenerates-Weighting/dp/B0BWFN5NPS/

AStitchInTimeSavesN1ne · 24/02/2026 20:19

Muffsies · 24/02/2026 15:03

Have you tried Aveeno or Dercos (Vichy)?

Will do. Thank you

OP posts:
Muffsies · 24/02/2026 15:03

AStitchInTimeSavesN1ne · 24/02/2026 14:17

Yes but it just makes my hair look terrible. So I would love a product which makes it look okay while addressing the psoriasis.

Have you tried Aveeno or Dercos (Vichy)?

MrsCarmelaSoprano · 24/02/2026 14:21

The only thing that works for me is Head and Shoulders but it has to be the ITCHY SCALP one ,not any of the millions of other types. TBS ginger one is ok for in-between washes with H and S.

AStitchInTimeSavesN1ne · 24/02/2026 14:17

ladyofshertonabbas · 24/02/2026 13:35

Have you tried tar based and/ or salicylic acid based shampoo? My DD had it terribly before being diagnosed. She now used Polytar about once a week, plus whatever shampoo and conditioner she fancies around that. Were freaked out when T-Gel was discontinued, but actually Polytar is fine. So you can use other products but just have one medicated shampoo session a week?

Yes but it just makes my hair look terrible. So I would love a product which makes it look okay while addressing the psoriasis.

OP posts:
AStitchInTimeSavesN1ne · 24/02/2026 14:15

OchonAgusOchonOh · 24/02/2026 13:52

I gave up trying to deal with it. The cream is just really messy, the prescription shampoo stripped my hair out and it turned to straw. I have really good quality hair with no colour so it's not like my hair is sensitive.

I'm on biologics for the last 18 months for psioratic arthritis but it hasn't touched the psoriasis. I've just added in methotrexate so we'll see does that help.

The only thing that worked for me was a low carb diet. I lost 5kg in the past 6 weeks with the bonus side effect of the psoriasis almost cleared up. I'm veggie so while I did also increase my protein, the diet couldn't be described as high protein.

So basically, no sugar (refined and fruit), no grains, no yeast, no alcohol. I'm not sure which one it was or what combination of exclusions that worked on the psoriasis. Mind you, problem is, it's not sustainable long term.

Wow! Well done.

OP posts:
AStitchInTimeSavesN1ne · 24/02/2026 14:13

FrangipaniBlue · 24/02/2026 13:27

I do but it’s also very short and natural (no colours) so that helps significantly I reckon!!!

Green with envy here!!

OP posts:
Muffsies · 24/02/2026 13:54

When my scalp is bad I use Dercos (Vichy) shampoo, i used to use the greasy hair formula, but now i'm older and my hair is dryer i use the dry hair formula which leaves my hair silky. The active ingredients are selenium disulfide & salicylic acid. I find it works better than Nizoral (which also has added anti-fungals incase you think you may need this).

When my scalp is doing fine i use Aveeno as my every day shampoo. This is the only shampoo i have found to date that i can use regularly and not start getting a flare-up from the shampoo itself. There are various formulations, but the oat milk blend and the almond oil blend are the most moisturising. The conditioners are also good.

Aveeno is an all round good product for any skin condition, i have heard from people with sensitive skin, psoriasis and eczema that Aveeno moisturisers are the best. The active ingredient is oats which have natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Oats contain azelaic acid, which dermatologists prescribe for a wide range of skin conditions - so it's medically sound, not woo-woo.

Both are available in Boots. Dercos is expensive, so i usually shop around online to find a good deal, refill pouches are better value. Aveeno is usually on multibuy at either Boots or Superdrug.

OchonAgusOchonOh · 24/02/2026 13:52

I gave up trying to deal with it. The cream is just really messy, the prescription shampoo stripped my hair out and it turned to straw. I have really good quality hair with no colour so it's not like my hair is sensitive.

I'm on biologics for the last 18 months for psioratic arthritis but it hasn't touched the psoriasis. I've just added in methotrexate so we'll see does that help.

The only thing that worked for me was a low carb diet. I lost 5kg in the past 6 weeks with the bonus side effect of the psoriasis almost cleared up. I'm veggie so while I did also increase my protein, the diet couldn't be described as high protein.

So basically, no sugar (refined and fruit), no grains, no yeast, no alcohol. I'm not sure which one it was or what combination of exclusions that worked on the psoriasis. Mind you, problem is, it's not sustainable long term.

ladyofshertonabbas · 24/02/2026 13:35

Have you tried tar based and/ or salicylic acid based shampoo? My DD had it terribly before being diagnosed. She now used Polytar about once a week, plus whatever shampoo and conditioner she fancies around that. Were freaked out when T-Gel was discontinued, but actually Polytar is fine. So you can use other products but just have one medicated shampoo session a week?

FrangipaniBlue · 24/02/2026 13:27

AStitchInTimeSavesN1ne · 24/02/2026 12:00

You most have amazingly shiny and resilient hair.

I do but it’s also very short and natural (no colours) so that helps significantly I reckon!!!

Work9to5 · 24/02/2026 12:08

cadburygorilla · 23/02/2026 12:52

Have you tried ginger shampoo from Body Shop?

I get an itchy scalp, at it's worst I'm scratching like I've got fleas (I don't). The Body Shop doesn't really help and left my hair like a haystack. And that was using the conditioner too.

I'm also on the hunt for the holy grail of dry scalp/itchy scalp hair care.

JellyIegs · 24/02/2026 12:02

Boots’ own brand Ketoconazole shampoo helps a lot with my very dry scalp. I think I have seborrhoeic dermatitis or eczema rather than psoriasis. Nizoral, T-Gel, coal tar shampoos etc don’t work for me. Previously I’ve had success with the Betnovate solution but my doc is a bit cagey about prescribing it on repeat. Anyway, the Boots shampoo is about £8, often on offer and you get advantage card points. I use it with a decent conditioner and my hair is generally fine.

www.boots.com/boots-anti-dandruff-ketoconazole-2-percent-w-w-shampoo-10311191?srsltid=AfmBOoopjUqsKjpO62P87lVqCLbtK-sQvJuAwBlQqROwBdjOSYB5MNCc

AStitchInTimeSavesN1ne · 24/02/2026 12:00

FrangipaniBlue · 23/02/2026 22:28

Polytar completely cleared mine and my dandruff.

i don’t use any conditioner, wash my hair every day and it’s in brilliant condition.

i should also add I swim 3 times a week so it gets a lot of stick too!

You most have amazingly shiny and resilient hair.

OP posts:
MomOfTwoGirls2 · 24/02/2026 01:32

Typo in prior post, it is Cocois ointment. Dermatologist advised me to leave it in for several hours and not just 1 hour.

MomOfTwoGirls2 · 24/02/2026 01:25

I’m a long time scalp psoriasis sufferer.
Dermatologist prescribed Cococis cream to lift the scales, and Dipro Salic afterwards to slow down the scales coming back and stop the itching.

Cococis is in short supply, my pharmacy hasn't had it with ages, and I haven’t found it on Amazon or online pharmacies recently either

I recently discovered that Double Base cream works well (it smells much nicer too! And not as messy). I leave it on overnight maybe once per week, and shampoo it out next morning. It softens the scales which then shampoo out. I get a few flake free days.

Because it doesn’t stink and isn’t as messy, I would actually get away with not washing it out if I was in a rush the next morning, and it also is good to deal with itching.

I also find Healpsorin shampoo helps a bit, but only if I don’t use it regularly. I also tried the Australian psoriasis shampoo advertised on Facebook, and I think it helped with itching but certainly didn’t clear it for me. (Nothing has cleared it for me. But I’m ok if I can just keep it under control and have some options if I want to stop the flaking for special occasions…. Otherwise I have just banned dark tops from my wardrobe!)

Rachie1973 · 24/02/2026 00:11

Following as it’s a nightmare here too

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 24/02/2026 00:08

As l am dry and itchy shampoo transformed my life. No harsh chemicals and doesn’t wreck hair. It can make it greasy though. I just wash mine in a normal shampoo first, then use AIADAI.

No more itch. Got rid of all the eczema on DD’s neck too

bridgetreilly · 23/02/2026 23:51

I’ve used T-Gel for years and it has worked brilliantly, to the extent that I don’t have to use it every time now. You can still use conditioner, I think, though I’ve never bothered.

OfAllThePlaces · 23/02/2026 23:27

I get really bad dermatitis on my scalp. I use Nizoral https://www.boots.com/nizoral-scalp-soothing-itchy-and-sensitive-shampoo-200ml-10339015?traffic=paid.shopping&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19973637790&gbraid=0AAAAA-AdmwRG3IhqmRklAsC-YeKJQ1My0&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-aaWlOHwkgMVN5tQBh2RZwv6EAQYBCABEgLdk_D_BwE for everyday washing, and they also do conditioner. I have long thick hair and this lasts ages as you don't need loads.

Hagelslag · 23/02/2026 23:22

Moogoo has been a game changer for me, recently got a shampoo and a conditioner and a body wash on offer after finding out that the products I was using (hydromol emollient as a soap substitute and coal tar shampoo) had some potentially hostile ingredients

mynameiscalypso · 23/02/2026 23:21

Nothing I’ve tried has ever made a difference to the actual psoriasis other than medication (methotrexate initially, have now been on biologics for over a decade). The only shampoo that I found to help at all with the itching is the head and shoulders itchy scalp shampoo. I still use it now because I’m so paranoid about the slightest itching. My hair is in excellent condition.

Swipe left for the next trending thread