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Original poster

My actual scalp is coming off....

53 replies

Myusernameismud · 05/02/2019 10:40

Title more for attention, but it does really feel that way.

Back story: had a bit of dry scalp which looked gross and flakey, so used head and shoulders. It did nothing, and made my scalp itchy when it hadn't been itchy before. Switched to vosene which seemed to make a small difference until yesterday when I washed my hair. I dried it and when I ran my hands through it, felt lumps on my scalp. Got DH to have a look and my scalp is flaking in a big way. Flakes are around 1cm across, quite thick and it looks horrendous.

I'm prone to a bit of eczema occasionally, I have asthma and a few allergies, so generally an allergic type. But I've never experienced this before. We've not long moved house, and the water here is much harder than where we lived before. It's affecting my skin a bit, but this seems to be a sudden change.

It sounds like a first world problem I know, but it looks horrible and I'm dreading going to work tomorrow and covering everything in scalp dust Blush
I've got a GP appt next week anyway, so might mention it to her but I feel such a tit saying 'oh by the way, my scalp is minging, can you fix it?'

Anyone have any decent remedies I can try in the mean time?

OP posts:
HoHoHolittlepea · 05/02/2019 10:43

Do you think it might be scalp psoriasis? there its lpts of info online about different treatments.

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 05/02/2019 10:46

Don't feel like a tit, definitely mention it to the GP. DH has scalp issues and gets prescribed steroid mousse when it flares up, which really helps.

wednesday32 · 05/02/2019 10:46

I have scalp psoriasis and your symptoms sound very similar. Try polytar which is in the medicated dept of shops not shampoo dept. Failing that it's worth limiting hair products such as sprays and gels as they can irritate the issue. I currently use Childs Farm baby shampoo. Goodluck

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Original poster
Myusernameismud · 05/02/2019 10:46

I'm not sure about psoriasis. I had it a few years ago, mildly on my elbows and it was quite different. Scaly and the skin underneath was really red. My scalp isn't red at all, ang not itchy now I've stopped using H&S. I think it's just extremely dry scalp, but the 2 shampoos I've used for dandruff seem to be making it worse!

OP posts:
Fortheloveofscience · 05/02/2019 10:48

Nizoral shampoo. Absolute game-changer. Expensive but you don’t use a lot.

Original poster
Myusernameismud · 05/02/2019 10:48

Thanks wednesday I might give a baby shampoo a go. I'm wondering if it's the salicylic acid in vosene, I can't take aspirin as it triggers my asthma so I guess it's not a stretch to think it might irritate my skin too.

OP posts:
HorseDoorBolted · 05/02/2019 10:48

Sounds like psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis. Both have stuff you can do - have a google.

LoubyLou1234 · 05/02/2019 10:50

My friend gets a special shampoo from the doctor for her bad scalp. They'll be used to it just ask them to look and get something to treat it

sashh · 05/02/2019 10:53

I have psoriasis on my scalp, it is different to patches elsewhere and different to eczema too (yep I have both).

Mine is held at bay by alphosyl shampoo, I get it on prescription but you can buy it OTC.

Remember to use it to wash your scalp[, not just your hair.

Be warned if you have coloured hair, it strips the colour out.

Expatworkingmum · 05/02/2019 10:55

I have had this. Also happened after we moved, although I moved overseas. It go so bad that my scalp was bleeding and it could peel chunks of it off. Then it spread to my eyebrows

The thing that solved it for me was turning down the heat in both the hairdryer and the shower when I wash my hair (as much as I love a really hot shower), and using an anti-dandruff shampoo. It eventually subsided and didn’t come back as long as I didn’t change that. I read that people tend not to use antidandruff shampoo because it isn’t great for the hair, but people forget that scalp care is more important than hair care.

LoubyLou1234 · 05/02/2019 10:56

My friend gets a special shampoo from the doctor for her bad scalp. They'll be used to it just ask them to look and get something to treat it

FissionChips · 05/02/2019 11:02

Head and shoulders clinically proven solutions scalp relief works wonders for DH. It isn’t the same as the ordinary one, it has selenium in.

Original poster
Myusernameismud · 05/02/2019 11:02

sashh thanks, I'll mention that shampoo. I dont colour my hair, so not concerned about that.

expat I can't have a hot shower anyway, it brings me out in hives bizarrely. Just above body temp is my limit. Fine in the summer, not fun in the winter!

OP posts:
gamerchick · 05/02/2019 11:04

Just as an aside if you're planning on bringing it up as an extra to your GP appointment you'll need to ring and extend your appointment. They don't like it when stuff is added on.

Ticcinalong · 05/02/2019 11:05

I find the coal tar t gel the best shampoo for my peeling itchy scalp. Within one wash with normal shampoo it flares up, but no problem at all on the tgel!

RedCabbageStains · 05/02/2019 11:08

Polytar makes the most difference for me, but Alphosyl and Nizoral are OK if I can’t get hold of Polytar. TGel or anti dandruff shampoo are better than nothing.

When it’s very bad, the GP prescribes a steroid liquid to put on - it stings horribly and is tricky to manage (I get DH to apply it, otherwise I lose most of it down my neck) but does work.

Original poster
Myusernameismud · 05/02/2019 11:12

gamer it's a general allergy/asthma medication review so I reckon I could squeeze it in because it's probably related! But you're right, normally I'd call.

OP posts:
MaitlandGirl · 05/02/2019 11:12

I use the body shop ginger shampoo with great success. My scalp was awful when I wasn’t using it and even with very thick, long hair and 40C+ days for the past month my scalp looks great.

Almostfifty · 05/02/2019 11:31

Why don't you pop down to the chemist and speak to the Pharmacist? They might be able to give you something today to sort it.

51Pegasusb · 05/02/2019 12:01

I have this and sometimes it flares up something awful. Mine is seborrheic dermatitis. I have Betnovate steriod lotion and ketoconazol shampoo and also ketoconazol cream for the back of my ears and eye lids !
I think the shampoo is available over the counter, but the steroid lotion not, I need this lotion just to get rid of it, for me shampoo alone is not enough.
I had a rough patch before Christmas but got it under control after a visit to GP and now it's all back to normal, hopefully will stay like that for a few years .
Good luck

hunibuni · 05/02/2019 12:12

I've had scalp dermatitis (large sections of scalp shedding rather than finer flakes like dandruff) and the only thing that has eased it and kept it at bay is SLS/paraben/silicone free shampoo and a good long time scrubbing scalp gently with shampoo brush. I now make sure that I stick to shampoos with gentle cleansers and haven't had an issue for the past 5 years

hunibuni · 05/02/2019 12:16

Oh, also avoid any drying alcohols in shampoo and conditoner as well as in any styling products. I follow the Curly Girl method but with lo poo. It can take a while to check suitable products but you can c+p into curlbot.com and it will tell you if it's CG friendly.

NekoShiro · 05/02/2019 13:07

Could you have a very dry scalp? Maybe using a medicated shampoo is too strong and making the issue worse, for the longest time I thought I had dandruff and used heads and shoulders which didn't touch it and I've now realised its because my issue was just that I wasn't rubbing my scalp enough when I shampoo'd and was never dislodging all the dead skin and I never let conditioner touch my scalp which just left me with a very dry flakey scalp with mounds of dead skin that you could feel but shifted very easily if I ran a comb firmly over them

Ftumch · 05/02/2019 13:11

Is it like cradle cap? If so a selenium sulphate shampoo should help. It smells a bit, but works well.

Ftumch · 05/02/2019 13:12

Selenium sulfide Imean.

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