Itchy flaky scalp...nothing is working :-(

[lostmyslippers]

Just that really!! Can anyone recommend any shampoo for a flaky dry and itchy scalp? I have tried applying oil before washing my hair but it hasn't helped :-((

Nizoral/ketaconazole is ace.

L’Oreal dandruff shampoo from the ‘menz’ range. It’s in a black bottle with an orange lid. It’s the absolute bollocks.

I tried everything for my teen dd. We now use Elvive for men anti dandruff works a treat.

Go to docs and get betamethasone for scalp. Bloody amazing! I suffered for about 6 years until I finally went to docs. Tried everything. Was literally clear in 2 days. Burnt like shit when I put it on but I know that's when it works. If ever a tiny bit dares come back (only when I'm run down or poorly) I put a few drops on and it vanishes. Doesn't make hair look terrible either! I cannot believe I put it with it for so long! Sold my stocks of tgel on eBay!

Only thing that really helped me was Nizoral.

Johnson's baby shampoo.

It's trial and error. I tried every specialist product on the market, often at great expense. What works best is a non foaming shampoo. Even the specialist shampoos have some sort of foaming agent and that seems to have been the problem. I am currently using Low Shampoo from L'Oréal. It takes a bit of getting used to and you need to rinse well but it suits me better than anything else I have tried.

Hi OP, yes I used to use the old L’Oréal in a blue bottle, this then became the men’s with an orange lid which I’ve also used. They’ve now brought out a new range of anti dandruff shampoos in pale green bottles, I’ve bought it in Boots and Sainsbury’s. I prefer the Refreshing one.

Nizoral for me.

Joico daily care treatment shampoo. Available online, recommended by a trichologist years ago. Best shampoo ever for dry, flaky, itchy and allergic scalps.

SLS free here too! Made a whole world of difference! Using co wash and shampoo - the Palmers one mentioned above. I always used to use stuff for greasy hair as my hair needs washing really often, but actually, the ones that have less harsh stuff in and are full of oil are so much better for the skin under the hair and I still wash it just the same amount.

Bleach bath (as in hair bleach). It clears all of the fungal infection if you have one.

I used to get it terribly until I started going blonde. Then asked my GP why it worked and they said chemicals will have killed off whatever was causing it.

They recommend mild bleach baths (peroxide) for babies with cradle cap too so I guess it's the same thing.

+1 for Johnson's baby shampoo

Husband uses Polytar, all the others now cause his skin to break out as well.

I tried hundreds of medicated shampoos and steroid ointments etc. Going SLS and silicone free is the only thing that's helped me.

I'm using the Child's Farm shampoo and conditioner at the moment and my scalp is so much better after years of itching until it bled. I also only wash twice a week. If I need to wash in between then I just use conditioner.

Kerastase do a good shampoo in a green bottle for sensitive scalps, I have scalp psoriasis also use dovobet gel on the patches x find some of the ones mentioned above seem to work initially in reducing the itching for a day but then really irritate thereafter x

Tgel, TGel or anything with ketaconazole in.

Or coal tar

Wholeheartedly agree with the person upthread who recommended Betamethasone, which you can get on prescription from your doctor. It's a life changer.

Take zinc and selenium tablets. Eat brazil nuts. Drink lots of water. It works!

www.childsfarm.com/products/childs-farm-sensitive-scalp-shampoo-fragrance-free#shopify-product-reviews

Body shop ginger shampoo! Amazing. Or Davines Purifying Shampp. Expensive though!!

I found that it's not just the shampoo that makes a difference. Rising thoroughly and drying hair fully at the scalp are both factors that help my dry, itchy and scaly scalp. If i let my hair stay wet against my scalp and dry naturally, my scalp becomes much much worse.

Another vote for body shop ginger.

The forever living alone Vera used to be ok but they've changed it and not so good now.

Neutrogena T-Gel used to soothe mine a bit, but what stopped it dead in its tracks was cutting out sugar. I can now guarantee a flare-up if I have a slice of cake.

Another vote for SLS free. There is a transition period however when you give it up so you might find it gets worse before it gets better (or you might not, everyone's different). Imo worth it in the long run.