To want a doctor to check DS's scalp

[NancyDrawed]

I know this should really go in children's health, but I am posting here for traffic.

I noticed some quite bad dandruff on DS (10) scalp a few months ago - large, dense, very white flakes attached near the root rather than the tiny transparent snowflake type. A pharmacist said to try Head and Shoulders, which did nothing. A different pharmacist recommended Capasal (which is a coal tar type) which didn't help either. I got a bottle of Selsun, which initially seemed to help, but he complained that there was a burning / stinging feeling with it (listed as a side effect) so we have had to abandon that.

He says it is itchy and I have seen some nasty, angry looking patches. When the sun caught him on the side of his head this morning it also looks like his hair may be thininng in places.

AIBU to request a GP appointment for this?

Could be psoriasis or something. Definitely needs GP to check this again, your poor ds.

I don't think it is psoriasis, but of course it could be.

Our GPs are requesting photos in the first instance but the pictures I have taken do not show what it is really like.

I have exactly the same with my DS! I've tried every shampoo going including stuff prescribed and his hair also looks like it's thinning. I'm thinking about taking him privately to a trichologist or dermatologist but don't know which.

I was wondering about a trichologist, too, but thought GP should be first call. I feel bad that I didn't notice earlier, but now that the children are older, I don't know every inch of them like I used to when they were younger - we just don't spend as much time in close proximity as we did.

Could be a fungal infection? If doctors are requesting photos take some in good lighting and close up. They can refer to dermatology if unsure, or try some prescription shampoos.

I wouldn't rule anything out! I wondered about a sebhorroeic dermatitis type of condition, I hadn't considered fungal. I think a presciption treatment is probably necessary. It is really difficult to get a decent picture of the problem areas because hair is in the way. When I part the hair to try to show the scalp it hurts him and sometimes causes his scalp to bleed which makes him reluctant (understandably)

Could it be sebhoraic dermatitis? My teenage DD had it on her scalp, in her eyebrows and round her eyes. Needed prescribed medication to get rid of it on her face. Doctor recommended T Gel shampoo to get rid of the scalp stuff and it has worked. It seems to start on her head and then spread to her face. Once we got rid of the problem on her face (which did take a few months) it hasn't come back and we have stayed on top of the scalp problem with the shampoo (she doesn't use it for every wash). Make an appointment with your GP.

I would go to gp. My sister suffers from scalp problems and finds soaking her head in diluted detol helps a lot.

T gel shampoo worked for DD. I lathered it on then left it on her head for a bit before rinsing.

My son has this, it goes yellow and smells really bad. Nizarol always helps send it on its way out
I make sure to blow dry his hair and not leave it wet too. It’s usually fungal for my DS.

Make a phone or zoom appointment if that's all thats available in the first instance, stress your concerns. Many practices are sensibly using phone/zoom as a kind of triage.

I used T Gel many many years ago when I had scalp problems and found it was the one that worked really well for me.

How often does he wash it and does he do it well?
How long is his hair?
How long have you tried wash treatment?

I have scalp psoriasis and the only thing that works is Dovobet gel. Ask for some and give it a try. I’ve tried everything else and it doesn’t work.

I would ask if they could do some kind of swab/skin scraping to be looked at if standard treatments aren't working.
Have you tried just a really gentle shampoo like something sulfate free, or even Simple or Johnson's Baby shampoo? Could have initially been a reaction to something which is then being aggravated by all the treatment shampoos

My son has this turned out as fungal infection. Few photos to Dr and he gave him some cream, all cleared up now

It definitely sounds like you need a proper diagnosis from a GP and sympathise with your concern that they won't be able to tell from a photo but I guess you'll have to try that first if the GP says to. Make sure they're aware you've already seen a pharmacist and their suggestions haven't worked.
I wouldn't use anything like T-Gel on a child unless directed to by a doctor. It probably needs a prescription treatment, especially as it's sometimes bleeding. I hope you get it sorted soon, it sounds very uncomfortable for him.

OP what I don't know is whether trichology or dermatology is the correct route. I have been back and forth to the GP for years over it and no referral or scrapes just different prescription shampoos which have done nothing.

The best shampoo I have found is a Philip Kingsley one for sensitive scalps.

It's the hair thinning that has made me consider just going private. Does your son have other issues? Mine is very sensitive to deodorants and washing powder and very hayfevery.

Nizirol or t gel as other poster have said. Did you take ds into the pharmacy and show pharmacist his head?

Thank you all for the suggestions, I will make sure I ring and get in the phone appointment queue first thing tomorrow (which of course clashes with when we leave for school, but we'll just have to juggle it).

In answer to some of the questions above:

His hair is short and until I noticed this problem in September, he was not using shampoo on his hair at all - it wan't greasy or dirty and I thought (clearly wrongly in his case) that it would be fine to just wash it with water as I know some people swear by that being the best thing for your hair and scalp once it has found its balance.

He does get hayfever and is down as asthmatic at the GP but doesn't use inhalers at all other than late Spring early Summer. No allergies to deodorants or washing powder, no eczema.

Interesting that someone said upthread that on their dc it started on the scalp and spread to the eyebrows. I think this is spreading down the sides and back of his head.

I hadn't considered a gentle/baby shampoo type.

I haven't been blow drying his hair, just giving it a good rub with a towel.

I showed the pharmacist a photo of how it looked in September. I haven't tried Nizoral, the first pharmacist recommended it but didn't have it in stock!

My daughter suffered badly with scalp psoriasis and psoriasis everywhere else around that age.
Sun box worked on her body no change with the scalp the only thing we found that helped tremendously was neem oil.

It sounds exactly like my scalp psoriasis to be honest, I was fobbed off for years at the doctors telling me to use medicated shampoo etc until I did quite a lot of research myself, and the doctor agreed as did a rheumatologist I was referred to as I have psoriatic arthritis too, as does my son. Mine spreads down the back of my ear lobes, and is very itchy but has been hugely helped by steroid scalp lotion.

Check out if there is any family history of psoriasis as it is genetic.

My son had this. It was explained as a type of cradle cap, he has it between 7 and 10.
He was treated with special shampoo and lotion, but it doesnt magically disappear overnight.
Previously I used to massage olive oil into his scalp put a warm towel round it for half hour, then comb through, plated of the stuff would come off, but within 2 days it built up again.
Def go to gps and ask to see a dermatologist.

Plates

@Rainydays14

It sounds exactly like my scalp psoriasis to be honest, I was fobbed off for years at the doctors telling me to use medicated shampoo etc until I did quite a lot of research myself, and the doctor agreed as did a rheumatologist I was referred to as I have psoriatic arthritis too, as does my son. Mine spreads down the back of my ear lobes, and is very itchy but has been hugely helped by steroid scalp lotion.

Check out if there is any family history of psoriasis as it is genetic.

My sond wasnt psoriasis , I have it really bad on my scalp, like yours. But that's why its important to see someone, to get it sorted asap.