Anyone have any expertise on scratchy scalps? (DD's, not mine....)

[Clary]

My poor DD (just 5) has been suffering for weeks with a very itcy, scaly scalp. We have been to the doc's several times and been told it's psoriasis/dermatitis, been given different shampoos, it's not getting better.
Just the last week she has also had a flare-up of excema on the back of her knees (a typical site for her) plus a horrid spotty scabby rash (sounds awful) between her fingers.

Now she has a history of excema and used to have it quite badly but we haven't had aflare-up since last July so I thought (hoped) we were done with it.
Oilatum in the bath (which we had stopped using several months ago) and aqueous cream seem to be sorting the knees/hands.

But what I would like to know is what is causing it? Anyone any knowledge of something similar with their dd/ds and why? (doc's unhelpful on this matter of course).

Also any top tips for her scaly scalp? It almost looks as if her hair is thinning out at the temples as well, poor love. She keep scratching it so that by the end of the day her hair looks like it's been dragged through the proverbial hedge!
Anyone got any thoughts?

bump - anyone?

Sorry, can't really help - but DH is having a realy bad flare up of his eczema at the minute - and friends' 2 ds's. Wonder if it's the weather?

DH's scalp tends to get very irritated - he absent mindely scratches it all the time.

I've put him on a lentil-weavers' SLS-free shampoo and the effect has been pretty dramatic.

(SLS = sodium lauryth sulphate; the detergent found in all shampoos, shower gels etc. Some people find it too harsh and very drying for the skin).

ooh highlander, that's worth a try. What is the sls-free brand?

sorry iklboo, thanks for yr post too, eczema (that's how you spell it!) is v bad tonight on her legs. Certainly the last flare up was in July-ish last year so maybe it is worth in hot weather. Makes sense actually (except she was then fine all thru the summer hols)

You can get some SLS-free kid's shampoo from Tesco (other supermarkets might sell it too). I think it's called 'Halo'. I've used it for DD who has dry skin. It seems OK. You can get bubble bath in the same range.

hi my 15mo little boy suffers from eczema and he had a dry itchy scalp and i used simple shampoo what is colour and fragrance free and his scalp is fine now he has also got a bad flair up of eczema on his legs and my health visitor has given me epaderm to try and appenentley it is used in hospitals and is more effective than steroid cream

I used to use the Halo brand with DS, but the tubes were really shoddy and kept leaking.

DH uses a shampoo called 'Jason'. It was a random choice, I think any SLS-free stuff will do.

We are Jason converts in this house and I now buy aquirty hand soap, shower gel/bubble bath, shampoo and also body lotion. Really nice stuff, ok it's a little on the pricey side compared to some stuff but well worth it IMO and lasts for yonks.

I have dermatitis on my scalp and use selsun shampoo (over the counetr one not the new ones on shelf) and its great. You only use it once or twice a week just use normal very mild shampoo at all other times it does work a treat for me.

I have an eczema flare up too - maybe it's the weather or could it be linked to diet? I ate yoghurt yesterday and I don't normally. I use Treseme shampoo which seems ok on my scalp. Blow drying seems to make me itch more so I let it dry naturally when I can.