See GP re itchy scalp??

[Namechangerooney1]

Never had scalp issues before. Not changed any products recently or anything like that but for some reason the back of my head is itchy and flaky. I’ve tried a scalp scrub which hasn’t done anything. I’ve also been using Nizoral shampoo for 3 weeks and no improvement yet. Can’t work out if I need to moisturise my scalp or whether I need to focus on more medicated products.

Really I need to know the cause of it rather than trying random products, don’t I? Should I see my GP - just worried it’s too trivial to bother them with!

Nizorel says it should clear by 4 weeks.

I was battling for 2 years with an itchy scalp, it isn’t something I felt I could go to the dr for as I’m aware there have been changes and the GP no longer prescribe products in our area for dandruff/itchy scalp. They wouldn’t necessarily look for a cause even when they did prescribe.
You haven’t started HRT or increased dose recently have you? That’s when mine started.
What are you using in between the Nizorel washes, is it a dandruff shampoo? If your just using your usual one it may be why it isn’t clearing.
I have to wash my hair daily now or the flakes, and so itch, builds up, but my best success for the last year has been with As I Am Itchy shampoo.

It really has been hell so you have my sympathy. I hate having to wash my hair every day.

I would ask at a pharmacy first, you can get things like coal tar ointment that may help.
Failing that then don't feel bad about seeing a GP, you've tried to self treat and it's a skin complaint that needs sorting.

Try Neutrogena Sensitive Scalp. It's the only thing that's ever worked for my DS.

You can sometimes get it at Savers and Amazon.

My flaky scalp was the first sign of vitamin d deficiency. I had no idea until I had bloods done because I was exhausted about a year later. Sorted my vit d and itchy flaky scalp has gone.

Use ‘As l am dry and itchy’ shampoo.

Its amazing, got rid of all the eczema on DD’s neck, face and back too.

See your gp. I had something similar, tried all sorts of over the counter shampoos. It just got worse, with hair beginning to fall out. Turned out to be scalp psoriasis. A couple of days with a steroid application and it disappeared.

Thanks all. I’ve been using it every wash and only wash every 3 days. Maybe I’m being impatient?

As I Am is a good idea, I’ll try that.

When I condition my hair, should I massage a bit into my scalp to moisturise it (I’ll rinse it out obviously) or will that exacerbate it do you think?

Oh and sorry, no, I’m not on HRT. I can’t think of anything I’ve changed recently that might have caused it?

Nizoral works best if you leave it as long as possible - ideally for 20 minutes at a time.

Are you leaving it on for at least 10 minutes?

10 or 20 mins? No, I’ve only been leaving it for 5 - it says 3-5 on the bottle

It is probably Seborrhoeic dermatitis. https://patient.info/skin-conditions/seborrhoeic-dermatitis-leaflet

I had it once, round my forehead. This website says (Dandruff) but it’s more than standard dandruff. GP have me prescription shampoo and cream, that sorted it out. You need something antifungal.

If you want it to work as an antifungal then it is left on for ten minutes. I've never done 20 but have always been told 10 and that does work. 3 doesn't.

You could try that before going to the GP or go straight to either them or a pharmacist - after all, it might be something else and a different product would be better