Dandruff is making my life a misery

[BeardofHagrid]

I feel a bit ridiculous and embarrassed saying this, but I have what now appears to be permanent, severe dandruff.

I know the general consensus is that it’s the white flakes that are the bothersome thing about this condition, and yes I do have those, but for me it’s the constant burning I experience, the extreme itching, feeling that my scalp is coated in filth. I am constantly messing around washing and drying it, that gives a couple of hours of relief, then I feel one little prickle starting to burn and before I know it my whole scalp is aflame again 😕

It’s making me so miserable to think that this is my life now. I wash every two days and I can’t face going to washing every day, it takes so long to get it dry. My hair is very thick and takes 12 hours+ to properly dry even when I blow dry it. Dank winter weather makes the condition even worse.

I have had people make comments over the years that I don’t take care of my hair when in fact I spend so much time on it, but it looks like I don’t. I know it looks dirty all the time because of this awful condition. I have tried every shampoo over the years, the only one I can use is Vosene. It used to give me some relief, now not much but better than others. T gel doesn’t work for me any more. The EU banned zinc in Head and Shoulders so that’s rubbish now. A plastic scalp scrub doesn’t work. I can’t afford to see a derm. I feel so down, I’d love to just shave my hair off at this point.

Sounds like it could be eczema

I would see a dermatologist

I think OP you need to see the GP now

Good luck and I hope you find a solution

I've always had an itchy scalp/ intermittent dandruff. Nizoral is ok, but I've been using wella sensocalm for a year now and it's much less itchy. I was twice every wash and make sure I dry it properly. I also condition to the roots and it helps it not dry out, I've only done this for a month but have no itchiness at all now, whereas when I just conditioned the ends it was mildly itchy.

It's so trial and error but I agree with everyone about going to the gp too

I see you've tried nizoral... It doesn't do much for me either (and I left it on my scalp too). Selenium sulfate shampoo was ok, but for me the most effective has been a shampoo with Ciclopirox olamine. They are all anti fungal in one way or another but some just work better for some people..
Here is the shampoo I use
https://www.sweetcare.com/xi/ducray-kelual-ds-seborrhoeic-dermatitis-shampoo-p-001438du
On the areas that are not too bad or if not in flare up I can use the head and shoulders Bare range. This doesn't contain ingredients that the Malassezia yeasts that cause this feed on (gross I know)
I then dab on a very small amount of MCT oil where it is most red sore and itchy. When it's bad I put MCT oil on my scalp overnight ....
You also can't use conditioner that the yeast which causes this can feed on (or at least I can't). You can check for 'safe' ingredients on a number of websites including sezia.co

The sink washing REALLY won't be helping as you're never rinsing it properly, especially if you can only bear it for a few minutes because of your back.

I'd get your hair thinned out a bit. Even an undercut would help if money for a hairdresser cut is an issue.

And get access to a shower or bath. Do you have gym membership? A friend tk help? Can you get access to a leisure centre?

Also, if you're not rinsing it properly, it won't dry properly, hence the 12 hours plus thing.

OP. Do you get Ezcema?
Dandruff is usually caused by Ezcema/ dermatitis. Betnovate scalp lotion will get rid of it. Only on prescription, and not a potent steroid, but enough to dampen down the itchy inflation that causes it.
You may not be aware of much Ezcema elsewhere on your body but this is probably the cause.

Have you tried SLS free? My itchy scalp improved instantly when I switched to a natural shampoo bar.
Try one with tea tree/rosemary/lemongrass oil

One thing that hasn't been mentioned that I have found helpful is baking soda/sodium bicarbonate. When my scalp is itchy, I use it as a scrub (mixed with water or a little shampoo to make a paste).

It definitely makes my scalp feel better and lasts for a while.

Selsun is good but I find I don't need it if I use Head and Shoulders for Itchy Scalp, must be that one or it doesn't work. Double wash and rinse a lot. Can you lean over the kitchen sink, is that easier? Dry with a hair drier don't leave to dry naturally.

You say you used T Gel, but was it the coal tar one? I had this, tried everything including Nizoral and steroids and the only thing that worked was the coal tar. You have to use it for a few weeks to get a result. Now my scalp is much better, but as soon as I feel it starting to get itchy again I use the T Gel coal tar for a week or two and that seems to keep it under control.

@BeardofHagrid I had rank dandruff fir a few years, and have always had stress related patches of eczema.

About 18 months ago I had a health scare which also indicated sky high cholesterol and a NAFLD. I was about three stone overweight. To take myself in hand I decided not to go on a diet but to really look after my heart and liver health. I gave up:

Refined carbs
Wheat
Sugar, including alcohol
Trans fats
Cut down red meat and upped fish, pulses, veg and fruit.

Within a couple of weeks the dandruff and eczema disappeared, my aches and pains improved dramatically and best of all, 2.5 stone melted off. Far less hungry than I had been for years. Also my bloated ankles disappeared.

I occasionally get really itchy, greasy, "dandruffy" scalp, especially now in the winter.

I used to buy a salicylic acid scalp cleanser from Boots. Went there a month ago to buy it again but it seems like it's been discontinued.
It was amazing and really helped keep my scalp fresh and cleansed when used fortnightly.
I was so disappointed but then I remembered I had a salicylic acid facial cleanser in my cupboard and tried massaging it into my scalp (with some water) and it worked almost as good.
It's really affordable and worth a try!

Good luck whatever you try.