Itchy scalp help

[PippiL]

I suffer from itchy flaky scalp, but have kept it under control with the ginger shampoo from bodyshop for ages now.

I wash it every day and it was getting into terrible condition, so decided to Start washing every other day. I'm using batiste dry shampoo on the off days.

Coincidentally I also tried a sodium thingy free shampoo, (for 2 washes) which gave me a really itchy scalp.

Now I have returned to the ginger shampoo, but it is still really itchy on the wash days, the non wash days are much better.

Please, in all your infinite mumsnet beauty wisdom, help!
What should I do?
Ps all my clothes are now white with dandruff!

The Naked Anti-dandruff is gentle and really helped my head too.

Was gonna add what kayjaybabe said!! I have this and sometimes the only thing i can use is baby shampoo or the top to toe wash......it gets soooo sore.

Used to get Nizoral from the doc, pre DD, but he told me i couldnt have it when i was pregnant with DD and had forgotten what it was called until i read this post.

I used nizoral when pregnant, my doc said it was alright!!

I suffer from flaky scalp which sometimes feels quite bumpy to touch - it is not overly itchy. I was wondering if anyone could reccommend something that is effective but can be used on my coloured hair - I love Head and Shoulders classic care but can no longer use as it strips my colour away along with the flakes!. I bought vosene today to use maybe once a week and my coloured shampoo on the other days - not sure how that will go. Funnily getting my hair coloured actually solves the problem for about a week - doesanyone know why this would happen? - it is also worsened by the cold weather. Any advice or tips will be greatly appreciated I have had this for years.

I would reccomend redkens prescription range, although i have no idea where you are from cheifpotterer and you may not have this range. The reason why colouring help for a week or so is because most colour has a high condition base which puts a protection onto your hair and scalpt but this "layer" is not permanent so as it rinses out your scaplt loses that condition from the colour. Cold weather would make it worse as cold weather dries you out and is theirfore taking even more moisture out of your scaplt causing it to dry up and become flaky.

ChiefPotterer, can recommend Philip Kingsley Itchy Flaky Scalp shampoo as recommended upthread. I have coloured hair and it's the only thing that doesn't wreck the colour. It also worked first time I used it, no more flaky scalp.

It is massively expensive, but I don't wash my hair very often so I can justify it.

Have also noticed that dying hair stops the flakes for a week or so. No idea why - maybe it kills the bacteria or something?

Oh and if you buy it off the feelunique website it's about a fiver cheaper.

also another recommendation for philip kingsley shampoo. has def reduced the scaliness

Takes pencil out for feel unique website!

Oh looked at price, and totally can't afford that, no matter how good it is!
£6.95 for 75ml, aaaaaaaargh!
£42.45 for 1l

Keels over.

I know it's ridiculously expensive PippiL :(

Have you tried any natural treatments? I find that coconut oil does actually stop the flakes for a few days, especially if you leave it on for a few hours.

coconut oil

apply it to your hair and scalp at night the night before you are due to wash it

it works wonders

I feel your pain I suffered with it unbearably for years, tried Organic shampoos/ boots expert/ medicated and all gentle shampoos. The only one that has soothed and healed my scalp is h&s itchy scalp. Now I can't use anything else, yes it works but a bit too well. It does strip the hair of colour so I'm colouring more often which doesn't help, but I'm a bit stuck now and my head is most importantly itch-free.

Thanks girls am off to research PK and coconut oil. Lovely to get advice from other flaky scalp sufferers it really is a pain and because i am dark haired can be v embarrassing.

I have NITS :-(

Just oiked one out of my hair.

So unhappy. Thankfully had some headrin in so am treating tonight.

This must be the cause of the most recent bout of head itchiness, but the generally itchy scalp is a long running battle.

Feeling eugh.

With the amount of 'nit' threads on MN I sometimes wonder if we all just shaved our heads for six months we could wipe out the little bastards once and for all!

Nit nurses would be out of a job though

David Attenborough would probably be shocked at the extinction of a species though .

It may be worth trying a natural shampoo. They work with your hair using natural ingredients rather than using harsh chemicals like (sls) sodium lauryl sulphate which can strip it. The chemicals can cause a reaction with the scalp.

Emporia, yes I would prefer to use something s bit more natural.

Done the treatment so, lice are gone, but the flakes are still there. The body shop ginger one is the most gentle dandruff shampoo I have found so far but still contains sls.

Might try the naked one recommended on here.

Irritated and sensitive scalp is a common problem for people that wash their hair everyday. AS if there is any irrational either physical, or micro flora in-balance washing hair too often will not help. You should try to visit trichologist if itchiness is unbearable and doesn't seem to go, as it also could be caused by infection etc. La Biosthetique do an ergines E lotion that is designed for calomg the skin on your scalp. ehat it does is complicated to explain so i found product info here salonproductsabroad.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12&products_id=56. However the itchy scalp is only a side effect of an existing scalp problem. I ve used this product as I get flaky irritated scalp and it help. But I had to use it at least 3 x a day.( don't worry it does not make your hair greasy, so you don't have to wash it out). Even tho the irritation went I still had to use other products to solve the flaky scalp problem.

I hope this has helped :)

I treated myself to the Philip K shampoo and a small tube of the scalp treatment. It worked well as first, and still does on about half my head. So nice to know my front hair line isnt red, bleeding and flaky.

BUT - from my ears back, its as itchy as hell again. I would love to shave all my hair off and moisturise and soothe my scalp.

At weekend I applied a mix of olive oil and tea tree oil which helped a bit.

I often wonder if it's related to something Im eating - maybe too much sugar/processed foods or something?

Try L'Oreal Anti dandruff - dark blue bottle with an orange lid, Boots stock it.

It has transformed my hair/scalp,I only need to use it a couple of times a week and then I use Ginger one in between.

I suffered from an unbearably itchy scalp and dandruff for years, until we moved to a house with a water softener. It almost disappeared overnight. Now I can tell when the salt's running low because the itch returns. Do you live in a hard water area?

yy the boots L'Oreal Elvive one with orange lid and blue bottle. Use any conditioner with it.

The L'oreal shampoos/conds are 2 for £4 in Asda at the mo.

Philip
Kingsley was no good for me, I've just gk e to the end of my gigantic bottles and am glad to see the back of it

I'm using a strong steroid (will check name when I go upstairs) and l'occitane for sensitive scalps. Not sure it's having an effect bit at least it smells nice