Dandruff or dry skin on head? What works?

[Trillz]

I have dandruff. Or a dry scalp. One or the other. I'm not even sure if they are different.

I don't know if I want to get out the Head and Shoulders (which I have heard is very harsh) or if I need to somehow moisturise my head better.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

[NotAQueef]

Report back in a week Trill and I'm sure you will already see an improvement!

[Trill]

Terribly exciting update: I have bought some Body Shop Ginger shampoo

[valiumredhead]

YY Body Shop Ginger

OR

L'Oreal anti dandruff - dark blue bottle and orange lid - available in Boots.

[fruitscone]

Just to echo other posters:

BODY SHOP GINGER SHAMPOO

I put a similar q on here last year and so many people recommended it. I had proper scabs over my head and it was spreading. I had tried some medicated shampoo from chemist to no avail, then got some coal tar and body shop ginger. I think it was the body shop ginger stuff that really shifted it and now I use it when I got swimming and it seems to keep it at bay. Smells lovely too.

[VillaVillekulla]

I agree with the Apple Cider Vinegar recommendation and also try using coconut oil. Melt it, massage it into your scalp. Leave it on overnight. Wash out in the morning.

[NotAQueef]

I have no clue. I decided mine was dry scalp, but the ginger shampoo I linked to treats both and smells nice too (won't leave you with a stained scalp like some treatment shampoos.) mine seemed to get really bad after I had been using pantene for the first time in years.
You only need a tiny amount.

[Trillz]

So how do you tell if you have a dry scalp or fungus? What's the distinguishing feature?

[orangeandlemons]

But my hair, skin and scalp are very dry too. But I still get the fungus shit

[TapselteerieO]

I use the cider vinegar as a scalp tonic/ hair rinse before washing my hair - not sure what it does but it seems to rebalance my hair/scalp so if it is feeling dry it sorts that out, but if I have a build up of grease/oil it seems to work on that too - I haven't had oily hair for years though, tends to be dry and the cider vinegar rinse makes my hair feel soft and glossy. I use this one.

[Trillz]

No SLS sounds like a good suggestion no matter what my problem is :)

What do you do with the cider vinegar?

From the descriptions of dandruff here I really don't think that's what I have.

Thanks all for your suggestions/recommendations.

[TapselteerieO]

I would try an apple cider vinegar rinse before washing - 1 part cider vinegar to two parts water, let is soak into your hair for about 5 mins, and then shampoo/condition as normal.

I use faith in nature shampoo it is free of SLS, there is a good range of types, they are reasonably priced, Oxfam sell them but I get them from local independent health food type shops.

The cider vinegar really makes a difference to my scalp/hair without the oil slick from olive oil - I would use it once a week, then once a fortnight, then monthly to keep my hair lovely and shiny.

[Trillz]

My hair and scalp never have been oily. Ever. I've always had dry hair. I haven't just had a baby or changed contraceptive or done anything to change my hormones so there's no reason why I would suddenly have started making oil and then gained a fungus.

[ifitsnotanarse]

If it is dandruff then neither your scalp nor your hair will be oily, but dry instead. That's because the fungal infection is feeding off it . My hair only became oily after the Nizoral started working. I always had dry hair and could have gone a week without washing (didn't, honest, swear ). It's not as oily now and seems to have balanced itself out. Oh, and I use Johnson's Baby shampoo now which is nice and gentle.

[NotAQueef]

Bodyshop ginger shampoo
honestly - it's amazing, check out the reviews.
I've been using it for a few weeks now and the dry sore flaky scalp I've been suffering with all winter is gone!

[orangeandlemons]

T gel or Nizarol. It is increasingly thought that dandruff is a fungus. I had what I thought was a dry scalp. Itchy flaky, felt tight etc. turned out it was sebhorric dermatitis. However I have to say although the 2 shampoos kicked it into touch, they are not very good on the old hair. Make it very flyaway

[RevealTheHiddenBeach]

Another saying head and shoulders doesn't work for me - but i've been really impressed with the results from the Loreal anti-dandruff shampoo (which I didn't even know existed) - and it's often pretty cheap in supermarkets. It's a blue bottle, if you choose to try it!

[Fairydogmother]

I'd second Nizoral - its fabulous! I'm also hypothyroid.

But it doesnt sound appropriate in this case - I'd recommend Eucerin

[Scoobyblue]

T gel is fab. Works every time.

[TheHuffAndPuffALot]

It might just be that you need to be drinking more water, at least this is what my hairdresser recommended to me when she commented on my dry scalp.

[Trillz]

Ah - so there is a difference between dandruff and just dry skin. Thanks! I was never sure if it was a real "thing" or just a special word for "flaky scalp". :)

I promise that I do not have an oily scalp. My hair never gets greasy or oily. Oily scalp is definitely not me. So it's unlikely that I have a fungal infection that likes oil.

[ifitsnotanarse]

If it is dandruff, then moisturising will only make it worse.

I had an itchy, flakey scalp for over 20 years and tried pretty much every dandruff shampoo, none of which worked. So I thought it must be dry skin instead and over moisturised my scalp. It just got worse. Colouring my hair brought relief but only short-term.

A year ago I happened to read in a magazine that dandruff is actually caused by a fungus that is attracted to an oily scalp, feeding off the oils , and making the scalp dry, flakey and itchy. The magazine recommended Nizoral shampoo, which I bought the next day. After the initial use for 2 - 4 weeks, I now use it once or twice every month. Sometimes I forget to use it and only remember when my scalp becomes itchy again. The bottle is only 60mls but have it a year and still about a 1/4 left. First shampoo to work on me. No horrible flakes on my shoulder, no scratching my head so hard that it bleeds.

I was really at having a fungal infection on my head but also that it took me 20 years to find out. Turns out that I am prone to fungal infections due to hypothroidism.

HTH and good look with finding a solution.

[MrsJaqenHgar]

Aveda Shampure with the occasional use of T-Gel. I have eczema which makes my scalp flaky. Occasionally, I'll get full on flare ups of broken, it h skin which can be cleared up with T-Gel. The rest of the time, Aveda Shampure keeps my scalp in good condition.

[teta]

I get a really dry itchy scalp from time to time and use Eucerin shampoo.Its very soothing and moisturising and is especially for psoriasis and other skin conditions.