Urgh dandruff help please!

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I think I've posted about this a few years ago but back again. I'm so fed up with my dandruff. I've had it all my life. Philip Kingsley itchy scalp (recommended by mn ages ago) has helped and I no longer have flakes on shoulders, I can wear black again etc. But I still have dandruff last week I started using nizoral as it seemed to suddenly get worse (maybe because my periods returned after breastfeeding?) which has helped a little but I'm so fed up with it all. I wonder if actually my scalp is just really dry as I have very dry skin?

I really want something to work, it's like build up of dandruff, even without flakes my scalp is white and you can pick bits off

Should I be washing my hair daily? Every other day?
Blow drying? (I do blow dry it every time at the mo)
cut out sugar?
Use a moisturiser on my scalp?
Exfoliate it to get rid of it completely?
Some other products?!
Cut out sugar???

Please someone help me!!

I had really bad dandruff during my pregnancy (possibly due to hyperemesis making me very dehydrated)
The combination of Aveda’s scalp remedy treatment and washing with their Scalp Benefit shampoo really helped clear it up very quickly. The body shop ginger shampoo is also really good (and much cheaper)
Not sure about the effects of sugar or exfoliating etc but I do find washing less often helps, I wash every 3 days and it’s never greasy with those shampoos

Maybe a trip to the GP is needed? It might not be what we're considering 'dandruff' at all, could be something else that needs treating with a different product and possibly something on prescription.

The only thing that works (in my experience) is Bodyshop Ginger Shampoo & Conditioner. Worked for 2 people I know with severe dandruff battles.

I find a daily wash with anti dandruff shampoo gets it back under control within a week or so. I tried all sorts of other things first as I was convinced my scalp was dry not dandruff - but it was like a miracle when I started using it. The elvive clay shampoo also helps control dandruff too - I use it in rotation with straight anti dandruff shampoo

Only thing that has worked for me lately has been Ducray shampoo

Nizoral, T-Gel, Bodyshop Ginger et al had stopped working so I tried this on recommendation of a dermatologist. Works really well and keeps it at bay. Smells nice too. Not sure where you would get it in the UK (I'm elsewhere in the EU) but I believe it's available.

Do you brush your hair enough?

And if you do are you using a decent brush that brushes your scalp?

I find if I don't brush my hair properly twice a day then I will get dandruff flakes.

Investing in a decent brush, I love Mason Pearson, but their are other cheaper brands, helps keep my hair and scalp in great condition.

I use Cantu shampoo which can be bought from Boots and Superdrug's. It's in the Afro hair department. It's a natural cleansing shampoo and removes product build up which can be what causes dandruff. It's expensive at £7 a bottle but I buy it from Superdrug when it's on offer - 3 for 2.
It's the only thing that has worked for me, and I've tried everything.

There's definitely a link between diet and dandruff (some things feed the yeast/bacteria and other things help fight it).

Off the top of my head, peanuts and peanut products such as peanut butter are really bad. So are dairy and chocolate.
Good things are green veg (particularly broccoli), eggs, almonds, walnuts, fish and flaxseeds.

It's on 3 for 2 at the mo. But try one and see how you get on

I've tried loads of different shampoos, nizoral, tgel etc... And I'm getting on really well with this one at the moment. Pricey as it's a tiny bottle but I don't need to use it often and only need a small amount each time
www.sanareva.co.uk/sebclair-shampoo-100ml.html
It's nice because it doesn't contain SLS, only mild cleansing agents, so it's not drying at all

Thank you all. I'll have a good look at all those recommendations. I keep googling the difference between dandruff (oily scalp?) And dry scalp and actually I think it's very dry. Would that make a difference in how I treat it? And what can I do about the huge buildup so far? Like I said, I've had this forever and never managed to totally get rid of it

www.boots.com/head-and-shoulders-clinically-proven-solutions-anti-dandruff-shampoo-130ml-10222261 This is amazing! You need selenium as the active ingredient! I swear by it. Only £4.99 m.

Thanks again everyone, I'm slowly working my way through these suggestions..ordering the aveda, trying head and shoulders in-between the nizoral treatment... I'll give it a month and will try other suggestions if those don't work (I'm not hopeful )

@Palominoo do you brush your actual scalp quite vigorously then? Almost like exfoliating it? Thanks

I am probably guilty of not brushing properly. I hate my dandruff as I like wearing black

I use Alphosyl, it seems to work for me

Have you tried coconut/castor oil rubbed in hair and scalp (lots) and left overnight with towel in pillow then wash out in the AM?

Yes I do brush my scalp. It lifts dead skin cells and then they are brushed away.

Brushing distributes oil every throughout the hair as well.

You do need a decent hairbrush.

What kind of brush?

Mason Pearson. I use all bristle ones but they also do bristle and plastic and just plastic.

I get a bit of dry skin flaky scalp, I have found that massaging squalane oil into my scalp and leaving it for a few hours, or overnight before washing it out gets rid of flakes for a while. I spend a bit of time properly massaging it in, which probably helps rub off the dry bits. Makes my hair lovely and shiny too.

Is it actually dandruff or maybe psorasis? How is your skin on your body? Is your scalp red? Does it extend beyond your hairline or on the back of your neck? Scaly of flaky? Are the flakes white, silvery, yellow? Do you have patches of it on your scalp or is it all over? If you are not sure perhaps Google pictures of both.

Amber I have psoriasis. Do you have any recommendations for products that would help?

I’m currently using the BodySho ginger shampoo but it isn’t working.

SlipperOrchid me too! I use shampoos that don't contain sulphates, one on special at Sainsburys at the moment is Happy Naturals, I use Neutrogena Tgel for flare ups. Another thing I have found really helps, is when you put the conditioner in your hair in the shower comb it through. I think the combing helps loosen the plaques from your scalp. You can also get steroid lotions on prescription for breakouts. Weirdly I find dying my hair makes it go away for a couple of weeks. Also blow dry your hair so your scalp is not left damp after washing your hair. Hope this helps, it sucks.

SlipperOrchid I just looked up the BS ginger shampoo and it does contain sulphates (sodium laureth sulfate) so probably not a good one to use.

That's a great idea with conditioner, I'll try that too.

What's wrong with sulphates?

Thank you @Palominoo ordered one, looks great