Can I use skincare on my scalp?

[SecretNinja]

Hi all,

In short, will I go bald if I put skincare on my scalp? Is there something specific about haircare forumulations vs skincare formulations that means I shouldn't do this?

Long version, I have a dry scalp. I've had it forever, and I've tried absolutely everything .... nothing works. My scalp sometimes responds to tar and Piroctone Olamine, but only for a couple of washes before going back to itchy, flaky, nightmare. It's also fine immediately after being dyed.

I have spent years getting my skincare right, and I wonder if my scalp just needs the same ingredients as my face? I have dry skin on my face too, but you wouldnt know, because my skincare is working.

Fab - thanks for checking. I'm on the right track (fingers crossed!!)

I too get a dry and itchy scalp and I have to be careful which products I use as my hair also gets very greasy using oils and things. The only thing that has worked for me (and on my face as well) is while I'm in the shower and after I've wet my hair, is massaging aloe vera gel into my scalp, leaving for a minute or so then washing it out and shampooing as normal. I then use aloe vera gel as a moisturiser.

I don't know why it works, it just does. I think it's maybe because aloe vera is a natural healer and it's great for sunburn so it has the same affect on my scalp and face. It basically heals it and stops it being so dry. I have seriously bad combination skin. I can go weeks with greasy horrible skin then weeks with dry horrible skin. I shower every day and wash my hair everyday and this seems to help

Is it caused by yeast? I accidentally discovered that caused my scalp problems when I was Prescribed Diflucan for thrush. Solved 2 itches at the same time!

I tried aloe. But I dont wash my hair daily so perhaps it didnt have a chance to do much.

Yes, I think it is yeast. Only because the things that make it worse are on the list to avoid for yeast. At the same time though, assuming the dye does kill it (because of the PH), it always come back, which is odd. Its interesting about diflucan. Might speak to a pharmacist and see if theres something I can get without going to the doctor again - feel like a time waster.

The other product DD uses now is childs farm unscented lotion which she uses on her body sometimes and occasionally on her scalp, hairline. Her eczema isn't caused by yeast. She has always had it her whole life and we are still waiting for her to grow out of it as her paediatrician promised!

Aveda scalp tonic?

Surprised noone's mentioned Oilatum. I alternate it with Nizoral and Head & Shoulders Scalp Relief (different from the bog standard types)

I find that taking turns works (strangely).

Let me know what works for you. I have the worst scalp of my life at the moment after trying the Curly Girl method. I can tell you not to bother with the Vichy Decros shampoo or the La Roche Posay dandruff shampoo (can’t remember the name - tiny bottle).

I've found Moo Goo customer services to be really helpful - if you contact them they may send you out some samples to try?

If it’s yeast you could try buying some citricidal drops and diluting with water and applying to the scalp. But I expect you really need to treat it from the inside out

I have scalp psoriasis which flares up terribly from time to time. The only topical application which is guaranteed to clear it is betnovate scalp application, which is a steroid and prescription-only. I’m afraid the only thing that has helped is changing my diet: as little sugar as possible, minimal caffeine and alcohol.

Oh goodness, sugar, caffine and alcohol !! I will cut back, definately. I dont know if can erradate completely though.

I dont think what I have is as bad as psoriasis, so I dont think I would be able to get a steroid oresecription - but I used to rely on hydocortisone for my face (before I got it under control).

I had cradle cap as a baby, then was fine until I was about 10, and i've had a bad scalp ever since.

I'm going to ask the phramacist and see if taking canesten OTC would help if it is yeast (similar to diflucan). I have checked all my hair products, and i'm going to limit myself to what is safe for Malassezia. I'll get some samples of MooGoo (which looks safe) and the body shop ginger seems to be on safe too. www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/comments/8787gm/acne_fungal_acnemalassezia_master_avoid/

There is something to what you say about alernating. Some things work for a bit and then stop, so maybe that will get around that. Plus I have a stupid amount of failed test bottles to use up.

Curly Girl should come with a health warning if you have dry scalp! Kept hoping I'd turn a corner any day, before I gave up in misery.

I couldn't login to my account, so started a new one, then I seem to have managed to get into my account afterall. Weird. Ninja and Ruby are the same person - hadn't realised.

I’d second Nizoral and Head & Shoulders Scalp Relief (or Selsun if you can find it, same ingredient). Dr should have suggested these.

Could be an auto-immune issue - especially as you suffer with other issues.

Diet can be very healing. Low sugar, low GI, lots of probiotics and possibly less dairy and gluten. Worth a go!

Nizoral worked for a few washes and then stopped working. H&S scalp relief didnt do anything.

Dr presecribed various tar based products when I was young. Once I was older he gave me suggestions and sent me off to try various different things OTC. In the end I stopped asking - can work my way round boots without using a doctors appointment. They simply dont take a chronic itchy head seriously. I understand why.

Yes, will look into changing my diet. I need to anyway, bit too porky!

I have psoriasis on my scalp and have done since I was 12, i have tried everything. Had some success with Tgel but this has stopped working. My scalp was so flakey and sore and a few weeks ago I became desperate. Went into Boots for a browse and ended up getting some Head and Shoulders itchy scalp shampoo and it was cleared the itchy and all my flakey scalp! I’m not sure if it will continue but it was my last resort before forking out for Moogoo stuff!