Active discussions

Help end medical misogyny. Sign our petition.

Help end medical misogyny.
Sign our petition.

Sign the petition

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

A scalp treatment shampoo that truly stops dandruff flaking?

80 replies

Hdqn · 03/05/2023 08:07

DH has very short hair and a sore scalp, pale pink and flaky in places. We’ve tried so many shampoos but they do not stop flaked falling onto his shoulders and he is so self conscious at work. Has anyone got anything that really works? Head and Shoulders did a clinical ‘Scalp Relief’ one which was great but they have stopped selling it. Please help!

OP posts:
Turquoisa80 · 03/05/2023 09:53

Nizoral has to be applied on the scalp and left on for at least three minutes before being washed off, then use another shampoo for the hair. It worked for me really well, I also dry my hair thoroughly as I think it's water left on the scalp causing dandruff

Tittyfilarious81 · 03/05/2023 09:53

@Hdqn my son suffered like this and the dermatologist gave him dermax shampoo to use and it cleared it up really well, you don't need a prescription for it .

GatherlyGal · 03/05/2023 10:23

@HadalyEve thank you but that is one I've tried but it didn't work for me.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 03/05/2023 11:03

broadbeanquiche · 03/05/2023 09:13

Yes that's how I found it. There was a shortage of selsun it seemed and someone recommended this. Its amazing. You have to use it for 4 weeks I think it says.

Show quote history

It wrecked my hair and didn't work at all for me sadly. I looked like Worzel Gummidge.🤣

potatohead1 · 03/05/2023 11:04

Nizoral. Weirdly expensive but good

ComeBackPeterComeBackPaul · 03/05/2023 12:24

I think it was Nadine Baggott who recommended Ameliorate and I got some for my husband. It is marvellous - the difference is amazing.

ComeBackPeterComeBackPaul · 03/05/2023 12:57

Yes, it was NB and it’s a clarifying scalp exfoliant. Use NADINE code for a discount …. and follow her on Instagram, she’s superb!

windmill26 · 03/05/2023 13:13

broadbeanquiche · 03/05/2023 09:05

Vichy Dercos

This.
It has sorted my scalp out from the get go. You can buy it from Amazon or Boots.

HadalyEve · 03/05/2023 15:21

GatherlyGal · 03/05/2023 10:23

@HadalyEve thank you but that is one I've tried but it didn't work for me.

Oh, too bad. 😕

luckylavender · 03/05/2023 15:33

I have tried all sorts of things which only ever work for a while. But I got a scalp massage brush and it's great. Use after shampooing.

Chocchops72 · 03/05/2023 15:56

Selsun or Neutrogena TGel. Both are horrible for your hair but good for flaky, itchy, dermatitis on the scalp.

stardust777 · 03/05/2023 16:09

I've used Nizoral in the past and it's worked very well. With any anti-dandruff shampoo I think the trick is to not wash it off immediately. I let in sit on my scalp for at least 5 minutes (usually about 10) before washing it off.

I'm currently using this cheapie that you can get in Poundland and Savers, and it's working quite well. Before washing my hair, I part it into sections and then apply the shampoo on my scalp only.

whitepepper86 · 03/05/2023 16:22

SebaMed anti-dandruff shampoo:

Sebamed Anti Hairloss Shampoo 200ml - Pack of 2 amzn.eu/d/1eflg0z

AzureBlue99 · 03/05/2023 16:56

There are two versions of Nizoral now.

The original, which you leave on for a few minutes, as a treatment. You use it every couple of days for 2 weeks and then once a week maintenance. It works but it dries out your hair a lot. Advise using with a leave in conditioner. Plus only use the shampoo on the scalp rather than run through the hair (this is for anyone reading who has the same but with long hair). This is the one that is often prescribed.

The new one is a shampoo they have just bought out to use in between the treatment one. It's not necessary to use it, they have just increased their product range so the original can be used without buying a special in between shampoo.

FinallyHere · 03/05/2023 18:16

The problem is there are different kinds of dandruff which are caused by different things so if he won't go to the GP it's just trial and error.

Absolutely this. One 'benefit' of the lockdowns for me was that I just stopped shampooing my medium shortish but really quite greasy hair. I used to shampoo daily.

Not going anywhere, I just stopped washing it. Within a week or so my usually really itchy scalp has calmed down a lot. Now, it's washed once a week and looks great all week.

Even my hairdresser who is invested in encouraging me to visit more often often mentions how good my hair looks on arrival. I do nothing to it beyond a weekly wash and daily brush or comb.

Transformational.

I'm only sorry my mother who used to say weekly hair wash was much better than my preferred daily washing , is no longer around to see me taking her advice.

Elieza · 03/05/2023 18:27

When we have dry skin on the face the advice is to do a skin scrub first to get rid of the flakes and then do whatever skin regime and moisturise. Why not scrub the scalp. It’s the same skin under that hair.

I have dry scalp and I do a scrub now and again to get rid of the flakes. You can only glue them down for so long! And then use a prescription shampoo.

Id suggest you give DH some exfoliator and let him use that first. Then whatever shampoo you decide on. If you don’t have any exfoliator get some sugar and baby shampoo or something non-allergenic and mix it, scrub carefully onto scalp, rinse and then use whatever shampoo you decide on.

Pot8ohs · 03/05/2023 18:31

Jason Anti-dandruff shampoo is good. They have just changed formula to add salicylic acid to sulphur so stock can be patchy but it’s worth trying to get some.

Has been cheapest here recently but currently out of stock. https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/jason-anti-dandruff-scalp-care-shampoo-60004606

Is in stock elsewhere but bit more pricey.

AzureBlue99 · 03/05/2023 18:33

There are also different types of dandruff - wet and dry. Wet needs regular cleansing.

MrsPetty · 08/05/2023 18:27

I had this problem for years and years 🙁 I finally went to visit a trichologist. I was living in NY at the time and it had gotten a lot worse. He looked at my scalp under a magnified light for about two minutes and said ‘you’re allergic to Sodium Laurel Sulphate and anything that sounds like that’. He explained that it’s in anything that foams and suggested I get rid of toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo etc. I did and it literally fixed it overnight. Jason do a great range of SLS free products. Might be worth a go … https://www.jasonnaturalcare.co.uk/

Jason Natural Care-SLS Free-No Parabens or Artificial Ingredients

Jason Natural Care Products-FREE SHIPPING on orders over £25-Now Shipping to EU-SLS Free-No Parabens-No Artificial Ingredients.

https://www.jasonnaturalcare.co.uk/

Bigcheesey · 08/05/2023 19:04

I had been struggling with the same thing for several years and was cursing having a black work uniform which just highlighted the problem. Sometimes it’s got so bad I would have scabby bleeding patches. I recently purchased a bottle of the mint syrup from https://hairsyrup.co.uk/ and omg the difference is incredible. My hair and scalp genuinely feel flawless.

I can’t believe it didn’t buy it sooner. Before that I used the T Gel 2-1 in the melon/ jasmine scent which did a pretty decent job of keeping it at bay.

hairsyrup pre-wash treatments hair syrup

Hair Syrup non-toxic, no nasties pre-wash hair treatments for nourishment, glossing & quenching.

https://hairsyrup.co.uk/

Mere1 · 08/05/2023 20:07

Definitely Nizoral. My daughter, 40, used to suffer as you describe. She now uses this and it works.

PunishmentRoundupWithJoon · 08/05/2023 20:37

Nizoral - it really works. It contains an anti fungal ingredient.

Lennybenny · 08/05/2023 21:34

Nizoral 2x a week to start and then daily after a month.

AzureBlue99 · 08/05/2023 23:01

Daily is too much @Lennybenny - was that a typo?

tinkerbellvspredator · 08/05/2023 23:05

DH had psoriasis, Alphosyl shampoo from pharmacies worked for him.