Dandruff for 11 year old DD

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Hi, any suggestions for anti dandruff shampoo for 11year old? Most of the results on amazon say not suitable for under 12s or withiuhr doctor consultation. Unfortunately our gp is not really interested in such non serious problems and won't give any prescriptions.

I guess for a couple of weeks it won't harm using stronger shampoo but not sure what to try..

Thanks for reading..

Have you tried Head and Shoulders? I use that regularly, more because I have a sensitive scalp rather than dandruff, although it's why I originally started using it, so it should be suitable for an 11yr old.

If it doesn't help then have a look at Tgel (which is a coal tar). If both fail to help i would ask a pharmacist before GP.

Sorry no suggestions, we have the same problem so marking my place!

We've tried Head & Shoulders and Dr Organic, neither of which have made a difference. We did get selsun prescribed to us once which cleared it up straight away but when we went back to get more they told us it wasn't for under 12 (first time we got it she was 10 and they didn't mention anything about age)

We can't find selsun anywhere now 😞

Head and Shoulders

But in saying that, whilst not a need to see a GP, when next in ask for a dermatology referral. I have sebaceous dermatitis , basically cradle cap and if I dont use Head and Shoulders, and now ointment aroud the eye brows, ears etc, it can become horrendous.

Bog standard H&S for now till you get a dermatology appointment

Selsun has been discontinued in the UK as of September 2022, unfortunately. Nothing else is as good. However, I did stop using it temporarily when I was pregnant a couple of years ago as per manufacturer guidelines, and was surprised to find that the Body Shop Ginger Anti-Dandruff Shampoo was more effective than I expected

Try T Gel

Nizoral shampoo.

Nizoral shampoo, the one in the box not the tube.
Use it twice a week and any other shampoo the rest of the time.

Ah ha! On my 10yo I use Vosene dandruff shampoo. Long long hair, so a PITA to wash already 😂, I get it really soggy with warm water first, then add first large dollop of Vosene to the hairline to crown, which is the dandruffy area. This gets a good lather and scrub the scalp with finger tips. A quick rinse off and a second dollop of Vosene to the same area, repeat the process and squeeze down the lengths. Apparently the active ingredients work at the scalp, so we let it sit for a few minutes before washing off.
This is then followed by regular conditioner from the mid lengths only, combed through and rinsed out.
We always airdry, and wash once a week. It seems to keep the dandruff at bay. Good luck!

Body Shop ginger shampoo works well for a lot of people.

I've used Polytar for years (apart from a few years when they discontinued it!) totally calms my scalp down and stops the flaking/itching. I've always had a flaking scalp which I was told was a type of dermatitis rather than dandruff so head and shoulders never worked.

I tried all sorts including the Body Shop Ginger shampoo (nice shampoo but ineffective on dandruff), Philip Kingsley (same), Nizoral (generally average) but the smelly brown coal tar based T-Gel seems to have finally nailed it. Just using it once a week now.

Another vote for T Gel

I am a reluctant expert on this subject.

I would really not use T Gel or Polytar on a child or teen. I use T Gel because it is the only thing that keeps my scalp psoriasis under control; however, coal tar is a known carcinogen and although the quantities in a shampoo are unlikely to cause harm I wouldn't start it so young.

This aside, coal tar is really only effective if the issue is a skin condition like psoriasis. A lot of dandruff is fungal, so you are better with Head and Shoulders (piroctone olamine) or Nizoral (ketoconazole). If it responds to either of these then it's likely fungal and reducing sugar in the diet can also be helpful. You could also try Vosene, which contains salicylic acid and is helpful for exfoliating the scalp.

Head and shoulders ,the one for ITCHY SCALP.

My younger teen daughter has quite persistent dandruff and the only thing that works is the head and shoulders in the bottle with a nozzle cap. Hopefully this link works.

https://www.boots.com/head-and-shoulders-dermaxpro-soothe-anti-dandruff-scalp-balm-hair-treatment-145ml-10307054?cmmmc=bmm-buk-google-ppccPLAsAsHeroCompareare--PMax:+UKKSmartShoppinggBeauty&gadsource=1&gbraid=0AAAAADrIajUB3vnBAG3LJdYNiVCAP-5bK&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-MrgyoTjhwMVep2DBx3-4wKaEAQYCyABEgJc44DBwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Nizoral 2% ketaconazole shampoo, dd 13 has acne and v oily skin and hair, she's had periods of dandruff and Nizoral used every wash for at leat a week has always shifted it. It's also good at getting rid of folliculitis on her scalp when she gets a flare because of hormones.

It's back in stock at most places now, after a manufacturing issue meaning it was sold out everywhere for a couple of months. Mind you during that period I just bought Dandrazol from Amazon instead, which is an American version, same ingredients.

Op just make sure it's the one with 2% ketaconazole in, not their other shampoo by Nizoral which is a non medicated one. The ketaconazole is what will get rid of the yeast overgrowth that causes dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, folliculitis etc. Make sure you let it sit on the scalp for 5 mins before rinsing off. It's great stuff

My DDs got dandruff, turned out it was caused by them going to bed with wet hair after a bath! A few hair washes later after having throughly dried with a hairdryer each time sorted it out. Sharing in case it helps

Thanks for all the replies.

I used to have persistent dandruff and nothing worked (none of the things named above). But then I was prescribed Diprosalic Scalp Application - completely sorted it.

www.ukmeds.co.uk/diprosalic-scalp-application

For info the reason why this is so effective is because it contains a steroid (I use the similar Betnovate for psoriasis flare-ups). It has to be prescribed by a GP and cannot be used long term. I don't think you'll find a GP who would be willing to prescribe it to a ten-year-old unless it was a really severe case.

It says right there in the link that it's suitable for children.

When I used to use it, that 100ml bottle lasted for months. After more frequent use initially, I only then had to apply it about once a month - and that was years ago, and the dandruff never came back. It really isn't scary stuff.

It's prescription-only for a reason and GPs are increasingly reluctant to prescribe corticosteroids for children without trying other options first. Betamethasone can be incredibly effective but it has some really nasty side effects after long-term use, which you won't have experienced as you had the good fortune that it resolved your skin issue.