Dandruff Wont Go Away

Updated on February 21, 2013
A.F. asks from Milford, CT
16 answers

I have dandruff that will not give up! Tried Head n Shoulders, Tgel, and moisturizing conditioners. Any other advice? So dry, itchy and flaky. It's so embarrassing!!

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K.M.

answers from Chicago on

I agree to visit a dermatologist or GP first. If they confirm that it's simply dandruff you may need to have a perscription strengthy shampoo then follow up with Selsum Blue instead of Head n Shoulders.

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M.W.

answers from San Francisco on

My son uses Denorex. It worked magic!! He swims everyday for water polo and showers multiple times each day. His head was scratchy,red bumps and lots of dandruff. This cleared him up...he even mentioned how good it made his head feel.

Good luck!!

More Answers

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

What works for me is a vinegar hair rinse.
I use 1/4 cup of vinegar (white or apple cider - doesn't matter which) and dissolve 2 un coated aspirin in it.
Then I add water to bring it up to 2 cups.
After I shampoo and rinse off the soap I pour the vinegar aspirin water over my scalp and through my hair.
Then I squeeze out the excess and don't rinse it out.
I towel dry my hair and then let it air dry.
The vinegar smell goes away as it dries.
The salicylic acid (the aspirin) stays on my scalp and the vinegar smooths/shines my hair so I don't need a conditioner.
It works better for me than any dandruff shampoo I've ever tried (and I've tried them all).

It helps to determine the cause of your dandruff.
If you have dry scalp you'll also have dry itchy skin elsewhere on your body (arms, legs, etc).
For that, try rubbing mayo or olive oil into your scalp and let it sit 30 min before washing it out.
If you have eczema or seborrheic dermatitis, you'll have red scaly patches around other parts of your body besides your scalp and that would be calmed by a prescription topical steroid cream - you'll have to see a doctor for that.
Often a flaky scalp is due to a fungal infection (it's something everyone has on their skin all the time but it just gets out of control on some people more than others) - the vinegar aspirin water rinse helps keep that under control along with a balanced diet (including zinc, vitamin B, and omega-3 fatty acids) - you can also soak your scalp in plain yogurt once in awhile or add a cup of it to your bath water.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/27367-tips-remove-funga...

4 moms found this helpful

L.A.

answers from Austin on

It may not be dandruff, but a dry scalp..
You may want to ask your hair dresser to take a look at it or a dermatologist.

You could google. Dry scalp and see what is suggested
Look for a hot oil treatment for your scalp. Our daughter used one by Aveda..

Do not use such harsh shampoo, and try not to wash your hair every day.

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M.2.

answers from Portland on

I have heard that pure coconut oil can help with dandruff. It worked for my son's eczema. He has eczema on his inner eyelids in winter and after washing his face with warm water and Cetaphil, I put the coconut oil on and he doesn't have any problems for days. It must be 100% organic, unprocessed coconut oil. It's white and paraffin-like when cold, and melts into a clear liquid on your skin. Costs about $6 from local co-op.

1 mom found this helpful

R.A.

answers from Boston on

My SIL is a hair dresser and recommends using the Aveeda conditioners for dry scalp/dandruff. I have always had dandruff, and she says that most dandruff shampoos dry out your hair more, so it's best to use conditioner daily and really rub it in the roots. It worked for me!

Good luck!

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H.P.

answers from Houston on

Get a hair stylist to "scrape" your scalp and then use tea tree oil in your shampoo or conditioner. You might have to go to her/him a couple of times. Get up all the dry skin, and then condition your scalp in such a way that it won't likely come back.

1 mom found this helpful

R.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

What has your doctor recommended? If you haven't brought it to his or her attention, I would.

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

Also could be an infection.

I borrowed a family members hairbrush recently (every 5 years or so I forget), who has SOME kind of ongoing scalp infection. I don't know if its fungal, bacterial, or whatever. But once so use their brush, Im screwed.

Flakey
Flakey
Ickiness

Hair dye kills it
As does straightening (chemically)

I can't afford any of the E (Im assuming a doctor will also have meds, but I'm between insurance.

4x Ive done this in 20 years.
4x "dandruff"
4x either dye or Chem straightening kills it

Took months to figure out the first time.

So Im saving up the $300 to fix it.

((My relative doesn't believe me that its an infection... But EVERYONE had caught it from her at some point in the past 20 years. The boys are easy. Dye and done, no commitment to the color, since they just shave it off later. Us girls, on the other hand, either have to commit to coloring our hair and highlighting it out (or living with ugly roots), or pong up the cash to perm/straighten (curls gradually reform on their own).

So... If any of the 3 is an option... You might make sure you're not infected.
_______________

She doesn't believe us, so she won't tell her doctors its contagious, so her doctors tell her its dandruff. Over 40 people have caught this from her... But she insists its "nonsense & BS & she's been dealing with this for 20 years -never dying or straightening- and we're all related so it must be genetic".

Sigh.

1 mom found this helpful

J.S.

answers from Hartford on

Try something that doesn't have any sulfates in it. I love the L'Oreal Ever- line. I use the EverCreme for dry to very dry hair although I just tried the EverCurl because my hair is curly and the EverCurl is new.

Not only do they work for me, but they got rid of the eczema on my scalp.

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D..

answers from Miami on

Put Listerine on your head at night time and massage it in. My mother swears by that. I haven't had to do it, but she says it's great.

Dawn

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L.H.

answers from New York on

If you can get a hold of Drandruffcide from a beauty supply center, that would be great. You have to mix it yourself, but it's worth it. You can feel it tingle when you use it. Selsun Blue is great stuff too. It's a lot stronger than Head and Shoulders.

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H.W.

answers from Portland on

Redken makes a shampoo called "Scalp Therapy". I've been using it for the past 3 years and it keeps my dandruff (which used to be bad) in check. I buy it from my salon and it costs between $15- 19 or so, if I remember correctly, however, a bottle lasts me about half a year. Works very, very well.

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K.G.

answers from New York on

Try Nizarel. It's OTC but prescription strength.

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☆.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special shampoo.

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J.P.

answers from Chicago on

I was having this problem too for years. I tried every shampoo, the vinegar, Listerine, etc. I was ready to go to a dermatologist until I tried pure coconut oil. It's solid below 76 or so degrees. I use it every third time I wash my hair, and it's totally taken care of the problem I have had for so many years. The first treatment I left overnight. After that, I just put it on about 30-60 min. before I wash my hair. Coconut oil is also great for your skin in so many ways, and it's got a ton of benefits when you eat it! You can google it to read about it, or check out the reviews of a popular one on Amazon.

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