Dandruff that burns and itches: when the shampoo aisle stops working
In Mumsnet's general health board, a poster with very thick hair described what she called permanent, severe dandruff. The flakes bothered her less than the constant burning and itching, and the feeling that her scalp was coated in dirt a couple of hours after washing. She washes every other day, her hair takes many hours to dry, and damp winter weather makes it worse. She had tried almost every shopping-aisle shampoo, and added that zinc had been taken out of Head & Shoulders in the EU. The thread drew 38 replies.
What the replies said
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Nizoral came up again and again, with some getting it on prescription and others buying it over the counter, and several stressing that you must follow the instructions exactly, including how long to leave it on.
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Many urged a GP visit or dermatology referral, since burning should be assessed, and said to go back if the first suggestion doesn't work.
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A selenium shampoo (Selsun) was suggested, and one reply wondered about seborrhoeic dermatitis, which is managed rather than cured.
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Practical tips: dry the scalp fully after washing, never sleep with wet hair, and ask the hairdresser to thin out very thick hair so the scalp dries faster.
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One warning: a person who went 'no-poo' for months believed it triggered their scalp problems.
Desk note: The NHS says dandruff is not caused by poor hygiene. It suggests anti-dandruff shampoos containing ketoconazole, coal tar or salicylic acid, used for up to 4 weeks, and advises seeing a GP if it hasn't improved after 4 weeks, if it's severe or very itchy, or if the scalp is red or swollen. The zinc point is real: the EU banned zinc pyrithione in cosmetics from 1 March 2022 under Regulation (EU) 2021/1902, after it was classified as toxic for reproduction, so many formulas changed.
What finally calmed your flakes: a specific ingredient, a routine change, or a doctor?
Original thread: Mumsnet General Health — "Dandruff is making my life a misery" · Source: NHS — Dandruff · Source: CIRS — EU ban on zinc pyrithione in cosmetics
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