Dandruff: What do you use to treat?

[disneydreamersx4]

My 8yo DD has a bad case of dandruff.....it's clumpy in spots
I think part of the problem is that she doesn't scrub her scalp good enough, so I'll have to
start helping her. Would baby oil help if we let that sit on her hair for a night? Can you please recommend a treatment that really works to get rid of it.
Thanks so much

 

[Sinderelli]

My son's doctor recommended Nizoral. DS gets bad patches of eczema on his scalp when he uses shampoo/hair products with too much frangrance. The Nizoral works great!

 

[Liberty Belle]

My son's doctor recommended Nizoral. DS gets bad patches of eczema on his scalp when he uses shampoo/hair products with too much frangrance. The Nizoral works great!

My son (16) and I use it. The cool thing is, after you get things under control (around two to three washings, if I remember right), you only have to use it around once a month to keep scalp nice.

 

[JessicaR]

T/Gel is what the doctor told us to use on my son. Worked great!

 

[2Kds2K9]

My DD14 has been using Head and Shoulders for 5 years now and her hair is gorgeous! She's also not had a single problem since. I wonder if it really does stem from when they were babies. My DD had horrible cradle cap.

Good luck!

 

[disneydreamersx4]

Thanks everyone, we'll check into those.

PP I really think it has to do with baby cradle cap

 

[olena]

I have a VERY sensitive scalp, even as a child. The red scaly patches you are talking about have been a problem for years. Once I was able to understand contributing factors, I have been able to control it. It runs in the family, too....seborrheic dermatitis.

Sweat- if DD sweats a lot, wash hair frequently. The more I sweat, the more my scalp breaks out. I have to wash mine after every gym workout or on hot days. I have very thick hair and cutting layers into helps my scalp get more air. I also let my hair air dry, but I don't know if that helps one way or the other. Going to bed with a wet head causes breakouts, so I avoid washing hair before bed or I'll use the dryer.

Shampoo- The best shampoo I have found that doesn't cause its own build-up and leaves my scalp feeling clean is Neutrogena T=gel. I also use generics and they are fine. I don't really use it every day, unless my scalp starts getting itchy. I'll rotate it in every few washes. I've used Nizoral, too, but I can get the T-gel in big bottles, which makes it cheaper per ounce.

Shampoos to avoid- Shampoos with fruit extracts (my favorites) really cause a breakout, so I've given them up. It has made a HUGE difference. I can use Pantene OK and Tres Semme regularly with little problem. L'Oreal Fructis & Herbal Essences make my scalp go crazy.

Conditioner- I use a conditioner most days to avoid drying everything out. I use Tres Semme Soothing conditioner, which doesn't cause problems.

Styling products- I don't use any styling products anymore. Hairspray especially made my scalp breakout. I have to sometimes (couple times a year) use mousse or spritz, so I haven't experimented enough to find one that doesn't cause a breakout. But if I did need to use them, I would avoid any with fruity smells and extracts to be safe.

After years of trial and error, this is what I have found to work for me. You can always take DD to a dermatologist to get help. When my Mom took me, all she was told was to wash my hair with Sebulex and they didn't stress scouring my scalp too deeply with fingernails. They also gave me a prescription for Valisone to treat the spots, but never really addressed what was cauing them in the first place. I have done better with my own experience.

Best of luck!

 

[vettechick99]

I also use T-Gel for dry scalp. Usually in the Spring and Fall I have to use it twice a week. Otherwise I use it every once in a while just to prevent itchiness and flaking.

 

[Sparx]

I use Selsun Blue Naturals for Itchy Dry Scalp. Its in a clear blue bottle, with a yellow cap. It has 3% salicylic acid, where as the regular Selsun Blue only has 1%.

I had itchy gross clumping dandruff, and after one REALLY good shampoo with this brand, it totally went away. I could scratch my head and flakes would come out under my fingernails, it was disgusting.

The shampoo really hurts if it gets in your eyes though (I think its the chemical?) so you may want to help your daughter. You have to really scrub it in too, so it might be a good idea to just help her and show her to how thoroughly get it deep in her scalp too.

 

[Imzadi]

These may be all great dandruff shampoos, but how are they on HAIR?

I use Head & Shoulders for Dry Scalp, as that really cleans up the dandruff, but my hair is now dry & brittle, and I've had to go buy an expensive salon treatment to use after every wash. I don't even really wash the bottom part of my hair, what ever rinses down from the scalp after shampooing is what gets on it.

Even with using this expensive salon treatment after every shampoo, my hair lasted for a couple months longer than usual, but now my hair is ruined again. My hairdresser ends up cutting off about 2 inches of damaged hair every few months.

 

[SoCal Belle]

I use Head and Shoulders almost every day and have been told that I have beautiful hair at the hairdressers. I used to use T-Gel when I was younger, like 1-4times a month. The salicylic acid was too strong (burned). I tried using more concentrated tar gel a few months before my wedding and it seriously scabbed up my head. Since then I have been using the Nizoral as recommended by a doctor 1-4times a month. It works well with the Head and Shoulders. I use the "pink" H&S - forgot the name.

 

[Imzadi]

I use the "pink" H&S - forgot the name.

Thanks, I was just about to ask. Maybe, I'll switch from the H&S: Dry Scalp. I know they came out with a bunch of new ones a while ago. Hopefully it will be gentler on my hair.

 

[shortbun]

I think I'd consult a pediatrician before using harsh shampoo or scrubbing hard due to 'dandruff.' Could be excema and only irritated by those treatments. Could be bad rinsing as well.

 

[JJsmama]

It sounds to me like it could also be Eczema or Psoriasis. The word "clumpy" is what makes me wonder. Be careful about using anything too harsh on it before you know for sure.