Teenager with Dandruff...What to try?

[Luv Bunnies]

My DS15 has been having some pretty bad dandruff lately. But, I'm thinking it may be something other than regular dandruff. Around his hairline above his forehead, he has this yellow, crusty stuff that falls off in huge flakes (sorry to be gross!). We've tried just about every dandruff shampoo we could find. I explained it to my hairdresser and she thought it might just be a very dry scalp. She gave me some samples of a moisturizing oil but it didn't seem to help. I've tried Scalpicin and even a little hydrocortisone cream. Nothing seems to help. I'm wondering if it's not dandruff but psoriasis or dermatitis? Anyone have any experience with this? What did you try? Are we looking at a doctor visit for a prescription treatment? I'll do whatever it takes because it looks awful and the itching is making him uncomfortable. Thanks for any advice!

 

[cassiez76]

i have psoriasis and when it was really bad i used dermarest shampoo. it always felt good on my scalp too.

 

[autumnpalm]

I would visit a dermatologist, just to be sure- especially if nothing else seems to be helping.

 

[kami2199]

My dd has something similar going on. It's itchy and flaking off in big flakes - pretty much just peeling. I don't think hers is dandruff as usually that tends to be oily too I think. I actually think hers is caused by not rinsing the shampoo/conditioner well enough in that area. What I have done with her is to remove the scales with a comb and then have her use the strongest/medicated denorex. Seems to work as after her bath, there are no more flakes. Yours sounds almost like cradle cap - I'd look into solutions for that. But I definately would be removing the scales with a comb before showering. You might try some olive oil to loosen them up a bit.

 

[Kat77]

It sounds like psoriasis to me. Have you tried denorex or another tar based shampoo? Explain he should lightly scrub his actual scalp with it and not just the hair.

 

[HannaBelle]

My DD13 had the same thing. I thought she was not rinsing her hair well or had horrible dandruff. It got to the point where she had sores crusting over on her scalp and we went to the doctor. She was diagnosed with a type of eczema on her scalp. She was prescribed Luxíq Foam and it works GREAT. It is not cheap. We pay $100 per can after insurance pays their portion, but she only uses it once a week as a preventative measure. She does not have a flare up unless she forgets to apply it. 1 can lasts about a year.

I would definitely go to your PCP for their opinion.

DD has started washing her hair daily with a generic tea tree shampoo from Sally's Beauty Supply as well and it really helps. She says it feels "tingley". DS17 has started using it and we wash the dogs with it. They coats have never looked better and our male dog no longer scratches himself like he has fleas! lol

 

[mrsv98]

My DD13 had the same thing. I thought she was not rinsing her hair well or had horrible dandruff. It got to the point where she had sores crusting over on her scalp and we went to the doctor. She was diagnosed with a type of eczema on her scalp. She was prescribed Luxíq Foam and it works GREAT. It is not cheap. We pay $100 per can after insurance pays their portion, but she only uses it once a week as a preventative measure. She does not have a flare up unless she forgets to apply it. 1 can lasts about a year.

I would definitely go to your PCP for their opinion.

DD has started washing her hair daily with a generic tea tree shampoo from Sally's Beauty Supply as well and it really helps. She says it feels "tingley". DS17 has started using it and we wash the dogs with it. They coats have never looked better and our male dog no longer scratches himself like he has fleas! lol

Yes, excema. I have it all over my body and it flares badly on my scalp. I have a steroid lotion that I use when it is bad and I use Paul Mitchell One or Tea Tree shampoo the rest of the time.

Go to your doc or a dermatologist, trust me it won't go away on its own and can be very embarrassing, especially for a teen.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Nizoral. It's a bit more expensive, but once it gets under control, you should only have to use it every couple of weeks to once a month. It worked for me and my teenaged son and it sounds similar to what we had going on.

If we don't use it for a couple few months, it will come back.

 

[cassiez76]

My DD13 had the same thing. I thought she was not rinsing her hair well or had horrible dandruff. It got to the point where she had sores crusting over on her scalp and we went to the doctor. She was diagnosed with a type of eczema on her scalp. She was prescribed Luxíq Foam and it works GREAT. It is not cheap. We pay $100 per can after insurance pays their portion, but she only uses it once a week as a preventative measure. She does not have a flare up unless she forgets to apply it. 1 can lasts about a year.

I would definitely go to your PCP for their opinion.

DD has started washing her hair daily with a generic tea tree shampoo from Sally's Beauty Supply as well and it really helps. She says it feels "tingley". DS17 has started using it and we wash the dogs with it. They coats have never looked better and our male dog no longer scratches himself like he has fleas! lol

the luxiq foam is awesome! i've used that too with my psoriasis. it was well worth the money to me.

there's also this medicated stuff for your scalp (i got it from my derm), but it's worse than any of the tar stuff. you have to leave it on over nite (with a shower cap...crinkle crinkle) and then wash it out in the morning. it's oily and leaks and ugh...a mess!

 

[snowy76]

I'd try Neutrogena T-Gel shampoo (not the 2-in-1 stuff, but the real stuff). It has coal tar in it and helps with psoriasis or general itchiness.

If you think it's just winter-related, for prevention next year, I'd go with Herbal Essences coconut (I think it's called Hello Hydration - bright blue bottle). The only reason I mention it is because we got a big bottle of it at BJs before the cold set in, and I realized just a week or so ago that I've had NO itching this winter, even with blow-drying my hair every day.

 

[All American]

Luxiq Foam

I have psoriasis on my scalp, and that stuff is great! It's like cortisone/steroid combo and really helps the itching and scaling. (Just be aware it dissolves instantly when it touches the skin, so it's best to apply to the area and then use your fingers to spread it around.)

In addition to my medicated mousse, I use the T/gel shampoo. It stinks to high heaven, but it helps the scales come off. Use it 2 or three times a week. Let it sit on your head for a few minutes and then follow up with your shampoo. I really like using the T/Gel with the Paul Mitchell Tea Tree shampoo and conditioner. It felt like my scalp could breathe--very refreshing.

And since the third time's the charm, I also use Dovonex. It's a prescription cream (a type of synthetic Vitamin D) and is helpful in treating psoriasis, which your son may or may not have.

If anything, you could treat it like cradle cap. Just grab some baby oil and a fine-tooth comb and see if that helps. I hope you find something that works soon. Flaking is no fun especially on days that I want to wear a dark T-shirt.

 

[dreamin_disney]

My dd has something similar going on. It's itchy and flaking off in big flakes - pretty much just peeling. I don't think hers is dandruff as usually that tends to be oily too I think. I actually think hers is caused by not rinsing the shampoo/conditioner well enough in that area. What I have done with her is to remove the scales with a comb and then have her use the strongest/medicated denorex. Seems to work as after her bath, there are no more flakes. Yours sounds almost like cradle cap - I'd look into solutions for that. But I definately would be removing the scales with a comb before showering. You might try some olive oil to loosen them up a bit.

My dd12 is going through the same thing uugh!

My DD13 had the same thing. I thought she was not rinsing her hair well or had horrible dandruff. It got to the point where she had sores crusting over on her scalp and we went to the doctor. She was diagnosed with a type of eczema on her scalp. She was prescribed Luxíq Foam and it works GREAT. It is not cheap. We pay $100 per can after insurance pays their portion, but she only uses it once a week as a preventative measure. She does not have a flare up unless she forgets to apply it. 1 can lasts about a year.

I would definitely go to your PCP for their opinion.

DD has started washing her hair daily with a generic tea tree shampoo from Sally's Beauty Supply as well and it really helps. She says it feels "tingley". DS17 has started using it and we wash the dogs with it. They coats have never looked better and our male dog no longer scratches himself like he has fleas! lol

I bought a tea tree oil from Wal-greens. We add a 2-3 drops in a nice smelling sauve coconut shampoo bottle. Tea tree oil stinks BAD so you need to find a nice smelling shampoo. If u can find a shampoo that already contains tea tree oil then better. I put the shampoo in dd dry hair. I massage it in where i see the flakes. Then i let her watch tv for 10-15 then i have her wash out her hair, That seems to help her but if i dont keep on it then she gets the huge flakes.

 

[Liberty Belle]

If those of you still having problems haven't tried Nizoral, you ought to. I used to work in a dermatologists office and they'd prescribe that more often than anything. It really does work.

 

[beachlover9395]

Totally agree with taking him to the dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis. There could be several things going on that have been mentioned, like eczema, psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis, which is what my 17 y.o. son has. And all of those have different treatments, so a diagnosis is crucial.

For him, he alternates using Nizoral shampoo one night (1% ketoconazole) with drugstore brand T-Sal type shampoo (3% salicylic acid). Those two in conjunction with each other keep his scalp in check. You can get Nizoral shampoo by prescription with 2% ketoconazole in it, but my son didn't like how his hair looked after using it, so we went back to Nizoral 1% ketoconazole.

Oh and an interesting aside: my son started developing lots of acne on his sideburns area, because it's turning into beard hair and presumably the seborrheic dermatits could be there also. We found the ketoconazole shampoo helped, so we got a prescription for ketoconazole 2% cream for his sideburn area. He uses it during the day and washes it off and uses benzoyl peroxide at night. That has to be washed off because those two medications don't like each other, as he found out from a chemical burn!

Good luck - hope he gets an answer soon!

 

[Jennasis]

Does he wear hats often? Maybe a helmet for sports or even a do-rag?

 

[DisMN]

Quite a few people I know swear by Listerine mouthwash. My daughter has severe dandruff and just looked at me funny every time I suggested it....and she kept using her medicated shampoos and prescription creams and lotions. Last December she tried the Listerine and hasn't stopped thanking me yet.

I understand it can work well for athletes foot and jock itch as well. LOL Hey, I'm all for non prescription remedies for any health problems.........

 

[PrincesCJM]

Quite a few people I know swear by Listerine mouthwash. My daughter has severe dandruff and just looked at me funny every time I suggested it....and she kept using her medicated shampoos and prescription creams and lotions. Last December she tried the Listerine and hasn't stopped thanking me yet.

I understand it can work well for athletes foot and jock itch as well. LOL Hey, I'm all for non prescription remedies for any health problems.........

Alright, I'm curious. What/How exactly do you put Listerine on your scalp?

 

[cruisnfamily]

If those of you still having problems haven't tried Nizoral, you ought to. I used to work in a dermatologists office and they'd prescribe that more often than anything. It really does work.

Is this prescription? Or otc?

 

[Princess Nancy]

We use T-Gel and DD swears by it.

If she gets a bad flare up we will use T-Sal.

It seems to do the trick

 

[LuvOrlando]

Is he using one of those Axe like shampoo & body wash combos? If so that could be it. All the boys around here had the same problem a while back and once they stopped using the products the trouble went away too. A few washes with Head & Shoulders, the Blue container, and a switchover to Pert with Dandruff control and it might go away.

If this doesn't work i'd suggest getting him to a Dr. My hairdresser just had a scary health situation with her son that first showed itself with dandruff so that's what I would do.