Teenager with Dandruff...What to try?

[ToTLaugher]

You might want to try apple cider vinegar. We have found it to be very effective for my DD. I soak a cotton ball then rub it on the scalp. She waits at least 15 minutes or up to 1 hour and then shampoos it out. Made an immediate difference for her when nothing else would. Plus it is CHEAP!

 

[Luv Bunnies]

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

No hats or helmets. He's not a sports guy at all. He may occasionally pull up the hood on his jacket when it's raining, but he doesn't generally wear hats.

Thanks to everyone for the advice. There seems to be a range of possible causes. I think I will call the pediatrician''s office and see if they'd like to see him or refer him to a derm. I did comb out the scales last night before he took his shower and that seemed to help a little. He's much less scaly this morning. But, we need to get to the bottom of it and find something that will work in the long term. Thanks again for all the advice!

 

[DisMN]

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

Everyone I know who this has worked for swabs it on with a with a cotton ball or a clean washcloth. They leave it in for 15 mins or so then wash it out. I've only heard of people using the original scent/taste Listerine.

(I hated to admit having had some serious dandruff when I was a teenager, but back then I tried the Listerine thing and it worked for me too. Also it seems to work pretty fast. As I recall I had no more dandruff after 1-2 uses and my daughter tells me it worked that quickly on her too.)

 

[cepmom]

DD had similar problem and Nizoral worked well to reduce the scaliness.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Is this prescription? Or otc?

They'd prescribe prescription, but it's available over the counter, as well, and that strength has worked fine for DS and me.

 

[Shmily1]

Honestly, it sounds as if it's dried shampoo. Sometimes it's hard to get the shampoo off really good around the edges of your hairline and teens are always in a hurry. If shampoo dries, it will flake like that and may be a yellowish color when packed on mixed with body and hair oils.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

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!

It is called "scaling" or also known as Seborrhoeic Dermatitis also termed Seborrhoeic Eczema. My 16yodd gets this. We took my dd to the dermatologist and we got prescription strength shampoo.

Click link to read about it or google for more.

http://www.hairandscalpexpert.com/Scaling_scalp_conditions.htm

 

[SaraJayne]

This thread is almost two years old.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

This thread is almost two years old.

Oh.... beaver built a dam.

ZOMBIE THREAD WARNING!!!!!!

 

[minkydog]

I'd suggest seeing a dermatologist. It sounds like he's got some seborrheaic dermatitis or psoriasis. Both my son and I have psoriasis in the scalp; his is much worse than mine. Ds has terrible dandruff which has not responded to shampoos well. He probably needs to take meds for it, but he has no insurance so he just has to suffer along with it. I take Enbrel for mine, because I have psoriatic arthritis, which sometimes appears in connection with psoriasis and it keeps my head relatively cleared up ( and reduces the pain in my hands and feet.)

 

[BonnieA]

OK, it might be an old post, but if it helps someone else, then it's all right.
It sounds like psoriasis to me, cause that's what I have. Went to a dermatologist and he prescribed Clobex. It is expensive but he also had a card to give me that made the copay only $10. It worked right away and now I only use it occasionally as a preventative,

 

[bethy]

This thread might be two years old but the topic is certainly just as relevant today. i for one am grateful it popped back up because my DD just started having these same issues and I am very excited to try some of these ideas.

 

[marcyinPA]

We mentioned my DS17's dry scalp and dandruff to his dermatologist, and he prescribed a shampoo that begins with a "K"---ketanzole or something like that? (I'm too lazy to go up to the shower to look for the name... ). Anyway, he is to use it 3x a week and then use whatever in between. It works great. By the third time, he is clear.

(he had been using Head and Shoulder dry scalp and it didn't help at all)

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We mentioned my DS17's dry scalp and dandruff to his dermatologist, and he prescribed a shampoo that begins with a "K"---ketanzole or something like that? (I'm too lazy to go up to the shower to look for the name... ). Anyway, he is to use it 3x a week and then use whatever in between. It works great. By the third time, he is clear.

(he had been using Head and Shoulder dry scalp and it didn't help at all)

Yep, my dd had that prescribed as well. It is Ketoconazole.

http://www.medicinenet.com/ketoconazole-shampoo/article.htm

 

[Straitlover]

I know this is an old thread, but i thought I'd post this in case it ever got pulled back and soemone needed to know:

About the listerine, you cna put it in a spray bottle. Wash your hair, rince, and spray the scalp really well. Let it a few minutes and rinse. Use the original old school listerine. That and tea tree shampoo worked well for me. I use Denorex shampoo to keep it (seborrheic sp?? dermatitis) from coming back.