I need help! I've had a serious case of dandruff for a few months now and I need tips on how to make it go away. I've tried the over-the-counter shampoo "remedies" and it's still not better. In fact, I could swear that the flakes have gotten bigger. And, honestly, I'd prefer a non-chemical solution anyway. In case it helps, I currently wash my hair every other day (if I do it more often than that it gets really dry) and I only blow dry it once a week at the most. I don't use any styling products when I don't blow dry my hair (which is most days).
I am SO self-conscious about it - I'm convinced that everyone can see it - and I just want it to go away... Any ideas/thoughts on what causes dandruff (because maybe I'm shooting myself in the foot somehow)? Any suggestions, divas, on how to get rid of it?
I am SO self-conscious about it - I'm convinced that everyone can see it - and I just want it to go away... Any ideas/thoughts on what causes dandruff (because maybe I'm shooting myself in the foot somehow)? Any suggestions, divas, on how to get rid of it?
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Kansas City
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Re: Dandruff help?
Mon, April 7, 2008 - 6:03 AMDandruff can be caused by an excessively oily or dry scalp, or sometimes a fungal infection of the scalp causes flaking. When I had dandruff I always found that the over-the-counter remedies were just strong chemicals that aggravated my skin (maybe they were trying to burn it away!). Have you had any recent lifestyle changes - moved house etc. as the water you use could affect it too?
I have been using no shampoo, no conditioner since January and its great. There is a website forum that gives information on what to use instead (different types of rinses), problems with different methods etc & people sharing their experiences. At first I thought ok this is really weird, but once I read and read I understood the whole 'philosophy' of not using shampoo & conditioner and how many so people find it better for them. The website is
communities.livejournal.com/no_poo
The reason I'm talking about this is many people have said that this has got rid of, or at least helped their dandruff. I've also found in many alternative beauty recipes for dandruff that apple cider vinegar is used, which is one of the main rinses you can use in no 'poo, which probably hase something to do with it. Only drawback is I don't like the smell of vinegar, but you don't have to wash with it lol. I think you would benefit from trying no shampoo out and see if there's any improvement! -
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Re: Dandruff help?
Mon, April 7, 2008 - 8:07 AMThanks, Ellie. I did move into a new apartment in December - so the water thing actually may be related; I never thought about that. Except I hope that's not it, since there's not a lot I can do about that...
And actually, I've been considering going 'poo free for awhile now -- I just hate the idea of the stripping(SLS)/silicone cycle that goes on with shampoos and conditioners these days. Maybe this is a sign that I should just do it already.
Thanks for the site -- I will spend some time looking it over! -
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Re: Dandruff help?
Tue, April 8, 2008 - 8:42 AMYou're welcome, I hope everything goes well for you :)
If it is the water thing, then you will hopefully just be adjusting to it so this may improve on its own.
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Re: Dandruff help?
Mon, April 7, 2008 - 9:44 AMAvalon Organics makes a clarifying (lemon) shampoo that works really well for me. I also started adding baking soda to my shampoo which has been working also.
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Re: Dandruff help?
Mon, April 7, 2008 - 11:03 AMBellatrix,
In addition to the affects of winter or harsh water, another thought... if you've tried dandruff shampoos and it seems worse, it may not be dandruff. You could have something like psoriasis, which can look like dandruff. Have you tried Neutrogena T-Gel or Nizoral? those are both good for treating other conditions. They'll strip your hair though, so try to keep it on the scalp. If those don't help you I'd suggest seeing a dermatologist. -
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Re: Dandruff help?
Mon, April 7, 2008 - 11:17 AMTried Neutragena T-Gel...no change. Never thought about it being psoriasis...eeek. -
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Re: Dandruff help?
Mon, April 7, 2008 - 11:22 AMhonestly, I would go see someone. Before trying a bunch of diffrent things that could just make it worse it may eb worth the investment in your health to find out what it is, then attack it from there. Otherwise, it's like shooting in the dark.... if you cringe at the cost just add up all the $$ you might spend on ramdom products and snazzy hats to cover your head I bet you ge tat least close to an office visit!
good luck. -
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Re: Dandruff help?
Mon, April 7, 2008 - 11:24 AMVery true, Bryndl. But I might still buy the snazzy hats. :) -
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Re: Dandruff help?
Mon, April 7, 2008 - 3:00 PMNizoral is the only thing that ever worked for me. It knocked those flakes out fast, and the only time they've come back is when I visited Israel - the water where we were staying was ridiculously hard and made my scalp flake immediately. -
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Re: Dandruff help?
Mon, April 7, 2008 - 6:22 PMhave you changed anything internally? new medications? antibiotics?
i'd start with putting healthy bacteria into your intestines... get some bio-k at the health food store and do that for a few days to make sure your insides are healthy.
and have you read the ingredients in tgel? it has antifreeze in it -- read as phenols -
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Re: Dandruff help?
Mon, April 7, 2008 - 7:53 PMNeutrogena T-Gel Ingredients:
Active Ingredients: Neutar Solubilized Coal Tar Extract (2%) (0.5% Coal Tar)
Inactive Ingredients: Water (Purified), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamide DEA, Laureth 4, Fragrance, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA
While it does not have 'anti-freeze' in it, it does have SLS and parabens. Both are bad for you.
There are also questions about Coal Tar being carcinogenic, but it has been used for skin conditions for quite some time.
Sounds like your ph is out of whack. Both lavendar and bergamot oils are good for balancing the skin.
Whatever you choose to try, good luck : ) -
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Re: Dandruff help?
Tue, April 8, 2008 - 11:31 AMyeah, if you used T-Gel everyday it wouldn't be good for you. But it's not a cleaning shampoo, it's a medicated shampoo. Which means you use it at most once a week, for about a month, then the problem is usually gone.
I find I only need to use it a few times a year, usually in the winter. I figure a few times a year isn't going to harm me any more than anything else I encounter. and I honestly feel less worried about putting tar on my head than the creepy combination of chemicals in prescription solutions. ;) -
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Re: Dandruff help?
Wed, April 9, 2008 - 8:27 PMI got wicked, wicked dandruff during my pregnancy and the only thing that controlled it was using apple cider vinegar with ever shower it took. I was paranoid about smelling, but you rinse it off and i asked around- no one else noticed it. Come to think of it, i was dry all over- huge flacky dandruff with itchy scalp, and dry *intensely* itchy skin and i'd pour the vinegar ove rmy whole body in the shower, then wait a few minutes and rinse it off.
And yeah- for OTC medications, coal tar (T-Gel) is about the only thing that works. At least that's what they told me in my dermatology class.
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Re: Dandruff help?
Wed, April 16, 2008 - 9:36 AMTry Nizoral, there's an over-the-counter 1% percent concentration. It works for my boyfriend. He uses it twice a week and it doesn't not damage his hair (he has very long hair and uses conditioner). Plus, it's supposed to help prevent hair loss.
It doesn't stink, like the T-gel. I used it a couple of times and did not strip my color (well, no more than any regular shampoo does....). Good luck! I have stubborn dandruff once in a while (stress induced, according to my dermy) and I know how much it sucks.
