Dandruff, clarifying, shampoo...desperate to find a solution that WORKS.

[ChristineB]

Ugh. I have used the search engines to try and find some stuff related to my problem. Nothing has quite matched up and I am hoping some of you can help me?

I have BAD dandruff. Like, I don't like wearing black kind of bad. And I have tried everything. I've had it since I was about 9 years old (so 11 years now), so I feel like it is probably something I have to check out with a dermatologist...but I don't have money for it at the moment and the waiting list is LONG.

The only thing that keeps it at bay is regular shampooing and vinegar rinses. The vinegar seems to really dry out my hair, and I can't imagine the shampoo is helping it either. I've been trying C-W-C, but I still have dull hair following. None of my regular oil/anti-frizz serums are working lately too. They last like 3 minutes before my hair is a mess again.

My hair looks the absolute best with regular oiling and CO washing. But my scalp is a mess when I do that.

Has anyone else been in this sort of situation? Advice is very much appreciated :(

[jillosity]

what's your vinegar mix like? Most people (myself included) have good luck using about a tablespoon of ACV in 1 cup of water, no need to use any more than this. Other than that I'd say look to your diet before going to a dermatologist. Do you eat lots of fats/carbs/processed junk foods/animal products? Is your health really great except for the dandruff? If it isn't consider looking into some dietary improvements and see if it makes a difference.

I had dandruff for lots of years too, and my scalp really loved the acv rinses as I mentioned and also shampoo with Rhassoul clay, I used Reincarnate b lush (it also smells divine!). You might also try infusing your vinegar with rosemary or adding a few drops of the essential oil (no more than a few drops tho, read about EO safety so you are fully informed!), it's also good for problem scalps,

Good luck!

[jacqueline101]

I had a dandruff issue and a very intelligent lady on here told me to get a fine tooth comb and scritch my scalp. It's been two yrs and its hard to remember everything she told me. Heidi W is her name on here try getting ahold of her. I think the other part was to use a dandruff shampoo like norzal something like that to do vinegar rinses. I only had one case of it one time.

[Panth]

Really, if the dandruff is that severe and long-term the absolute best thing to do is save up and see a doctor. Just a regular family doctor / GP is more than sufficient to diagnose most of the common reasons for dandruff/scalp problems - a specialist dermatologist is probably not necessary at least in the first instance.

In the meantime, how strong are your ACV rinses? ACV (or any sort of acidic rinse) should not dry out your hair - quite the contrary, it should promote shine and slip and a nice "closed" cuticle on the hair. You are probably making them too strong. 1 teaspoon of vinegar to 1 medium/large glass of water is more than sufficent.

Also, with oiling - you shouldn't be putting it on your scalp (it's unnecessary as oil is for hair but also can cause shedding in some people). However, this is particularly true if you have dandruff. True dandruff (as opposed to a scaly scalp due to eczema or dermatitis (which can be a reaction to product)) is caused by a fungal infection. That fungus lives on oleic acid - present in sebum, but also in many of the oils that people use for hair. If you do have this infection, adding oil will exacerbate the problem by providing the fungus with more food and thus permitting it to grow even more.

This is one of the reasons why a proper diagnosis would be really beneficial for you - you don't need to follow their advice on buying an expensive prescription shampoo or medication as treatment as there are lots of "natural" and homemade remedies which can be just as effectual (depending on the diagnosis). However, without a diagnosis we can't really give you useful or helpful advice and much of the advice that people here may give you could be well-meaning but actually make things worse.

[Katrine]

I was diagnosed with psoriasis when I was a teenager. My mom took me to a dermatologist and as he was looking at my hair he said it was psoriasis, and that basically I had dandruff. After struggling on and off with scalp issues for years I recently remembered this and decided to read up on alternative treatments for psoriasis.

I did a search on youtube for psoriasis treatments and there are a lot of useful tips from others suffering from it. I've gotten really good results from making changes to treat this condition and much relief from the itching and flaking. I went back to doing ACV rinses which really helps my symptoms and also started adding Dr. Bronner's to my dilute shampoo mix and a couple of drops rosemary or eucalyptus EO.

Maybe your regular Dr. could take a look at it? Is there someone else he/she could recommend? The best option of course is to have a dermatologist see you and make a proper diagnosis. Then you won't feel like you're second guessing yourself if you try to do something for it because you aren't sure. And, as previously mentioned, you don't want to make the condition worse by trying to treat it on your own.

[Savvyhorsez]

I have the worst dandruff ever imaginable. The only thing that I've found that helps the best is ION Dandruff with coal tar, the other that helps a little bit is the generic version of the tea tree shampoo. Good luck!

[ChristineB]

what's your vinegar mix like? Most people (myself included) have good luck using about a tablespoon of ACV in 1 cup of water, no need to use any more than this. Other than that I'd say look to your diet before going to a dermatologist. Do you eat lots of fats/carbs/processed junk foods/animal products? Is your health really great except for the dandruff? If it isn't consider looking into some dietary improvements and see if it makes a difference.

I had dandruff for lots of years too, and my scalp really loved the acv rinses as I mentioned and also shampoo with Rhassoul clay, I used Reincarnate b lush (it also smells divine!). You might also try infusing your vinegar with rosemary or adding a few drops of the essential oil (no more than a few drops tho, read about EO safety so you are fully informed!), it's also good for problem scalps,

Good luck!

Thanks!

To be honest, I don't remember...maybe 1-2 tbsp. with a 2L water bottle? My hair is very thick so I thought it would be easier to reach all my hair if I used a bit more solution. It makes it very soft...but just. Yeah. Dull, I guess.

My diet is very good. I eat only fish and eat a lot of coconut oils, fish oil, olive oil, etc..minimal processed stuff. No dairy/beef/pork/etc. My health is pretty good except for that.


Really, if the dandruff is that severe and long-term the absolute best thing to do is save up and see a doctor. Just a regular family doctor / GP is more than sufficient to diagnose most of the common reasons for dandruff/scalp problems - a specialist dermatologist is probably not necessary at least in the first instance.

In the meantime, how strong are your ACV rinses? ACV (or any sort of acidic rinse) should not dry out your hair - quite the contrary, it should promote shine and slip and a nice "closed" cuticle on the hair. You are probably making them too strong. 1 teaspoon of vinegar to 1 medium/large glass of water is more than sufficent.

Also, with oiling - you shouldn't be putting it on your scalp (it's unnecessary as oil is for hair but also can cause shedding in some people). However, this is particularly true if you have dandruff. True dandruff (as opposed to a scaly scalp due to eczema or dermatitis (which can be a reaction to product)) is caused by a fungal infection. That fungus lives on oleic acid - present in sebum, but also in many of the oils that people use for hair. If you do have this infection, adding oil will exacerbate the problem by providing the fungus with more food and thus permitting it to grow even more.

This is one of the reasons why a proper diagnosis would be really beneficial for you - you don't need to follow their advice on buying an expensive prescription shampoo or medication as treatment as there are lots of "natural" and homemade remedies which can be just as effectual (depending on the diagnosis). However, without a diagnosis we can't really give you useful or helpful advice and much of the advice that people here may give you could be well-meaning but actually make things worse.

Thanks for your reply. I didn't think of bringing it up with my regular doctor but I will try that.

I usually just oil from the bottom of my ears and down. I only oiled my scalp once, and did an ACV rinse the same day. The result was a clear scalp, gorgeous locks...but only for a day or two before I was back to my regular hair, and the dandruff started coming back. :/

I need to schedule an appointment with my FD soon so I'll see what she thinks it might be.


I was diagnosed with psoriasis when I was a teenager. My mom took me to a dermatologist and as he was looking at my hair he said it was psoriasis, and that basically I had dandruff. After struggling on and off with scalp issues for years I recently remembered this and decided to read up on alternative treatments for psoriasis.

I did a search on youtube for psoriasis treatments and there are a lot of useful tips from others suffering from it. I've gotten really good results from making changes to treat this condition and much relief from the itching and flaking. I went back to doing ACV rinses which really helps my symptoms and also started adding Dr. Bronner's to my dilute shampoo mix and a couple of drops rosemary or eucalyptus EO.

Maybe your regular Dr. could take a look at it? Is there someone else he/she could recommend? The best option of course is to have a dermatologist see you and make a proper diagnosis. Then you won't feel like you're second guessing yourself if you try to do something for it because you aren't sure. And, as previously mentioned, you don't want to make the condition worse by trying to treat it on your own.

How often do you ACV rinse? Is there a downside to ACV rinses weekly if they are well diluted?

[Nique1202]

If you're OK using sulfates in products, I've had some success controlling my dandruff since I started using shampoos designed for oily hair, specifically either Jumping Juniper (lavender and juniper to balance oily scalps) or Soak And Float (cade oil to fight the fungus that tends to cause dandruff and lavender to balance oil production) shampoo bars from Lush, and not putting oil anywhere above my earlobes. If my coconut oil touches my scalp at all, then A) my scalp gets oily within the day (where normally I wash every 4-6 days), and B) the dandruff starts getting visible.

[Katrine]

How often do you ACV rinse? Is there a downside to ACV rinses weekly if they are well diluted?

I use about 1/2 - 1 teaspoon of ACV in about 10 ounces of purified water. I have been using ACV every time I shampoo because that seems to be what my scalp needs right now. I shampoo every other day and alternate a shampoo with a scalp wash.

I think the ACV rinses are beneficial for my scalp and hair. It helps to control the itching and flaking and makes my hair shiny.

I make up a new bottle everytime I shampoo and rinse it and air it out for next time. I don't know that it's a good idea to let it sit between washes. Those bottles from Sally's with the pointy tip work well. HTH :)

[Panth]

Thanks!

To be honest, I don't remember...maybe 1-2 tbsp. with a 2L water bottle? My hair is very thick so I thought it would be easier to reach all my hair if I used a bit more solution. It makes it very soft...but just. Yeah. Dull, I guess.

My diet is very good. I eat only fish and eat a lot of coconut oils, fish oil, olive oil, etc..minimal processed stuff. No dairy/beef/pork/etc. My health is pretty good except for that.



Thanks for your reply. I didn't think of bringing it up with my regular doctor but I will try that.

I usually just oil from the bottom of my ears and down. I only oiled my scalp once, and did an ACV rinse the same day. The result was a clear scalp, gorgeous locks...but only for a day or two before I was back to my regular hair, and the dandruff started coming back. :/

I need to schedule an appointment with my FD soon so I'll see what she thinks it might be.



How often do you ACV rinse? Is there a downside to ACV rinses weekly if they are well diluted?

That's great if you can see your family doctor fairly easily/cheaply. It will definitely be very helpful - they DO have the training to diagnose all of the common causes of scaly/itchy scalp. Dermatologists are specialists - only really necessary in very severe cases, unusual cases or cases that do not respond to treatment.

Personally, I (when I remember) do a vinegar rinse after every wash (so ~2x week). I don't rinse mine out, partly as I see no need and partly because I'm also using vinegar rinses to slow down the rate of mineral build-up on my hair from my exceedingly hard water. I use white wine vinegar or just plain white vinegar instead of ACV as ACV has been reported to redden blonde hair slightly. If the vinegar rinse is sufficiently diluted it should not cause dry hair. If this is the case, there is absolutely no problem with doing vinegar rinses daily if you like. Both scalp and hair naturally prefer an acidic pH, plus the acidity will help close the cuticle of the hair, so it is a doubly beneficial thing to do.

[lapushka]

I would try some over the counter Nizoral, if I were you. This might not be dandruff at all, but might Seborrheic Dermatitis, or SD. Follow the directions to the shampoo to a T, though! --> Wet the hair, smoosh the product in, leave on for 5 minutes, then rinse out.

[Firefox7275]

As usual I agree with Panth. Never self treat a self diagnosis, you can VERY easily worsen the problem. Any treatment which is potent enough to be effective for one flaky or itchy scalp disorder (there are several common ones) is more than capable of aggravating another/ damaging the skin barrier further.

[BlazingHeart]

I thought I had dandruff for quite a while. My GP was not sure whether I had dandruff or psoriasis, so he suggested something of a test. He had me get a bottle of OTC dandruff shampoo and use it according to the directions every day for 5 days, then go back to my normal shampoo. If you have dandruff, a 5-7 day treatment like that will almost always show results within a week, he said. If things stayed the same or got worse, there was something else going on, and from the color, size, and placement of my flaking, he determined that it was psoriasis. If you have psoriasis or sebhorreaic dermatitis, dandruff shampoo and treatments will do you less than no good. It would be like using an anti-fungal cream to try to heal a paper cut, the treatment doesn't do anything for the problem.