Extremely sensitive scalp

[Othala]

My scalp has become increasingly sensitive over the last 6 months or so and I would appreciate any advice.

Whenever I change to a new product or product I have not used for a while and whenever I use henna or indigo, I experience the following in a 24 hour progression:

1. Irritation
2. Itching
3. Soreness (even though I do not succumb to the itching and scratch it)
4. Pain if hair is moved in a different direction or combed
5. Shedding lots of hair

Can anyone throw any light on why this is happening?

Has anyone else experienced this? If so, could you please share what you did to resolve this sensitivity?

Thanks in advance.

[summergreen]

Yes I have, I also get a kind of hot feeling which isn't bad enough to call burning, a kind of intense and unpleasant glow which can also affect my face. I can't use any hair colouring product at all and am stuck with my much hated silvers.

I haven't really resolved the sensitivity, just have to keep away from known irritants. Most planty and home-made things are the worst for me - cassia gave me a 6 week itch-fest - and doing a patch test is useless as it's only my scalp that's sensitive. When you say 'new products' are they mostly natural, herbal stuff? If so maybe you'd also do better with non-natural products.

Yes I'd like to know why it happens too! Sorry I can't be more help!

[Othala]

Thanks summer green. Sorry to hear about your condition. I guess we are in the same boat.

I am fortunate enough to have friend who is a dermatologist in London and spoke to him this evening.

He advised me to immediately stop using detergents, whether natural or synthetic, on my scalp. Also, no synthetic conditioners or hairsprays, etc. I can use a bland, unfragranced oil as long as it doesn't cause any irritation, but only very lightly on my hair and not my scalp.

He also said no henna or indigo, so I am going to have to revert to my natural grey hair again. I feel awful about this and do not know how I will cope with the grow-out. I think my hair will look awful with the extreme demarcation of black dyed hair and the (probably 50%) whites in the virgin hair.

Aaarrgghhh! This is so frustrating.

So, I guess I am WO for the foreseeable future.

[PolarCathy]

(...)

He also said no henna or indigo, so I am going to have to revert to my natural grey hair again. I feel awful about this and do not know how I will cope with the grow-out. I think my hair will look awful with the extreme demarcation of black dyed hair and the (probably 50%) whites in the virgin hair.

Aaarrgghhh! This is so frustrating.


Noooooo! Nooooooo!! ; (((((

There's nothing I can say here other than I'm so sorry ; ((
Can this still be some Mega-Tek after-effect?

I just can't imagine you giving up on the henndigo. Nooooooo! Let's hope for some solution before it's due again.

I can only reflect on (4) and even that won't apply in your case. Pain I experience from time to time when I'm getting sick. Like the day before the flu. That's how I know it's coming and that it's too late for me to do anything against it.

I can't advise on the rest. If I get smarter I will. There are so many teas, aloe vera juice/gel etc. for sensitive skin. (Oh by the way, aloe vera, have you ever used that?)

I just want to hug you, my friend till more replies come.

:grouphug:

:grouphug:

HEEELP!!

[Amber_Maiden]

My scalp used to always be extremely sensitive- and then I found out I was allergic to SLS, and eliminated it from all my products. My scalp has been doing fine ever since! I also avoid products with paragons in it, and try to be as natural as possible.

[Othala]

PolarCathy, my dear friend, thank you for your concern and your hugs. Your post made me feel 100% better :flower:.

Amber_Maiden, I was only using Shikakai and other herbs instead of commercial shampoo and the sensitivity was increasing all the time. Thanks for posting your advice, though. I appreciate it.

Well, I've had a good think and have come up with a plan (this is about the henndigo thing which worries me more than anything....vanity, LOL). The plan is for me to wait until my hair has grown out a good few inches from the scalp, to oil my scalp and then apply henna and indigo only to the grow-out away from the scalp. It's going to be tricky but Hubby is going to help (Yay!).

WO I can deal with as I was on WO before and only stopped because I was scratching black muck off my scalp. Turned out to be soot from cleaning out the fireplace every morning that winter :rolleyes:. I won't need to do that anymore as we now have wood-buring stoves and anyway, it is Spring.

My dermatologist friend could not throw any light on the cause, only said that it could be triggered by absolutely anything (including thinning skin as I enter menopause) and to find out the exact cause would involve a process of elimination i.e. applying various stuff to my scalp and seeing how it reacts. I am not going to do that as it sounds very tedious and likely to cause further pain.

So, it's off to the WO thread for me............:o :D

[Audrey Horne]

I feel so sorry for you, Othala! Because I have inherited SD that comes and goes, there's no cure for life. I used to scratch untill I was bleeding...
There are numerous factors as to why you might experience it. I can just give my piece of advice that is based on my experience, I hope at least something helps :grouphug:

1. SLS is a no-go. Betaine is the mildest thing out there, as far as I know. It builds up on me but you're coarse, so it must be different. IF you ever go for using tensides. Coco glucoside often irritates other people's scalps but not mine.

2. Calendula and mint tea soaks :inlove: I make a batch overnight. I just let it infuse in 1L cup that long and the next day put it in a bowl or do a mermaid soak. BTW water... Hard water CAN be a prob. It is for me! You should either use destilled/mineral water for awhile or get a filter (some outdoors specialised shops have them), you can carry it with you.
Extracts of calendula or mint are great too.

3. Aloe vera water or juice. You could mist it on the scalp. If you have gel you can massage it in gently.

4. Hemp oil, rice germ oil, argan are quite nice. But if your scalp is red wait with oiling. I'd use soaks and misting first.

I found amla to be quite soothing. Neem can clear scalp of the flakes BUT can make red... so I'd avoid for now.
As washing goes... I'd try to get it to the point when it isn't painful and irritated. Then start to introduce things. Some stuff overstimulates my scalp, for example, and it all starts...

EDIT:
and rose water, of course! evening primrose oil and rose EO, just not rosewood.

[Audrey Horne]

I will look into it tomorrow and write more what could possibly help.

[PolarCathy]

There is a very good aloe vera (gel) seller in the UK. I bought their top quality stuff off eBay.uk but they have a regular webshop too and ship to UK addresses for free, over £15 I believe.

[moxamoll]

Just a thought, but I found the shikakai to be a good cleanser but quite drying over time. Perhaps the dryness was exacerbating your skin? I've found shampoo bars to be quite good - no SLS, parabens or even EOs if you shop carefully. Everyone is different, of course, but that's my two cents.

[Othala]

Audrey Horne, thank you so much for taking the time to post your recommendations. It is very kind of you. I will try out everything you advise, systematically, over the coming months.

I am sorry that you are an SD sufferer. How maddening that itch must be to make you scratch until you bleed.

I grow both Calendula Officianalis and Mint in my garden so I look forward to trying out the soak you have devised. For now, I am just waiting, as you said, for my scalp to calm down.

PolarCathy, thanks for the Aloe Vera information. Luckily, I grow Aloe Vera too so will have plenty of plants for harvesting purposes later in the year. Bit tricky to get the gel out of the leaf and to be honest I have never tried it on my scalp, only on my face (dealing with those freckles you know). I did not find it irritating to my facial skin and hope it will be OK for my scalp too. Thanks again.

moxamoll thank you very much for your thoughts and advice. I will investigate shampoo bars but am wondering what they contain instead of SLS. I can't use any detergent on my scalp, not even plain Castile soap. Hmmm....I just remembered that someone makes Rhassoul shampoo bars. That might work.

I think you are right about Shikakai, but recently I have been mixing Aritha and Shikakai and that might have been too potent a combination and caused some major scalp issues. Hmmm....a couple of days after that I used John Masters organic shampoo which is normally fine for me (no SLS or SLES) but it irritated the hell out of my scalp. You have led me to think that I have repeatedly over-stripped my scalp and doused it in too many aggressive chemicals (natural and synthesised). :(

[Audrey Horne]

Audrey Horne, thank you so much for taking the time to post your recommendations. It is very kind of you. I will try out everything you advise, systematically, over the coming months.

I am sorry that you are an SD sufferer. How maddening that itch must be to make you scratch until you bleed.

I grow both Calendula Officianalis and Mint in my garden so I look forward to trying out the soak you have devised. For now, I am just waiting, as you said, for my scalp to calm down.

You're welcome :flower: You have amazing thick hair, I'd hate to see you suffer too. Yes, SD is maddening and it can always strike back :( But I learned to control it a little. Stress or sickness would be the only things impossible to control that give the worst scalp issues and sheds for me.
If you have a possibility to grow your own herbs then I'd strongly advice growing lovage! I've heard it is easy to grow. Unfort., I don't have a garden because I'd use it all the time. Lovage infusion (the leaves) calms down the scalp and doesn't dry out the hair! My hair was totally the same, maybe a bit more conditioned. The smell isn't to everyone's tastes but it helps...
I should concentrate to remember more. I'd go with these mild herbs and aloe for now. They never irritated my scalp or eczemas or anthing else even on the worst days.
Do you ever use honey? Because maybe you shouldn't or you should switch the product. Maybe any flowers/plants extracts in the shampoos you used that cause an allergy? Maybe too much acid or too little? My scalp likes it a bit more on the acid side in comparison with most of the shampoos sold out there. If it is too neutral for me - itches and flakes. But it is very different for everyone.

[Othala]

You're welcome :flower: You have amazing thick hair, I'd hate to see you suffer too. Yes, SD is maddening and it can always strike back :( But I learned to control it a little. Stress or sickness would be the only things impossible to control that give the worst scalp issues and sheds for me.
If you have a possibility to grow your own herbs then I'd strongly advice growing lovage! I've heard it is easy to grow. Unfort., I don't have a garden because I'd use it all the time. Lovage infusion (the leaves) calms down the scalp and doesn't dry out the hair! My hair was totally the same, maybe a bit more conditioned. The smell isn't to everyone's tastes but it helps...
I should concentrate to remember more. I'd go with these mild herbs and aloe for now. They never irritated my scalp or eczemas or anthing else even on the worst days.
Do you ever use honey? Because maybe you shouldn't or you should switch the product. Maybe any flowers/plants extracts in the shampoos you used that cause an allergy? Maybe too much acid or too little? My scalp likes it a bit more on the acid side in comparison with most of the shampoos sold out there. If it is too neutral for me - itches and flakes. But it is very different for everyone.

Audrey, many thanks for your post.

I planted Lovage in my herb garden about 5 years ago and have been digging it up to get rid of it ever since. It is a very deep rooted and persistent plant. After reading your post I understand that Nature was trying to tell me something. I will let it grow this year and use it as you suggest.

Honey breaks out my scalp and face as do essential oils now, so unfortunately those goodies are out.

ACV makes my scalp, skin and hair feel great so it is definitely on the menu in the foreseeable future.

A few hours ago I could bear the irritation no longer and rummaged around in my cupboards. I found an old paper bag with Rhassoul pieces and proceeded to make a mud pack for my head. I am so pleased that I did because it has really soothed my scalp. Must order some more Rhassoul and next time finish with an ACV rinse.

Thanks for all your helpful suggestions and for the complement about my hair thickness (it used to be a lot thicker, sigh).

I hope you keep in good health and that life minimises the stressful times for you.

All the best,

othala x x x

[Audrey Horne]

Audrey, many thanks for your post.

I planted Lovage in my herb garden about 5 years ago and have been digging it up to get rid of it ever since. It is a very deep rooted and persistent plant. After reading your post I understand that Nature was trying to tell me something. I will let it grow this year and use it as you suggest.

Honey breaks out my scalp and face as do essential oils now, so unfortunately those goodies are out.

ACV makes my scalp, skin and hair feel great so it is definitely on the menu in the foreseeable future.

A few hours ago I could bear the irritation no longer and rummaged around in my cupboards. I found an old paper bag with Rhassoul pieces and proceeded to make a mud pack for my head. I am so pleased that I did because it has really soothed my scalp. Must order some more Rhassoul and next time finish with an ACV rinse.

Thanks for all your helpful suggestions and for the complement about my hair thickness (it used to be a lot thicker, sigh).

I hope you keep in good health and that life minimises the stressful times for you.

All the best,

othala x x x

I didn't know that about lovage. But maybe try it, see if you like it. It is good in the soups too :D

Yes, I thought honey could be a problem. Do you have any spring allergies? It can affect scalp, sort of. Mine is a bit flakey now but could be due to the stress too.

Rhassoul interests me :agree: but unfortunately I've never used it. I used some clay (mud? or how to call it?) and it was quite soothing on my scalp, also made my hair shiny but it doesn't fit my hair type... But maybe would be good for coarse hair?

Your hair looks very thick to me and those nice waves, I've always wanted to be C or at least M but no chance. I used to have thicker hair before the age of 13-14 :( Who knows maybe it comes back. I'll be i-type by the age of 45, I'm afraid.

[summergreen]

Ohhh Othala that is such a pain for you. Did your dermatologist friend say how long you would need to avoid detergents, henna/indigo etc for? Does he think this is a permanent situation or a flare up that might get better?

[Charybdis]

Othala, have sulfate-based shampoos irritated your scalp in the past? I only ask because I have SD (mild now, bad in my teens), and it goes crazy if I use shampoo without sulfates. Not sure if it's the anti-fungal effect of the sulfates or what. Another SD sufferer I know found, weirdly, that her scalp was much better when she dyed her hair every 4-6 weeks using conventional chemical dyes, possibly because the chemicals in the dye also had an anti-fungal effect. (NOT recommending chemical dye in any way, though!)

Anyway, I'm guessing that you've already used sulfates in the past and found them a no-go (based on your derm friend advising you to eschew detergents altogether), but I just wanted to throw the above info out there in case you've developed a fungal overgrowth and/or some kind of sensitivity/allergy to your own sebum. It is weird how sensitivities can develop at any time.

BTW, if anyone knows of fragrance-free conventional shampoo and condish that doesn't cost beaucoup bucks, I'd love to hear about it.... I have some perfume sensitivities, and am always worried about becoming allergic to my shampoo and conditioner!

[PolarCathy]

BTW, if anyone knows of fragrance-free conventional shampoo and condish that doesn't cost beaucoup bucks, I'd love to hear about it.... I have some perfume sensitivities, and am always worried about becoming allergic to my shampoo and conditioner!

Where are you located? There is this Danish line called Urtekram. SLS- and fragrance-free, all-natural.

[PolarCathy]

Urtekram topic (http://archive.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=59773&page=3)

Didn't find it on Amazon.com but here (http://www.amazon.co.uk/urtekram/s?ie=UTF8&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aurtekram&page=1) it is, on Amazon.uk.

[Caldonia Sun]

This happened to me at about the same age. I was coloring with a semi-permanent dye. After coloring, the scalp would be extremely red, burning and itchy for days. My hairdresser advised me to stop coloring before I lost all my hair. So I quit, but the scalp sensitivity continued and is still present. I have tried every shampoo I can think of, non-sulfate, sulfate; there is still some redness. Rhassoul made things worse for me, as does ACV. At this point, I use very diluted Toadstool Soaps olive oil shampoo. There is still a little redness, but it is the easiest one on my picky scalp.

I've always wondered if it is a hormonal imbalance or candida. Derms diagnosed SD, but it really doesn't act like SD. I don't have flaking unless I don't properly clean my scalp. And SD supposedly gets better in the summer - mine is at it's worst when heat and humidity go up. Some women I've chatted with on other forums found some success eating a gluten-free diet, suggesting that candida may be the culprit.

I hope you find something to help your scalp. It has been endlessly frustrating for me.

[Othala]

Hi summergreen, no I got no further information and have spoken to my uncle who is an endocrinologist today. He asked me a lot of what I thought were weird questions and I am going to the GP in the next few days. I have lumps on my sclera (whites of my eyes) that also appeared at the same time as the scalp sensitivity and did not connect the two so have to get some medical tests done. Thanks for asking.

Hi Charybdis, thank you, that's very interesting about the fungal thing. I had not thought about that angle at all. I hadn't use shampoos with SLS or SLES but with other, gentler sulphates. for quite a while as the stronger sulphates did irritate my scalp. Now, of course, I am using Rhassoul clay and water on my scalp only. Scared to try anything else. I tried Aloe Vera...itchies. I tried Calendula cream....itchies. I tried a beaten egg...itchies. So fed up. Could I be allergic to my own sebum. Oh heck, I hope not! Now I'm worried. I think I'll have a double hot chocolate tonight with a dash of rum.

Hi Caldonia Sun, thanks for describing your experiences. I am mystified. Gluten? I eat wheat about once a week and then only a slice of bread. I am a rice eater mainly. I sat in the conservatory today in a temperature of 36 Celsius and had to mist my scalp a couple of times to stop the dryness. The heat and humidity helped which is why I am contemplating a hot Rhassoul pack next time. Thank you for your good wishes and I am sending a whole bunch of those to you as well. I hope your scalp condition resolves itself one day soon

[Charybdis]

PolarCathy, thanks for the Urtekram recommendation! In the past my scalp has been generally happier when I use sulfates (otherwise my SD flares up), but I may give this a try. It does look very mild.

Caledonia Sun, my SD is also worse when heat and humidity are high. Sweating makes my scalp itch, especially if I haven't washed my hair in 3-4 days (4 days is about the longest I can stretch washes).

[Audrey Horne]

PolarCathy, thanks for the Urtekram recommendation! In the past my scalp has been generally happier when I use sulfates (otherwise my SD flares up), but I may give this a try. It does look very mild.

Caledonia Sun, my SD is also worse when heat and humidity are high. Sweating makes my scalp itch, especially if I haven't washed my hair in 3-4 days (4 days is about the longest I can stretch washes).

I wouldn't stretch too much. For SD it takes forever to stretch washes! Don't let yourself itch, it can get worse.

[Chetanlaiho]

I can't really offer any useful advice, but I've been having really similar symptoms for nearly a year now, it's quite madding :(

[LaceyNg]

Thanks summer green. Sorry to hear about your condition. I guess we are in the same boat.

I am fortunate enough to have friend who is a dermatologist in London and spoke to him this evening.

He advised me to immediately stop using detergents, whether natural or synthetic, on my scalp. Also, no synthetic conditioners or hairsprays, etc. I can use a bland, unfragranced oil as long as it doesn't cause any irritation, but only very lightly on my hair and not my scalp.

He also said no henna or indigo, so I am going to have to revert to my natural grey hair again. I feel awful about this and do not know how I will cope with the grow-out. I think my hair will look awful with the extreme demarcation of black dyed hair and the (probably 50%) whites in the virgin hair.

Aaarrgghhh! This is so frustrating.

So, I guess I am WO for the foreseeable future.

please let us know what your GP says, Othala! you know, if you dont mind, of course! i hope theres a simple, easy (and cheap!) solution for you!

for what it's worth, my scalp loves WO, and i think you'll have a much better time with it this time, minus the soot :)

have you tried rose water? i use it and, like honey, it is a humectant, but it's very mild. my scalp is quite sensitive, but i've never had any irritation from it.

and as far as oils go, have you tired jojoba? i only ask b/c perhaps to have a severely dry scalp? and jojoba oil apparently most closely resembles the hair's natural sebum.

[Tabitha]

I'm sure I've read instructions on here for removing supposedly unremovable henna and indigo (although maybe I'm imagining it ... do you find that this special time of life has rendered your brain foggy? I certainly agree with you on the increased scalp and facial skin sensitivity) if you could at least blur the demarcation line you might feel better about it.

There were pictures of model Daphne Selfe in the Fail online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2130239/Daphne-Selfe-The-worlds-oldest-supermodel.html) today - 83, long grey hair and she looked absolutely stunning.

[mariazelie]

My scalp has become increasingly sensitive over the last 6 months or so and I would appreciate any advice.

Whenever I change to a new product or product I have not used for a while and whenever I use henna or indigo, I experience the following in a 24 hour progression:

1. Irritation
2. Itching
3. Soreness (even though I do not succumb to the itching and scratch it)
4. Pain if hair is moved in a different direction or combed
5. Shedding lots of hair

Can anyone throw any light on why this is happening?

Has anyone else experienced this? If so, could you please share what you did to resolve this sensitivity?

Thanks in advance.You just listed all the things I experienced last Fall. The shedding started with these other syptoms and I was alarmed. I finally tracked down info online that listed HCTZ , a diuretic in my BP medicine as a known culprit in hair loss. I stopped the HCTZ and continued the BP med. So far so good. I read that the hair loss takes 3 months to stop. The good thing is the hair does grow back. This may not be what you are having happen, but your list is just what I went through. Since then I have not had the sensitivity, but it was quite uncomfortable and I hope you track down the cause. I at first thought it was shampoos, etc; causing the scalp pain.It was the actual hair loss that spurred me to research. Good luck.

[Othala]

LaceyNg, thank you for your suggestions. I have been WO for a couple of days now (LOL) and intend to continue. I shall get some rose-water for my scalp as you recommend. I never got on with Jojoba oil unfortunately, but I have a huge stock of oils that my scalp is fine with so no problem on that score. I will certainly update with what my GP advises.

Chetanlaiho, sorry you are going through the same thing. Maybe some of the suggestions in this thread might help you?

mariazelie, you poor thing! Thanks for sharing your experience and for your good wishes. I am not on any medication thank God, so it has to be something else. I hope you hair recovers.

Tabitha, the Rhassoul pack I did the other day removed the latest application of indigo completely and also ate into some of the henna. I think it is a great idea to soften that demarcation line. Thank you. Foggy brain...tick! Also, emotions all over the place, hot flushes, water retention and lumps in the whites of my eye. Blooming wonderful! Thanks for the Daphne Selfe link. Now I feel awful because I am just a fat lump compared to that slim and elegant woman :wail:

[Audrey Horne]

Thanks for the Daphne Selfe link. Now I feel awful because I am just a fat lump compared to that slim and elegant woman :wail:
:spitting:all of us, I guess :D

[Othala]

UPDATE: It's contact dermatitis.

My GP and I went through all the products I had used on my scalp over the last year (fortunately I keep a diary of such things) and it is truly mind-blowing in terms of the possibilities of what could be causing this sensitivity.

As the only thing that is not causing a reaction is Rhassoul, he says to continue with a weak solution of that but only once or twice a week at the most, and then not to leave it on for any length of time.

I am not to use any ACV, henna, indigo, commercial shampoo or conditioner or even castile soap and no oils on my scalp either.

Sigh.

[Tabitha]

You say scalp - I've found by experimenting in the last few washes that I'm doing a lot better without conditioner (sigh here too - so many bottles and tubes on the end of the bath - some still untried!). I'd been scrupulous about only putting conditioner on my hair from about the neck down and not allowing it to touch my scalp - but even so, omitting it has made a difference and I haven't had any scabby bleedy patches since then.

So I would suggest you're cautious about what goes on the length of your hair, too. I've certainly noticed that if I put too much (oil, Panacea or whatever) on my ends, it will creep up my hair (by capillary action, presumably, :lol:) and make my scalp hair greasy.

[sashinka22]

i have the same problem - extreamly sensitive scalp, with massive hair loss, and it really hurts when i comb it or pull hair to the opposite direction he was, i have it for years, started just like that one day, and never found any cure or a clue why this is happening. i have it all the time straight. i also have FMS, CFS and IBS, and i was dealing with massive candida the whole last year and still do, so i don't know but it may be related. so you may want to check this. i think that's connected to my digestion problem [ i don't absurb vitamins well] so i try to eat very well and massage it often.
sorry if i couldn't be any help, i wish you [and everyone here] the best and pain free scalps!

[summergreen]

Sorry to hear that Othala, was hoping for you that it would be something instantly curable. Stupid contact dermatitis!! Why do our skins have to work against us like this??

Hopefully though when it calms down you'll be able to try and find out what caused it, and look for things that don't cause flare ups?

Is it the same reaction that's affecting your eyes?

[Othala]

You say scalp - I've found by experimenting in the last few washes that I'm doing a lot better without conditioner (sigh here too - so many bottles and tubes on the end of the bath - some still untried!). I'd been scrupulous about only putting conditioner on my hair from about the neck down and not allowing it to touch my scalp - but even so, omitting it has made a difference and I haven't had any scabby bleedy patches since then.

So I would suggest you're cautious about what goes on the length of your hair, too. I've certainly noticed that if I put too much (oil, Panacea or whatever) on my ends, it will creep up my hair (by capillary action, presumably, :lol:) and make my scalp hair greasy.

Hi Tabitha, Yes, thank you, I will be cautious about what I put only length as it does seem to move up to the scalp by...osmosis?? LOL. I never could CO even before I had this extreme sensitivity as it made my scalp sore and made it hurt to move my hair into a different position. Scabby, bleedy patches...oh no...I'm sorry it got that bad for you :(

Oh sashinka22, you poor love, suffering all those problems. I hope your health improves. I hate that sore scalps can be a mystery. I do know the pain you are talking about so we are now sore scalp sisters, LOL. You and your hair are very pretty indeed. All the best to you and thanks for your good wishes.

Hi summergreen, thank you my dear. Right now I am scared to put anything other than water and very diluted Rhassoul on my hair and scalp. On the way back from the GP I was actually planning to put all my unopened hair products into a box and donate them to Oxfam (don't know if they will take such things).

Thank you for asking about my eyes (pinguecula is the official name for the bumps). The doc says it is not related to my scalp but for some people it is a recurring problem caused by the hormonal changes during menopause (sounded like a cop-out to me but what do I know?).

Actually he said that the menopause has also caused my cholesterol levels to go up and is preventing me losing weight despite giving up cheese and exercising like a hound. Sorry for the rant. I am just so frustrated right now, with parts of my body letting me down (not to mention the brain fog). I am determined not to take HRT though. Got to get through this insanity drug-free!

[Audrey Horne]

UPDATE: It's contact dermatitis.

My GP and I went through all the products I had used on my scalp over the last year (fortunately I keep a diary of such things) and it is truly mind-blowing in terms of the possibilities of what could be causing this sensitivity.

As the only thing that is not causing a reaction is Rhassoul, he says to continue with a weak solution of that but only once or twice a week at the most, and then not to leave it on for any length of time.

I am not to use any ACV, henna, indigo, commercial shampoo or conditioner or even castile soap and no oils on my scalp either.

Sigh.

So sorry to hear that! :( I had it only on my face and body, it's very difficult to get rid of.

[Othala]

So sorry to hear that! :( I had it only on my face and body, it's very difficult to get rid of.

Ooh, how awful for you, Audrey Horne. Do you know what caused it?

[Audrey Horne]

Ooh, how awful for you, Audrey Horne. Do you know what caused it?

Mostly it was some product that didn't agree with me, some chemicals. I also got it once from a paint that got sprayed on my skin (was painting a room). Now I wear full body suit to protect myself lol

[Cleopatra18]

Wow I'm so sorry you're going through that. I sometimes experience the same thing ( scalp gets very sore especially on the right side of my head, extreme pain when moving the hair, although I haven't noticed any particular increase in shedding in that area). I also experience alot of itchiness but I usually linked that with my low poo regimen and dandruff situation. Yeah, my scalp is messed up =/
Honestly, I don't know what may be causing it. I have been poo free for a pretty long time now, I only use moroccan black soap (very similar to castile soap) for occasional cleaning, and it's usually diluted. So I don't think it's your use of SLS, but who knows.
when it happened I felt it had something to do with the constant bunning and that I may be causing some stress to that area without me knowing it. My second guess would be the oils. I always oil my scalp with a mix of castor oil+ other oil.
I really can't be of any more help, as I usually just overlooked it and it goes away by itself :shrug: I hope it's nothing serious.
looking at the bright side, washing with rhassoul is really good and beneficial for the hair. It's also much more healthy for your body in general.
ETA: just read your update. I'm so sorry to know that. I hope atleast it gets better with time.

[louzen]

UPDATE: It's contact dermatitis.

My GP and I went through all the products I had used on my scalp over the last year (fortunately I keep a diary of such things) and it is truly mind-blowing in terms of the possibilities of what could be causing this sensitivity.

As the only thing that is not causing a reaction is Rhassoul, he says to continue with a weak solution of that but only once or twice a week at the most, and then not to leave it on for any length of time.

I am not to use any ACV, henna, indigo, commercial shampoo or conditioner or even castile soap and no oils on my scalp either.

Sigh.

I hope your scalp starts to get better soon Othala. I know how emotionally tiring it is to have scalp problems. It's so distracting and you get emotionally and physically tired trying to find a solution.

I have contact dermatitis/ezcema too. A hairdresser sprayed a volumising spray onto my scalp about 8 months ago and I experienced severe pain, soreness and burning of the scalp. (My scalp had been fine beforehand). Those symptoms have since gone now (thank God), but I've been left with a dry, rough (like sandpaper in places) and itchy scalp that I can't seem to cure no matter how much oil I leave on my scalp (I've tried EVOO, Jojoba, coconut and emu). :sad It's also hyper-sensitive now to anything I put on it, including all shampoos (sulfate/non-sulfate) and vinegar rinses). I even react to WO (I think it's the hard water)

Incidentally, I definitely have contact dermatitis/eczema on my hands. If they come into contact with washing up liquid, they start to get red, sore and the skin peels. I also get rough knuckles from handwashes.

I hope we can find a solution :grouphug: I found CO washing helped the best so far (and pre-oiling with Emu oil), although it hasn't cured the dryness completely. I've recently bought pure aloe vera, so will see how that goes. My last resort is steroids, but I want to avoid them as much as possible

[Othala]

Thank you louzen. You are very kind.:blossom:

My scalp issues went alway by themselves in time. It was real strange but I am so relieved that everything is back to "normal". I am still extremely wary of what I use on my skin though in case I aggravate it and get a repeat of that horrible episode.

I am sorry that you are experiencing these problems. It is so maddening when your skin is losing the battle in a chemically overloaded environment. When even the water makes you react badly, what can you do?

I think you are doing the right thing in sticking to CO-washing. I think that all detergents, including natural saponins, organic soaps as well as the surfactants in shampoo and dish-washing detergent cause the skin and scalp to weaken and destroy it's balance. It's as if the detergents are causing the deterioration of the skin's strength and their repeated application just makes the skin weaker and weaker until one day....hyper-sensitivity, irritation and breakdown :(.

I am just using a little Sesame oil on my scalp and Camellia oil on my hair. I am otherwise just rinsing with hot water and finishing off with cold water. I don't get super-clean hair or scalp, but I get reasonably clean and have no worries about scalp or skin problems. I used Shikakai (an Indian herb with saponins in it) the other day and I could feel my skin breaking down. I know it sounds silly and is probably psychological, but I could feel it. I washed it off straight away!

Even henna is making my scalp tingle a bit too much so I am only doing it once a month even though my hair is growing super-fast now and I have an awful lot of roots showing (almost an inch!) after just two weeks after a henna treatment. I look like an idiot with white roots, 3 inches of orange-red henna'd hair and the rest of my hair indigo-black to my tailbone, LOL. Oh well, if this is the price of a calm, healthy scalp, so be it.

I wish you all the best louzen, and am sending loving and healing thoughts your way :grouphug:

[Boucles d'or]

My collegue has it too + she is allergic too lots of things. She goes to the pharmacy to buy Louis Widmer shampoo.

[louzen]

Hi Othala, I'm so glad to hear that your scalp issues have gone :happydance:

I know what you mean - when the scalp skin is working as it should we take it for granted (I know I did previously) but as soon as something goes wrong, boy don't we know it! Then it makes us so grateful to have a calm happy scalp :)

Yes, I can feel the skin breaking down too! For me, it starts to heat up and get abnormally warm. I get this with almond oil and shampoos.

It's weird but like you said, before the incident I had with the hairdresser's spray I think my scalp had already deteriorated from bombarding it with harsh detergents (I used to use SLS since I didn't know any better). I think some of us have sensitive skin and these harsh detergents/chemicals just totally break down the skin's protective barrier for us over time, resulting in hyper-sensitivity.

I'm trying out aloe vera at the moment, mixed with emu oil. My husband uses a steroid/salicylic lotion called Diprosalic for his psoriasis that I'll use incase all else fails.

Take care :flower:

[gonzobird]

Ive been on a similar boat. What works for me is super natural stuff only. (also..many people can be just as allergic to natural things as they are synthetics, keep that in mind) i stick with pretty much two shampoos. John masters organics zinc and sage, and acure organics in the orange bottle. Both have saved my scalp in a serious way. Especially the jmo shampoo. Also...another huge thing for me is putting straight neem oil on my scalp once or twice a month before i shampoo. I leave on over night or for a few hours before i shampoo. Since my scalp has cleared up now,i only do the neem maybe once a month to keep it in check and i mix it with jojoba oil. I wash every three to four Days and swear by doing head upside down washes. That way i can get the good nourishing shampoo straight to my scalp. And get everything rinsed out do i avoid build up.

Also haven't colored my hair since march. Th at has also been huge for just having a healthy scalp in general.

[louzen]

Hi gonzobird, many thanks for the natural shampoo recommendations. I have been looking for more natural shampoos and conditioners since they're so hard to come by and it's hard to search for them. I've added them to my Amazon wish list to purchase later :)

The funny thing is, I've never put any products on my scalp or dyed my hair. I used to use SLS shampoos but stopped them completely about 8 months ago and only use conditioners with as few harsh ingredients as possible (I'm currently using this conditioner (http://www.greenpeople.co.uk/organic-base-no-scent-conditioner-200ml.aspx)) . I guess I just have to wait for the scalp to do it's thing and heal and continue to be as gentle with it as possible