Shampoo recommendations? (anti-itching)

In My Humble Opinion
1

My daughter, Moon Unit, has been complaining for several months about a tremendously itchy scalp.

Last time this happened, she had brought home a case of head lice from summer camp. Once I realized there was a problem, we got it dealt with. So naturally we suspected that to be the case this time.

I checked her scalp and saw nothing suspicious. No rash at the scalp line like last year, no critters in the hair, nothing I could identify as nits. The pediatrician checked and didn’t see anything either - no inhabitants, or evidence of any other sort of rash. Anecdotal evidence suggests scalp itchiness is not uncommon as a kid approaches puberty (Moon Unit is 11). The ped just said “use an anti-itch shampoo” but was not more specific than that.

Anyway - any suggestions for shampoos which would qualify as “anti-itch” would be gratefully accepted. Would this mean a dandruff shampoo? (I don’t see any evidence of shoulder snowfall). Something else? Any brands?

(Hopefully this doesn’t qualify as requesting medical advice, since we’ve already gotten that; I just need product recommendations).

2

I use a product called Free & Clear; the line has a separate conditioner. No fragrance, no dye, no nothing. If your daughter has developed a sensitivity to one of these things, this may help. You don’t need a prescription, but you often need to ask the pharmacist for it as it is a specialty item. There is a similar product called DHS, which I think stands for “Dermatological Hair and Scalp,” which I use only when I can’t get the other as it doesn’t lather as well, but the result is the same.

Clinique has discontinued its line of hair products.

3

I also had an itchy scalp while going through puberty, but nothing too severe. I switched to the lightest conditioner I could find (sorry, don’t have a specific brand), and tried to keep the conditioner off of my head, i.e. only condition my hair from the top of the ears down. I found that conditioner residue on my scalp + increased grease/sweat due to hormones = ITCH.

I would also suggest that she really work on her scalp when she washes her hair - not so much with the shampoo, but use fingers to loosen all the crud that can gather there. I was a clean girl, washed my hair at least every other day (every day during sports seasons) and was still always amazed at how much stuff seemed to just appear on my scalp.

good luck!

4

I too have been dealing for several years now with a on-again, off-again mysteriously itchy scalp. A dermatologist was unable to pinpoint a cause, being satisfied with throwing some generic antibiotic ointment at it and telling me it was “seborrheic dermatitis”, which is doctor-speak for “your scalp itches”. And it’s not dandruff, either–no snowfall.

I have been able to determine that I’m sensitive to shampoo and conditioner chemicals–even baby shampoo and the mildest creme rinse/conditioner make it worse. So I’m currently washing my hair with Kirk’s Castile bar soap, and giving it a vinegar rinse (makes the hair scales lie back down flat, as the alkaline soap makes them stand up–works better than any creme rinse detangler I’ve ever met–put a half cup or so of white vinegar in a small tupperware container, fill up with warm water, rinse).

But it still sometimes, mysteriously, itches, mostly after a few days have gone by between washings. When it’s hot, humid summer weather, and I’m taking a shower every night at bedtime to cool off, it doesn’t itch.

So, yanno, I’m coming to the conclusion that maybe it’s dog dander, or some kind of other allergen from my dusty old house. Gets in the hair, builds up after a few days. Who knows?

Anyway, the point is, eliminate the usual suspects before you start in with the dandruff shampoos, especially if she doesn’t have dandruff. Fragrances, especially in your laundry soap and fabric softener sheets, allergens, dust mites (put a dust mite pillowcase on her pillow), shampoo chemicals like lauryl sulfate (look at the label).

A short-term fix for the itch is, oddly enough, Sea Breeze Sensitive Skin Astringent. Dab it on with a cotton ball. It smells better, and is cheaper than the prescription anti-itch lotion the dermatologist gave me (his stuff is salicylic acid, which is your basic acne/chemical peel chemical).;

ETA: No, if you rinse your hair well, it doesn’t smell like vinegar.

5

Try a coal tar shampoo like neutrogena (spelling may be off). It’s the only type I have never had a problem with as far as causing itch.

6

Yeah, the coal-tar stuff works wonders for me (I use Neutrogena T-Gel).

7

Thirding the Neutrogena T-Gel. It’s the only thing that keeps me from scratching my scalp until it bleeds.

8

Whenever me or my teenagers have an itchy head we use Selsun Blue with the menthol, and leave it on for a few minutes. We don’t have dandruff but it takes care of the itch better than any of the other remedies mentioned

9

There’s at least 5 types of dandrfuff shampoo ingredients. salicylic acid, pyrithione
zinc, sulfur, selenium sulfide, and coal tar. You can also try Ketoconazole which was developed as an anti-fungal drug but is also sold as a dandruff shampoo under the name Nizoral.

I found some of the shampoos dried my skin out which actually made it worse. I use Nizoral because it seems to wash out well in hard water. I rotate it with a regular shampoo once a week and I use a shampoo with Aloe for daily use.

I had problems when I moved to a house without soft water so it may just be a function of soap residue on the scalp.

10

Fourthing the Neutrogena T-Gel. It works very well, but is gentle. I even used it on my kids when they were babies and had cradle cap.

11

I used to have the worst problem with an itchy scalp. Then I read Paula’s Begoun’s hair book . It said that my long time brand used some irritating chemicals. I switched to another brand, and the problem got 98% better. Neutrogena’s T-gel takes care of the rest.

12

Whenever my scalp feels crusty, I add a tablespoon of coarse sugar granules to a mild shampoo (Suave) and work this mixture into my scalp until the sugar dissolves. When I rinse, my scalp feels clean and refreshed.

13

If the regular strength T-Gel doesn’t work, there’s an extra strength version as well. I alternate daily between regular and extra. Wal-Mart sells a generic for regular but not Xtra.

I don’t like the smell of T-Gel. YMMV.

14

Popping back in to say thanks, again, for all the suggestions. I got some T-gel and some Nizoral the other day. My daughter used the T-gel yesterday for the first time; I told her we’d go with that for a week or so to see whether it helped, and if not, we’d try the other one for a week or two. I figure I’ll have her use it every 1-2 days at first.

If it helps, how often should it be used? Every shampooing? Once or twice a week? (which generally is every shampoo for my bath-averse child, sigh). The package suggests it is “gentle enough for every day use”, I’m just curious to know if others alternate it with regular stuff.

Any thoughts on what short of conditioner to use with it? My kid’s hair is straight and fine… and tangles like nobody’s business if we don’t condition it. I’ve got to work with her on teacher her to not condition the scalp, obviously. She didn’t use conditioner yesterday and it showed when I helped her comb this morning.

Duck Duck Goose, thanks for the reminder on the allergens. We do use fragrance-free laundry products (mainly because I gag whenever I walk down that aisle at the grocery store) but we do have some dust-remediation that needs doing in her bedroom, as her allergies are in general worse in the past month or so (the iching started before that, but maybe it was an early symptom of a flareup). OTOH, her asthma is better right now, go figure.

15

Popping back in - again - to ask another question:

Moon Unit has been using the T-gel twice a week for about 10 days now and though she still says her scalp itches, I don’t see her scratching it as much; in fact a LOT less than before. So clearly it’s helping. I got the T-Sal conditioner also, as her hair tangles easily and she really needs it. So, we’re pretty happy campers. I’ll keep the Nizoral in reserve if the T-gel doesn’t seem to be helping enough.

For those of you who use T-gel etc., do you use it daily? just a couple of times a week? alternate with standard shampoos on non-Tgel days?

16

Sorry, just wanted to interject that while your dermatologist sounds like a flake (hah!), seborrheic dermatitis is real. I had a rather somewhat unpleasant biopsy where I was tested for it. No cure for it, but plenty of ways to control it. I’ve had it since I was 15, and I’m now 33.

17

Usually every other day for me. I don’t alternate with anything else.

I’ve also found that the T-Gel generics don’t work nearly as well for me.

18

I use the Xtra Strength every other day and rotate it with regular T-Gel or Head and Shoulders Dry Scalp formula.

19

Just thought I would suggest that if she tries the Nizoral and likes it that you research it before using it long term. It can act like a hair-loss product for men so it suggests something that mimics male hormones.

20

:eek:
Thanks for the warning - I had no idea!

My inclination would be to avoid using it long-term anyway as I’d hope the fungal infection would be knocked to sub-clinical levels most of the time, but I’ll definitely keep that info in mind if she needs to use it.