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Agony Aunt
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Help with my head?
Is it psoriasis? My dad used to have it. Doc used to give him special cream.
I don't think you'd be wasting a doctor's time at all.
Does sound like psoriasis, I have some special scalp stuff for mine.
Since this showed up four months ago, I would suggest you go to see a doctor.There are just too many reasons for a dry patch on your skin to develop:
Psoriasis, neurodermatitis, a allergic reaction to something in your food, vitamin deficiency and/or even psychological reasons...
An online diagnosis cannot compare to an expert opinion!
It sounds like it's been around for a while and you've tried a range of options, I think it's probably time to consult a doctor.
I'd join the crowd and say that you ought to go to the doctor, have them check it out.
You could ask your local pharmacist for advice Elle.We used to use T-Gel shampoo for patients but best to get professional advice first.
Go to your doctor, I don't think any commercially available products are going to be much help here.
First thing, don't scratch no matter how tempting and infuriating! It could get infected!Second thing, go and see your doctor.
Third thing, it sounds like eczema - I occasionally get a similar patch on my scalp and treat it with a solution prescribed from my doctor. Treat it early and it disappears very quickly.
Eczema can be hereditary and can be brought on by allergies or in some cases, stress!
The knuckles on my right hand are dry and in the winter they sometimes start bleeding.I discovered that the soap at work was making them worse.
I'm thinking Doctor is my only real option at the minute. Thanks guys!I have dry patches all over my body but this isn't itchy like the others are so I never really thought it was same thing!
Don't worry Weenie - I don't scratch it at all. I am known to peel known as something there is just a bit of skin that does need removed from my hair.. TMI. Ick Sorry!
Oh you could try polytar shampoo, my friend uses that and she has severe psoraisis and a whole host of allergies. It does stink though.
Where would you get Polytar shampoo?My hairdresser tells me that the Doctor can give you a prescription for a good shampoo (if they decide thats what I need) and our prescriptions are free.. so..
I think you can get it in most chemists (at least in Scotland you can).
Elle wrote: "Where would you get Polytar shampoo?My hairdresser tells me that the Doctor can give you a prescription for a good shampoo (if they decide thats what I need) and our prescriptions are free.. so.."
Yep, I've had some tar shampoo on prescription
It could be psoriasis. Sunlight seems to help it, which is perhaps not a very useful suggestion given the time of year.
Carol wrote: "It could be psoriasis. Sunlight seems to help it, which is perhaps not a very useful suggestion given the time of year."Mine actually got worse with sun last year, although it could have been partly due to the fact I was on hol, so using different products
Definitely get it looked at. Chances are it's a form of dermatitis that doc can give you a cream or gel for. However without wanting to cause undue concern itchy patches of skin can be the precursors to more unpleasant conditions. Hope you've had a chance to see your doctor, Elle, and that it wasn't anything serious.
Exams only ended Andy so i havent had a chance yet. Hoping tomorrow i can go see them :) pharmacist was no help at all and blamed dying my hair (which I've done for over ten years..)
Did you use a new brand? If not might be worth checking (if you can) if they have changed the ingredients in it.
Exact same brand, exact same ingredients! Ive used every brand on the market with no problems. And wouldn't it effect my entire head. Not one part of my scap which is more not in my hairline than is in it? Plus it appeared when I hadn't dyed my hair in a month. I remember dying it a week after it started getting dry..
Patti's such a comfort in times of stress! :)
Patti (baconater) wrote: "Leprosy."We prefer Hansen's disease, ta muchly.
Elle wrote: "thanks patti..":D
I always use a supermarket version of Head and Shoulders - doesn't matter which supermarket version as long as it is a cheap one - and that tends to keep the psoriasis at bay on my scalp. If for any reason I have changed shampoo in the past then it has caused a flare up and usually going back to the Head and Shoulders lookalike will cure it, but if it is particularly stubborn, then a trip to Holland and Barrett for Dead Sea shampoo is always worth it. If it is psoriasis, then you will find that what works for one person, will not necessarily work for another - it is a bit of a swine like that - but trial and error should find the right solution for you.
If it is psoriasis make sure you get prescribed a gel variant of the treatment. Cheapskate GPs often try to fob you off with a cream which is completely unsuitable for scalps (unless you're follically challenged, natch).
Elle, what colour do you dye your hair (or how much difference is it to your normal colour?) - dandruff shampoos strip hair dye, I've only used it once since having my hair dyed, luckily my psoriasis hasn't been too bad without it.
I dye it any variation of dark brown/brown/black (depending on my mood) and I'm naturally very light brown/blonde (believe it or not with those eyebrows...) My hair always fades and I kinda like that.. since my hair is so short I get my colour cut out of it quite regularly.Had a terrible experience at the doctor the other day who blamed my highlights which I got 2MONTHS AFTER I had the problem with my scalp so going to go back another day and demand to see a new doctor when I have more time in the morning.
You are so full of joy and comfort Patti
Patti (baconater) wrote: "Scabies."No way, my pal and her sister had scabies and they didn't get any psoriasis type patches
Elle, I've only just seen this!I get something similar (mine is eczema and is all over my scalp. Proper gross!)
I use this -
http://www.boots.com/en/Expert/Hairca...
Mums been putting it on my scalp since I was a baby, haha. Find it works really well! I use the boots own make, but there are lots of others
You wash and condition your hair as normal and towel dry your hair, then put the drops on the areas that are affected and massage in, then comb through and style as normal (:
Hope this helps (:
The best help should come from within. I have dry Skin and I combat it by swallowing a mouthful of olive oil, washed down with a similar mouthful of orange Juice.Make sure the olive oil is of good Quality. The best costs around 25Euros a litre, but there are cheaper products. I don't know where You shop so make a list and Google the products.
I hope this works for You. On the other Hand it could be an allergy, cat or dog fur or bird feathers.
But first, se a Skin specialist or your doctor.
A random update! I used a shampoo for 2months before I got put on a steroid cream and a stronger shampoo. The steroid cream worked brilliantly but the second shampoo hasn't started working yet although she said it could take a few weeks before it did. Since stopped the steroid cream (max 14 day use) the flakes are back. Doctor had no explanation and dermatologist was also similarly confused. did get a tar type scalp mask to try but i took a severe reaction to it and it made my skin worse for a fortnight before it returned to normal flakes. derm is confused because its centred on certain parts of my scalp yet the rest of my scalp is perfectly healthy ('in better health than one would expect when you dye it so much actually' were there exact words)
Elle wrote: "A random update! I used a shampoo for 2months before I got put on a steroid cream and a stronger shampoo. The steroid cream worked brilliantly but the second shampoo hasn't started working yet al..."
Have you tried TGel therapeutic shampoo, I find that very good?
Janet that was one the first things i used and it didn't help at all
Your update just reminded me of a discussion I had with somebody not very long ago. And she told me that "Lush" products did wonders to her scalp and hair.https://www.lush.co.uk/
I have a small dry patch on my scalp. It's so dry that my skin will peel off in large flakes daily and sticks in my hair like i have been in a snow machine. It's right on my hairline at the side of my face and is only about 3cm in length and doesn't reach far back into my head, less than a cm. I have tried absolutely everything under the sun since it showed up about four months ago. (it was pre-getting my hair done last so it isnt my new highlights)
I have tried:
two different anti-dandruff shampoos (general one then a more medicate one - tgel)
changing my actual shampoo incase it was causing a reaction
keeping that bit of my head dry (with some difficulty) and not actually washing the hair or scalp around it to keep the oils in
using filtered water to wash my hair for a week incase it was a reaction to the water
oils at night and during the day (which work really well on my dry skin on my face)
moisturiser at night and during the day
i have really really dry skin on my face in the winter so i am used to and well prepared for this event but this patch of skin just wont stop peeling and i am out of ideas. i dont feel like its really worthy of wasting the doctors time (open surgery so not an appt or anything) but im out of ideas and feel like my only option at this point is a trip there. my hair dressers tells me they can give out a very medicated shampoo that smells disgusting but works well.
help?