SMF

I "suffer" from a quite bad case of seborrhea, which the common types of anti-dandruff shampoos like for example "Head & Shoulders" that doesn't help at all and does absolutely nothing to combat my scalp issues.
The only products that have helped me and succeeded at combating my seborrhea -- at least to some extent anyway -- have been products that contain Selenium disulfide, like for example the Shampoo available here in Sweden called "Selsun". The only issue I've had with that one so far though is that the shampoo tends to lose some of its potency and effect after a couple of washings.

As far as I know, selenium sulfide, zinc pyrithione and tar products are the only choices. Tar shampoos were the most effective, but have fallen out of favour because of the risk of skin cancers (and after decades of daily use it is the only explanation of why I developed CLL/SLL twenty years before the average age of onset). Salicylic acid is used for descaling in some products, and some people will use baby oil to soften large thick scales and remove them, but if the issue is itching and excess dandruff you are likely going to be best off using a regime of Selsun alternating with H&S.

Update - Used up the whole bottle of Selsun Blue and the itching on the scalp was just as it was before. I don't have any of those most common ailments such as dandruff and that stuff, which I do not and have not had. I self-diagnosed a nuisance case of dry scalp. No problem: I had a 1/2 full bottle of Vitalis hair tonic and filled it up with an equal amount of pure Glycerin and started using it daily. Maybe I'm crazy (of course I am!) but yes, after 2 or 3 days my hair isn't itching any more. Time will tell, as to whether or not this will be a long-lasting situation, but for now I'm enjoying it.

You narrowly escaped my next suggestion, which was going to be to shave your scalp and shine it up with oil!

C.

And you'd be right. I often tell myself to just shave my head and be done with it. Common sense says what's the big deal, if I like it that way I just keep shaving it.

My own hair has not recovered from chemo. Very thin on top. I keep it very short with clippers (9mm for the top, and 6mm for fading the edges). It is very cold without any hair in the winter here, but just clippers with no guard do a good enough job without shaving, I used to find. Leaves 'velvet' on the scalp, palpable but barely visible.

C.

drmoss_ca wrote: ↑Thu Dec 15, 2022 3:34 am My own hair has not recovered from chemo. Very thin on top. I keep it very short with clippers (9mm for the top, and 6mm for fading the edges). It is very cold without any hair in the winter here, but just clippers with no guard do a good enough job without shaving, I used to find. Leaves 'velvet' on the scalp, palpable but barely visible.

C.

That is what I am doing now. If you do shave the head, check out the Leaf Razor. I like it better than a multi-bladed disposable though a Harry's does okay in the shower. I have some Wahl corded Color Pro and use the green 1.5mm guard to give a short buzz look. My hair is very grey/white and a no-guard clipper cut just looks bad. From a distance I look bald anyway if I did that. Looking for some cordless clippers now, may go to the Color Pro cordless, for convenience. Hate to keep aware of that cord, my fear is that I will clip it and my hair and electrocute myself