dandruff head and shoulders

[granelliheywood]

Although I use head and shoulders dandruff in scalp has returned after decades also flakey patches of skin in ears arms etc could this be due to prednisolone use. I am on 7mg at the moment started on 15mg over 12 months ago had one flare and back to reducing again

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Pred does tend to dry out skin a lot and for some years the support groups have recommended not using too harsh cleaning products on your body as they strip the natural oils out of your skin and makes it worse. Skin is relatively easy to help using emollient creams/gels such as Diprobase or Double Base which you can buy at the chemists or, if you have a nice GP get on prescription. They are used in eczema.

But hair is maybe not quite so easy - try using a shampoo for dry hair and not washing it too often perhaps? Or you may need to try a shampoo with a different anti-dandruff chemical in it such as ketoconazole. I used to use Selsun years ago - it was the only thing that worked for me. They probably don't smell as nice though!

[granelliheywood in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks will give it try

[bowler]

Prednisolone does thin and dry the skin, I use ALPHOSYL shampoo

I did use Polytar for years but can't seem to get that now, I use my regular shampoo in between using the Alphosyl

[granelliheywood in reply to bowler]

Thanks

[piglette]

That is interesting, I have had dandruff for years and if I got any fancy shampoo it made it worse. Since taking pred the dandruff has disappeared and I can use any old shampoo. My hair did become very dry, but at lower doses of pred it is a lot better although it has gone from straight to curly. I suppose I have had some plusses from taking pred.

[morrison in reply to piglette]

Pred is a funny drug, my hair has gone from wavy to straight.

[grannma in reply to morrison]

Ohmygoodness! My hair went from straight

to curly! It lasted 6 months and then returned to somewhat wavy!

What a hoot! Prednisone?????

[olive2709]

I have used a cold tar shampoo very gentle but expensive,also I had what they call drug induced eczema a while back was given a hemp cream from body shop by a friend as did not get on with steroid creams. This might sound strange but I sometimes put the hemp cream round my hair line and up into my scalp rubbing in well wrap in turban then wash out with baby shampoo next morning no more itching

[HeronNS in reply to olive2709]

I'm not surprised. Some years ago when I had such dry itchy skin on my hands I wore white cotton gloves at work (in a library) the one thing that cured the condition wasn't hydrocortisone ointment (which only worked until I stopped using it then condition rebounded, surprise, surprise) was hemp oil!

[olive2709 in reply to HeronNS]

Over time got have all family using hemp products the lip balm even being used by 9 year old grandson,my sister a keen gardener and her partner a contractor buy the hand cream in bulk I was so glad to find this .

[Lilymaerose]

I have just noticed your post and just wanted to say a few weeks ago I watched a program on TV about head and shoulders shampoo. If you bought it in some of the £1 shop type places they were saying it was snide and people were suffering from skin problems and allergies. Head and shoulders is the top selling shampoo in the world which makes it a target for snide copies but obviously not the same product.

I think it was watch dog, but not sure.