Itchy dry flakey scalp

[Maxdog008]

Do any of you also suffer from very dry flakey scalps? Mine is awful at the moment and even though I'm on correct dosage of Levothyroxin I am still having dry skin issues, also my hands and fingers are breaking out in itchy red spots!! Never had this before.... Any suggestions for a cure????

[roslin]

could be candida overgrowth and dyshydrosis

dyshidrosis.co.uk/

Roslin

[Heloise]

Fish oil or omega 3 are helpful for the skin. You could also a dilute vinegar rinse after shampooing.

[HarmonyAngel]

Yes & it drives me crackers!! I also get spots & sores during a flare up which makes it really painful as well. As well as checking for candida you must ensure that all of your skin products are free from sodium laurel sulfate, sulfates & parabens as they will also make everything worse. It means checking labels but thankfully more & more companies are seeing sense at last!! (Never assume organic is just that, some "organic" labels are truly shocking!!).

I use various products, my face wash cream is from Lush, I have shower gel's from John Lewis, Elemis, Boots "Naked" range etc. I'm currently using a lovely lavendar & chamomile shampoo made by Avalon, my conditioner is Boots "Naked for Damaged Hair". I always moisturise all over, I recently found a gorgeous body souflee & handwash by "omShe" in TKMaxx (they often have some great bits in there & the Australian's are further ahead with their fab products).

Organic Apple Cider Vinegar also helps in 2 ways; a final rinse with it plus a teaspoon mixed in a small glass of warm water in the morning. Apparently coconut oil is also supposed to help but I've not yet tried it.

I hope that helps :o)

[Maxdog008 in reply to HarmonyAngel]

Thank you For your advice, I will definitely change shampoos and try the apple cider vinager xx

[Sarah1969]

Yes, I have the same problem, and a patch that resembles babies' cradle cap. T gel doesn't help me much, but full restore 5 from L'Oréal does. I wish I didn't also have fibromyalgia, as I would have the energy to wash my hair every day when my scalp is bad. As for itchy fingers etc, my doctor put that down, like everything else, to the fibro! Thank you. I now know that may not necessarily be so. X

[stannny]

I have found Timotei organic shampoo and conditioner has done wonders for my hair the shine has returned all the brittleness and dryness gone even my hairdresser commented on the difference. I wait for it to come on offer at Boots and then stock up.

[mazb]

yes, I have had a very dry itchy scalp for years (was diagnosed with Hashimotos hypothyroidism in '91), and my skin is very dry, especially the outer edges of my face is very dry and coarse, (which I've read in the past is a symptom of hypothyroidism).

I do, though, think that the need for central heating in winter may make things a bit worse - many of us are stuck indoors because of such low energy (I know I am, plus I have lymphoedema of the lower legs, ankles and feet, making it impossible to find and afford shoes that fit), so I'm in a centrally heated atmosphere a lot.

The other thought I have about this is that I have been permanently dying my hair for years (20+) as I went prematurely grey - which I found out can be another symptom of underactive thyroid - and, of course, this can make hair and scalp dry, even with good conditioning,

[OrangeGirl]

For itchy , dry scalp you could try washing your hair with baking soda. I know it sounds crazy but I recently saw a chef on a television show and he talked in passing of having such severe dry scalp and dandruff that his dermotologist wrote him a prescription. He had heard of baking soda as a remedy as it is ph neutral so he tried it and said hem has never looked back. I told my dad about it as he has similar problems and he said it has solved his. Just wet your hair and rub in about 2 to 3 tablespoons of dry baking soda, rub into scalp and rinse. My dry, cracked skin (especially on the soles of my feet) improves tremendously when my levo dose is more or less correct. My skin is a very good indicator of the effectiveness of my medication dose.