What is up with my scalp lately...arrrrrrrrrggggghhhhh!!!!!!
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free skin care · Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:01 pm

I am getting so upset with the condition of my scalp, I really don't know what to do with it anymore and its making me depressed! I've been breaking out in cystic like acne bumps on almost every square inch of my head and they are so painful! Not only that, but when I comb my hair over the bathroom sink after showering there is so much hair in the sink I can't believe I have any left on my poor head! Its oily and itchier than heck also.

I've tried the acv rinse, dandruff shampoos, baby shampoos, herbal shampoos, clarifying shampoos, NO shampoo... almost everything I can think of! I don't use any hairsprays, mousse, gel or styling products of any kind. I'm even trying a herbal supplement right now called Shen Min, hoping that will help, but it can take 3-4 months of treatment to see any results! I've had my thyroid checked also, and its okay too. Being postpartum, I know you lose some hair and I went through that rotten stage around the 4th-5th months, I lost so much hair that you can actually see "baby" hair sprouting underneath my bangs and sideburns right now. But the hormonal wackiness of having a baby should be overwith by now, shouldn't it? I don't breastfeed, so I don't think its that.

Or could it be this? Around November '06 when I thought my hair fall stage was overwith, I got the bright idea that I'd treat myself to a new "do" and had some highlights put in. When my hairdresser did them she used a cap and it "REALLY" hurt when she was pulling my hair through, but being the nice person I am, I sucked it up and didn't say anything. Could this have caused some trauma to my scalp? Maybe I should have left well enough alone? Sad

So what do you think ladies/gents? I'm really hoping someone can help me with this, my scalp/hair is such a mess, I don't know what to do anymore! Crying or Very sad

free skin care · Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:09 pm

Hi moosette,
Have you tried CareKate's recipe?

carekate wrote:

Here's a recipe I posted in the DIY thread a long while back for controlling hyper-oily hair that you might want to try IN ADDITION to using ACV either as a finishing rinse or adding a bit to your regular shampoo.

While Ruth is correct that Clary Sage essential oil is known to INHIBIT hair growth, the peppermint and rosemary EOs in this recipe sort of "counteract" the clary sage because both of those EOs are known to PROMOTE hair growth...but if you're REALLY worried about, just leave the Clary Sage out of recipe!

carekate wrote:

I found this recipe for an oil-controlling shampoo that I posted for Mabsy a few months ago and thought it deserved to be posted in the official DIY recipes thread, so here it is:

carekate wrote:

I’ve actually been playing around with essential oils, making different shampoo formulations for my mom as she has extremely oily hair – I mean EXTREMELY oily! Her hair is as oily as my face used to be!! I mean, she washes it and three hours later you can see oil up around the scalp. Eeeck!!

So here’s the oil-control formulation I would recommend adding a full bottle of your fave shampoo:

• 5 drops Ylang Ylang;
• 5 drops Clary Sage (this is the essential oil that is most-often touted for it’s oil-control abilities on the scalp;
• 2 drops Cypress
• 2 drops Geranium
• 2 drops Lemon
• 2 drops Peppermint
• 1 drop Lavendar
• 1 drop Rosemary

My mom has been using this formula since Saturday and it has cut back on the “ooze” factor. We’re hoping it’ll have a cumulative effect and work even better the longer she uses it.

free skin care · Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:23 pm

have you tried Nioxin? it helped reduce my hair loss significantly. it's also recommended for cancer patients who lost their hair due to chemo Smile

i use the shampoo and scalp treatment. let me know if i can help more. it's sickening when our hair drops all over the place

hugs

free skin care · Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:44 pm

have you been to a dermatologist? you really might want to get a professional opinion esp given the bumps . . .

free skin care · Thu Feb 08, 2007 9:08 pm

I would say that it's time to see a doctor too; your regular one or a dermatologist. Sounds like you need something prescribed to take care of that. Good luck! Smile

free skin care · Thu Feb 08, 2007 9:19 pm

When I was battling a similar problem, I got good results from a zinc supplement and a couple time a week doing an aspirin/honey mask on my scalp. I would let it sit for about 10 minutes then massage it in and rinse it out. Good luck!

free skin care · Thu Feb 08, 2007 9:23 pm

I agree with tam. Get thee to a dermatologist double-quick, sweetie!

Ari

free skin care · Thu Feb 08, 2007 9:41 pm

The bumps and itchiness sounds like seborrhea dermatitis. Definitely get yourself a doctor's appointment. In the meantime, use a sls-free shampoo.

free skin care · Fri Feb 09, 2007 7:22 am

I have been using WEN Cleansing Conditioner for two weeks & already there's a major difference in my scalp. It isn't perfect but it's alot better than it has been. When I woke up in the morning it would actually hurt. I was on the same road that you seem to be on! I'm sick of going to the doctor for yet another prescription - this has gone on for over a year! Locally, we are not in a "low doctor" situation but a "no doctor" one. If the WEN doesn't absolutely help me then I"m heading (no pun intended) off to Toronto (a mere 3 1/2 hour ride) for a diagnosis and solution. Surely my doc must be able to give a referral to someone there. Any suggestions for a derm in that awesome city? You can PM me if you do! Thanks.
In the meantime the WEN will stay in my shower for now & after my problem is fixed.

free skin care · Fri Feb 09, 2007 7:30 am

i had this problem when mu hormones were out of whack with PCOS.

I started taking a supplement called AOR 1-3-C (indole 3 carbinole) from the brassica vegetables and it has completely eliminated the cystic bumps on my scalp as well as the sore, pink tender scalp. Also, no more itchiness or dandruff type problem going on anymore. I have been using this very consistently since July 2006 and i've pretty much forgotten about my former scalp problems.

I think i even may be growing some of my lost hair back because i have bits all over my head that are about 2.5 inches long that like to stick straight up when i blow-dry my hair. Laughing

Maybe you should have your hormones tested and see a naturopath.

Or you could try the above mentioned supplement from the health food store. You have to give it a good length of time to see if it will work for you.

best wishes

free skin care · Fri Feb 09, 2007 8:10 am

Thanks for your great advice everyone! I was also wondering if the bumps might be ingrown hairs, since I've been losing so much lately?

I really don't want to see another derm, they sent me 2 hours away to this quack derm last time and my scalp wasn't too bad so he couldn't make a correct diagnosis. He told me to come back when it returned, but it can take up to 2 months to get an appt. and I don't know if it would be flared up when the appt. date came along again.

RuthMarion, what does WEN stand for and where can I purchase this cleanser?

Rosyface, a naturopath sounds like a great idea, since derms don't seem to help at all. They keep prescibing me crap that doesn't work and its $$$.

Like I said, I just started to take the Shen Min supplement, so I'm praying it helps with my scalp condition!

free skin care · Fri Feb 09, 2007 8:15 am

Moosette you can get it online or ask at your healthfood store if they carry it.

The brand that i use is from Advanced Orthomolecular Research and the the supplement name is I3C.

This is what it looks like.

http://www.aoreurope.co.uk/viewProduct_2.htm

I'm in Canada and i get it from the healthfood store down the street from me.

free skin care · Fri Feb 09, 2007 9:01 am

moosette wrote:

RuthMarion, what does WEN stand for and where can I purchase this cleanser?

!

I'm not Ruth, but you can buy WEN on QVC. It's just "WEN", by Chaz Dean. I've never used it, but want to give it go eventually.

Good Luck! I also suggest trying to find a good doctor who can tell you what's going on. They are few and far between, but even your obgyn might know if it's hormone related.

free skin care · Fri Feb 09, 2007 8:25 pm

Something simillar happened to me about a year back also with the itching scalp and little bumps. That time it was because i switched to a new shampoo and it irritated my scalp Mad

Then i went to use Kerastase Dermo-calm and it worked to calm my scalp. So for the next six months when i was using Dermo-calm all was fine Smile

Until i finished the bottle and started another shampoo then the itching and bumps started again Sad

Maybe it might be the same for you as well? If you do not wish to see a doc perhaps you can try switching to a soothing shampoo specially targetted at itchy, sensitive scalps? Apart from kerastase's Dermo-calm, Klorane's soothing peony shampoo is also good and smells heavenly Razz

free skin care · Sat Feb 10, 2007 5:32 am

Violetanne is right - I buy the WEN from QVC.com. They ship to Canada as well, in case that's where you live (I've always thought so because of your name). The shipping to Canada is pretty fast, all things considered. Wink

and it's sort of "borderfree" in that the duties & taxes are incorporated into the cost.

free skin care · Sat Feb 10, 2007 8:04 am

hi moosette,

i would go to a gen practitioner if I were you... i have shingles right now, which consists of painful itchy bumps (kind of like chicken pox), and it really just looked like acne for the first week... but very painful. another user here said she had it all over the back of her scalp... please get yourself checked out, since i find it strange that acv and all the other things you tried did not work.

i put all kinds of creams and salves on my shingles (on my shoulder) and none of them worked AT ALL--at which point i finally gave in and saw the doctor. they recognized it immediately! it sounds like you have sebborheic dermatitis, but with your hormones settling down and all that, i'd rather be safe than sorry... shingles is brought on by stress.

I hope you feel better soon and find a solution to your problem!

--avalange

free skin care · Sat Feb 10, 2007 4:40 pm

avalange wrote:

hi moosette,

i would go to a gen practitioner if I were you... i have shingles right now, which consists of painful itchy bumps (kind of like chicken pox), and it really just looked like acne for the first week... but very painful. another user here said she had it all over the back of her scalp... please get yourself checked out, since i find it strange that acv and all the other things you tried did not work.

i put all kinds of creams and salves on my shingles (on my shoulder) and none of them worked AT ALL--at which point i finally gave in and saw the doctor. they recognized it immediately! it sounds like you have sebborheic dermatitis, but with your hormones settling down and all that, i'd rather be safe than sorry... shingles is brought on by stress.

I hope you feel better soon and find a solution to your problem!

--avalange

Oh Avalange, I am so sorry to read that you have shingles. Sad

My dad had it quite a few years ago; it's an awful disease. How are you managing with it?

free skin care · Sat Feb 10, 2007 5:55 pm

tam wrote:

avalange wrote:

hi moosette,

i would go to a gen practitioner if I were you... i have shingles right now, which consists of painful itchy bumps (kind of like chicken pox), and it really just looked like acne for the first week... but very painful. another user here said she had it all over the back of her scalp... please get yourself checked out, since i find it strange that acv and all the other things you tried did not work.

i put all kinds of creams and salves on my shingles (on my shoulder) and none of them worked AT ALL--at which point i finally gave in and saw the doctor. they recognized it immediately! it sounds like you have sebborheic dermatitis, but with your hormones settling down and all that, i'd rather be safe than sorry... shingles is brought on by stress.

I hope you feel better soon and find a solution to your problem!

--avalange

Oh Avalange, I am so sorry to read that you have shingles. Sad

My dad had it quite a few years ago; it's an awful disease. How are yo
u managing with it?

hi tam,

yes it is AWFUL!!! at least it is on my left shoulder, not too debilitating. only feels like someone is constantly cutting me open with a razor every 5 minutes Mad

lots of strong french tylenol--i was too late for any anticirals to work Crying or Very sad

now that i realize that these bumps are going to scar, vanity sets in--i'm kind of worried! anyone know what i should use on them to make them go away, and fast? i don't want a collection of 20 craters in my shoulder just in time for summer.
anyways, it seems to be much more common than you would think, so i'm worried about moosette. so many pharmacists told me that it was bites or acne or dermatitis, and by the time i really knew what it was, it was too late!

--avalange

free skin care · Sat Feb 10, 2007 5:59 pm

Oh Avalange, that is so awful! Sad

Did your doctor prescribe or suggest any kind of topical for you? What is the course of treatment for it now?

I hope that you are feeling some relief soon.

free skin care · Sat Feb 10, 2007 6:31 pm

tam wrote:

Oh Avalange, that is so awful! Sad

Did your doctor prescribe or suggest any kind of topical for you? What is the course of treatment for it now?

I hope that you are feeling some relief soon.

hi,

just a zovirax cream, which i think won't do a darned thing... the course of treatment is just to let it run its course, and not be so stressed about everything Razz

which i am totally willing to do...

antivirals don't really work that well against viruses, especially if you don't begin using them right away, and i waited a week to see a doctor!

thank you so very much for your concern!!!!!!!

--avalange

free skin care · Sat Feb 10, 2007 7:14 pm

I also have been using the WEN Conditioning Cleanser for a few months and quite impressed. WEN has several different formulas...I think the Cucumber Aloe might be soothing to your scalp. Hope you get better soon moosette and avalange.

Use and Active Ingredients

WEN Cucumber Aloe Cleansing Conditioner is perfect for all hair types and is extremely beneficial for oily scalps and dry hair due to its astringent and moisturizing properties. It also performs amazingly well on fine to medium textured hair adding volume and body.

Some of the key ingredients in the Cucumber Aloe Cleansing Conditioner:

Cucumber Fruit Extract : soothing, cooling, nourishing & healing contains astringent properties helping relieve itching and inflammation.. Rich in beneficial minerals and amino acids, cucumber moisturizes, smoothes and softens the skin and hair.

Organic Aloe Vera Leaf Juice : soothing, healing, moisturizing, antifungal, antibacterial properties

Rosemary Extract: amazing antioxidant properties, stimulates hair growth and fights scalp problems. Is known to increase circulation as it stimulates the hair follicles to renewed activity and prevent premature baldness.

Chamomile Extract: calming, soothing, with antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties. Also used for dry, flaky skin

Marigold Extract: helpful as an antiseptic, healing wounds and reducing inflammation

Menthol: has local anesthetic and counter-irritant qualities. Can also reduce itching and tenderness

Witch Hazel : soothing, cooling, refreshing, softening. Contains astringent, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; relieving inflammation & scalp irritations

Avocado Oil : rich, moisturizing properties, highly therapeutic on dry, sensitive skin; rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, E, Lecithin & Fatty Acids

http://www.chazdeanstudio.com

free skin care · Sun Feb 11, 2007 12:08 am

Hope you guys feel better soon. Sad

I got the WEN cleansing conditioners. I got the travel pack with smaller bottles of the 4 formulas tto try out which is best fro me. I'll post a review when I see how my hair is after a few days. I got them on the reccomendation on another thread to help with my dry thin hair with oily buildup on scalp. I have been using a SLS-free shampoo for awhile now, but not exclusively, and my scalp is less itchy and my hair seems better.
I just started the WEN and I have been alternating my SLS-free tea tree oil shampoo with the conditioners, cause I find that my hair gets too yucky with just the WEN conditioner. I have been planning on doing an ACV rinse cause I know that's good for buildup, or maybe I just need more time w/ the WEN conditoners and SLS- free shampoo only w/ no cheating with other shampoos or conditioners. LOL

free skin care · Mon Feb 19, 2007 6:54 pm

Hi all - hope you are all finding something that works for this! I've got the same woes as well - I've tried so many things!
Moosette - have you had any luck with any of the recommended products? I was just about to purchase the Kerastase Dermo Calm shampoo, but wanted to see if you'd had any luck yet!
Thanks!

free skin care · Mon Feb 19, 2007 7:44 pm

jjb wrote:

Hi all - hope you are all finding something that works for this! I've got the same woes as well - I've tried so many things!
Moosette - have you had any luck with any of the recommended products? I was just about to purchase the Kerastase Dermo Calm shampoo, but wanted to see if you'd had any luck yet!
Thanks!

Hi jjb,
I haven't tried any of the products mentioned yet, I'm still taking the shen min to see if that will help...have only been taking it for a couple weeks now, so its too early yet to see any results. If it doesn't work I'm going to try the WEN cleansing conditioners, they sound fabulous!

It seems everything has calmed down with my scalp for now, I think a new shampoo and conditioner were the culprits. It was Alba Botanicals Hawaiian line, I'm not sure if it was the shampoo or conditioner, but it seemed to irritate the heck out of my scalp and it made it feel oilier and itchier than ever before. I have no idea what is in it that caused the problem for me, I thought "natural" products were supposed to be better Question

free skin care · Mon Feb 19, 2007 9:38 pm

Thanks for the update Moosette!
Interesting that it was a "natural" product! I wonder if the Back to Basics Honey shampoo did it to me!? It's full of extracts of stuff and such... the first ingredient is Hawaiian ginger extract. I think it's going to have to go under the sink with the rest of my rejects Rolling Eyes

!

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