Scalp Acne

[CMan0928]

I was getting terrible scalp acne as well until I started using an all-natural shampoo and conditioner, and I stopped washing my hair as much also. The acne cleared up steadily over the course of 7-10 days after I made the switch, and has never been back since. Here's what's possibly going on, as far as I can gather from this thread and my own research and experience:

- Allergy to shampoo
- Allergy to conditioner
- Allergy to styling product
- Excessive drying of scalp
- Something else

You can fix the first three problems by switching to different products. Try to avoid shampoos with the ingredients you read about here: http://www.savvyskin.com/shampoo-ingredients-to-avoid. I really like the shampoo and conditioner I recently bought, which are rosemary-lemon scented and doing a lovely job with my hair. I bought the shampoo, conditioner, and hair spray, all of which I'm very happy with. You can find them here: http://www.amazon.com/Aloe-80-Organi...2633964&sr=8-3

As for styling products, you may or may not use them and you may or may not have a variety of them already anyway, but try a new one, or try going a few days without using any if possible, etc. For further discussion on this sub-topic just reply and I'll be happy to delve further.

When I had scalp acne, I was definitely drying my scalp out too much. You can prevent excessive drying of your scalp by not actually washing your hair all the time. You shouldn't put cleansing products through your hair except as-needed when it's got product that needs to come out or it's dirty from sweating, being outdoors, etc. Now, I only actually use shampoo and conditioner on my hair if I have really made it gross with a molding clay, pomade, or any type of activity where it's bound to have caught a bunch of dust or sweat or something. Otherwise, I just wet it, run my fingers through it a bit, and dry it.

If all that doesn't work after 2 weeks, it might be time to see a dermatologist.

Awesome advice, man. Thanks for taking the time to type all that out. I'm going to look into organic shampoos for sure.

[deruitem]

Awesome advice, man. Thanks for taking the time to type all that out. I'm going to look into organic shampoos for sure.

My wife and I switched to a non sls shampoo and it helped A LOT. I still have some minor issues but its not bad. Give it a shot, we liked avalon organics

[mixednutts]

Be careful with trying too many unorthodox remedies for scalp problems. You may think it can't make things any worse but it can. And your scalp is a really bad place to have a problem that sticks out like a sore thumb.

I have had the same "scalp acne" problem on the back of my head and neck since I was a teenager (almost 40 now). I have tried absolutely everything. Nothing I have ever tried has even made it even slightly better. And then, a few years ago, I started to get something like dandruff on my scalp. I've tried all kinds of dandruff shampoos and even a bunch of home remedies. Nothing has worked.

I can't help but wonder if I made the problem worse. I'll eventually end up going to a dermatologist.

Only advice I can give is to use the mildest soap you can find, spread your showers out and try to avoid really hot water. I would personally try to avoid things like vinegar. I tried that and it caused my scalp to sting for several hours even though I washed it off almost right away.

[Michelia]

Hi Cman..

This is something I know a little bit about. It would be worth it to see a dermatologist just to ascertain what your condition is. It does sound like you have some kind of seborrheic dermatitis going on. In seborrhea your scalp produces heavy amounts of oil and you develop scale. There is a yeast that thrives under these conditions and they cause infection and give rise to the spread of the bumps you feel.

On the other hand, knowing what you have will not help you much if you can fix your problem with proper treatment anyway. The best shampoo for that is Nizoral. Ketoconazole (the active ingredient) is made specifically to handle that type of yeast and it also acts as an anti-androgen in your hair that helps your hair grow better and reduce the oiliness. The problem with any shampoo is that it is still pretty drying to your hair. DHS Zinc is also an excellent shampoo but may be more expensive and not as easy to find. But if you go to a Walgreens they can order it for you. Both of these shampoos are better than the ones you mentioned, although you may get decent results with the ones you mentioned. Use these shampoos as often as you need to to control the problem initially and gradually reduce frequency as long as problem is under control. When applying shampoos, wet your scalp and apply and rub in gently and leave for about 5 mins and then rinse. Do not leave on for longer or you will just cause irritation. You can also apply these shampoos to the back or your ears or creases in your nostrils or wherever you have the problem.

The trick is to alternate your shampoos every other week or so. If you want to go natural, I may be able to help with that. First off, use one of the above shampoos first and clear up your infection. After that try using a Dr. bronner's diluted about 1:8 parts water. Add a few drops of tea tree oil to that and use this mix on your scalp till you get a lather. Do this every other day or every three days depending on your condition. Then every day do a vinegar rinse with 1:5 ACV to water ratio. Do not leave this on your scalp for more than a minute. This has been very good for me and for a few other people I have told this to. In my case, I have long hair and the shampoos were drying out my hair and damaging it in the long term. You do not have to worry about this. Anyhow, I had tried many different things and nothing ever worked other than the shampoos. But ever since I tried this formula, my scalp has been clear. I use no conditioner and no chemicals anymore. My hair is healthier than ever. And I no longer visit dermatologists. I have spent a fortune on doctors and this issue.

Once your "acne" is under control, you can use pure ACV and dab it with your finger twice a day behind the ear and those other areas (not on your scalp) YMMV so I would try diluting it if it burns. I use it straight and I have sensitive skin and I have no issues with it. I rub it in a little and leave there. This has been a godsend for me.

If the above does not work for you, go to a dematologist and depending on the diagnosis, there is an oral version of Nizoral you can take. It will take care of the problem in a couple of weeks but it is expensive and you cannot take it forever...I think it is pretty rough on your liver, etc. But it should get the problem under control and then maintain using one of the other courses or action. I would love to hear back on what works for you.

[CMan0928]

Hi Cman..

This is something I know a little bit about. It would be worth it to see a dermatologist just to ascertain what your condition is. It does sound like you have some kind of seborrheic dermatitis going on. In seborrhea your scalp produces heavy amounts of oil and you develop scale. There is a yeast that thrives under these conditions and they cause infection and give rise to the spread of the bumps you feel.

On the other hand, knowing what you have will not help you much if you can fix your problem with proper treatment anyway. The best shampoo for that is Nizoral. Ketoconazole (the active ingredient) is made specifically to handle that type of yeast and it also acts as an anti-androgen in your hair that helps your hair grow better and reduce the oiliness. The problem with any shampoo is that it is still pretty drying to your hair. DHS Zinc is also an excellent shampoo but may be more expensive and not as easy to find. But if you go to a Walgreens they can order it for you. Both of these shampoos are better than the ones you mentioned, although you may get decent results with the ones you mentioned. Use these shampoos as often as you need to to control the problem initially and gradually reduce frequency as long as problem is under control. When applying shampoos, wet your scalp and apply and rub in gently and leave for about 5 mins and then rinse. Do not leave on for longer or you will just cause irritation. You can also apply these shampoos to the back or your ears or creases in your nostrils or wherever you have the problem.

The trick is to alternate your shampoos every other week or so. If you want to go natural, I may be able to help with that. First off, use one of the above shampoos first and clear up your infection. After that try using a Dr. bronner's diluted about 1:8 parts water. Add a few drops of tea tree oil to that and use this mix on your scalp till you get a lather. Do this every other day or every three days depending on your condition. Then every day do a vinegar rinse with 1:5 ACV to water ratio. Do not leave this on your scalp for more than a minute. This has been very good for me and for a few other people I have told this to. In my case, I have long hair and the shampoos were drying out my hair and damaging it in the long term. You do not have to worry about this. Anyhow, I had tried many different things and nothing ever worked other than the shampoos. But ever since I tried this formula, my scalp has been clear. I use no conditioner and no chemicals anymore. My hair is healthier than ever. And I no longer visit dermatologists. I have spent a fortune on doctors and this issue.

Once your "acne" is under control, you can use pure ACV and dab it with your finger twice a day behind the ear and those other areas (not on your scalp) YMMV so I would try diluting it if it burns. I use it straight and I have sensitive skin and I have no issues with it. I rub it in a little and leave there. This has been a godsend for me.

If the above does not work for you, go to a dematologist and depending on the diagnosis, there is an oral version of Nizoral you can take. It will take care of the problem in a couple of weeks but it is expensive and you cannot take it forever...I think it is pretty rough on your liver, etc. But it should get the problem under control and then maintain using one of the other courses or action. I would love to hear back on what works for you.

Wow, lots of great info there! Thanks very much, Michelia. You have inspired me to pick up some Nizoral 1% Shampoo tomorrow. I swear I'm going to go shampoo poor very soon. But it certainly beats the copay at the Dermatologist I'm sure. I'll report back after a week or so of use. I am also dying to give the T/Sal & Kiehl's Tea Tree Oil Shampoo combo a try. The Nizoral says it should be used every 3-4 days, then only as needed once the problem has cleared up. Does that sound right?

[Michelia]

Wow, lots of great info there! Thanks very much, Michelia. You have inspired me to pick up some Nizoral 1% Shampoo tomorrow. I swear I'm going to go shampoo poor very soon. But it certainly beats the copay at the Dermatologist I'm sure. I'll report back after a week or so of use. I am also dying to give the T/Sal & Kiehl's Tea Tree Oil Shampoo combo a try. The Nizoral says it should be used every 3-4 days, then only as needed once the problem has cleared up. Does that sound right?

That is right. I would start there, but keep in mind you will have to experiment a bit. Kind of like DE shaving. A little bit at a time. I used to use it every other day regularly and that is what my doctor told me to do. When it got bad I used it everyday...but that was emergency mode. But your scalp may not tolerate that. Once you get that under control you might still want to experiment with the diluted vinegar rinse. I would put the vinegar in a coloring bottle and spread up under my hair on the scalp and rub in gently. What the vinegar does is lower the PH of the scalp where the yeast/fungi will no longer thrive. Do not use it until you have no more bumps otherwise it will just burn and aggravate your problem.

VitalMyth gave you some good advice. I would read over his post as well. After seeing my problem finally getting better and my two friends as well and now VitalMyth....I have to think that going natural eventually will probably help you. Therein lies the problem with dermatologist visits. They will only recommend the standard shampoo treatments. But you get into this vicious circle and sometimes a snowball effect with pharma shampoos. They work for the most part, but they never solve your problem and at times contribute to it.

Tell you what. PM me and give me your address and I will PIF you some awesome shampoo, so hold off on buying that Nizoral. I should have at least a whole bottle left. As long as you are in the USA I can do that for you. I am not using it anymore so let it help you. I hope I am using the term PIF correctly. But if I am not, please do not hold it against me.

[mars]

It amazes me (not just from this thread) that someone can suffer from a problem for over 20 years (someone mentioned from being a teenager to being 40) without going to a doctor. Even if you had no insurance at all, you'd likely save money in the long run by figuring out what's going on instead of just trying to guess....

[kosby]

Not saying this is what you have, but it could be as simple as a bacterial infection of the scalp. For awhile out of nowhere I started getting sore bumps/pimples on my scalp, behind the ears and neckline. Tried everything with no real results so after shampooing daily and rinsing it out, I started covering entire head with regular hydrogen peroxide. Massage into scalp for a minute or so before a final water rinse. This completely cleared my problem up within a week or so and I've had a recurrence maybe once over a three year period and have treated it the same way with the same result of it going away. I sometimes also use peroxide as a final spalsh after cold water rinse on my face after shaving and it works great. No, it's not going to turn your hair white.

[flatlinerz]

yeah I been suffering with scalp acne for years now....I recently went to the dematologist and he said the only thing to stop it was use acne pill...and I didn't want to be on pills everyday to stop acne, I've done it once and once I stop using the pills acne comes back....now I am gonna try Non-SLS Shampoo

[Rodeoflyer]

Changing your pillow cases often helps as well.

[bakerbarber]

I have issues especially if I try to shave my head.

Acne facial wash made the problem worse in my case. I used it to was my head and face and my scalp broke out even more.

For spot treatment I use generic neosporin and it usually clears things up in a few days. In my case, I believe I'm allergic to one of my dogs.

I had one dog for about six years before the wife brought home a the second one. I get welts and hives up my arms if I get too much contact with him. I need to wash my hands with dish soap after petting him or playing in the yard with them or brushing him.

I think he's pretty well contaminated my whole house by now as we've had him for four years now. For me, I have a strict no dogs in the bed policy and I change my pillow cases often. I also never reuse a bath towel on my head. Always a fresh one from the laundry.

I think I had a bad habit from my bachelor days where I would hang a bath towel after using it and reuse it three or four times. I was probably smearing staph and wild bacteria and fungus all over myself without even knowing it just being lazy about washing towels.

I know I have a reaction to fabric softeners too. So I avoid those and also use 'free' laundry soap. No artificial colors or fragrances.

For my case I think I aggravate my skin by over washing. I usually shower twice a day and the drying effects of some soaps can make be break out. My skin breaks out every time I travel too. Different water, different soap, different climate? I can count on a break out during or after any trip I take.

[Kilroy08]

Changing your pillow cases often helps as well.

I'll second that one.

[bakerbarber]

I've been trying the Listerine, and ..... it's really mentholated. The original brown kind.

I have been splashing some on my scalp in the shower after washing and rinsing. I leave it sit a minute and rinse again.

It feels like a nice cooling tingle. As far as making a difference? I don't think so yet. I don't care for the lingering smell either.

[dfigz]

I've been trying the Listerine, and ..... it's really mentholated. The original brown kind.

I have been splashing some on my scalp in the shower after washing and rinsing. I leave it sit a minute and rinse again.

It feels like a nice cooling tingle. As far as making a difference? I don't think so yet. I don't care for the lingering smell either.

I have a touch of scalp Psoriasis that usually flares up in the fall/winter months. The use of Listerine Gold has seemed to help very well.

[TAZORAC]

I currently use Head And Shoulders Hair Endurance, which I love. It seems to do a really good job of managing my oily scalp and it's fairly cheap. However, does anyone know of any methods for clearing up acne on the scalp? Mostly on the back of the head, behind the ears, and on the crown of the scalp? I get my hair cut like every 3 weeks, and I usually get it blended with a #1 up to a #3 guard. So you can see my skin underneath because the hair is being cut so short. This causes a problem when your head is full of acne. Any feedback? Thanks.

You should try using SEABREEZE on your scalp. It also does wonders for dandruff.