Pat - Nizoral, recommended by my doctor, works very well. Just a tiny dab is needed, and I have long hair.

I've been using Paul Mitchell's Tea Tree anti-thinning scalp care shampoo and LOVE it!

Try Jason's. They sell it at most hippie stores. Sprouts, Whole Foods, etc. My husband had tried so many shampoos and after a while they'd stop working. I got this one for him and he has used it for a few years now with no problems. Make sure to get this specific one where one of the active ingredients is Sulfur :)

Pat, by "dry" do you mean itchy (my issue) or flaky with dandruff?

rhizo, itchy. Even right after shampooing. Moisturized my scalp with CeraVe and it was wonderful, but I looked like a grease-ball who needed to wash her hair. Back to apple cider vinegar and water, I guess. Love smelling like a pickle.

Have you tried coconut oil before washing your hair? Put it on your scalp and hair and leave it for a while or wrap it up and sleep with it overnight. Then wash out. Try not to put too much or just make sure to wash it out well.

Debby_ab my husband would get those red patches too and the shampoo I suggested above really helped with that. :)

It didn't help my husband at all. So we went the oil route.

Pat - Have you checked with your doctor.......to rule out an underlying health condition that is causing it? It could be a number of things.

We have been using shampoo with Argan oil Moroccan oil.

DH uses Neutrogena T-Sal on the advice of his dermatologist. Odorless.

Are you drinking plenty of water?

Yes, Neutrogena T-Gel. Developed by our ok'd dermatologist from our LA days - just the best.

My daughter is struggling with this as well. We have tried it all. Seeing a new dermotologist in a month. Nothing seems to help. Very frustrating. She had terrible cradle cap when she was a baby so it's definitely and ongoing condition.

I'm going to make a guess and say that you are allergic to something in your shampoo. I'd try the T-Sal first and see if the itch doesn't go away. I have bought some shampoo and/or conditioners that have made my scalp itch in the past.

You are all very kind to respond. The shampoos that should help, Head & Shoulders, Jason, and Nizoral, actually made my condition worse. I definitely will try the coconut oil. And I think I will go back to the Moroccan Oil shampoo, I remember now that it was helpful. Also, appreciate the drinking water comment. I definitely do not drink enough water and I need to do that for a lot of reasons. Thank you all so very much.

I do notice one thing that may help someone: my scalp gets especially itchy after eating something with sugar in it. I'm diabetic so I should know better, right? But, I've been looking for the " perfect" shampoo my entire life, it seems.

If you could find something that's fragrance free and sulfate free, that may be helpful.

Just to note: Almost all liquid 'soaps' have a preservative in them to prevent mold and to keep them from solidifying. This is true of body wash, shampoo, lotions, you-name-it. Remember the stinky frog you dissected in high school? The stink was the preservative formaldehyde. (Bar soaps have *different* icky stuff.)

Also, as our immune systems age, our body's ability to tolerate these things decreases, and manufacturers change the formulas for products we *used* to tolerate. It can be impossible to find one with out a 'sudser' (sodium laureth sulfate) because...people believe they need to have 'lather' to clean. (Not true.)

Neutrogena makes T-Gel and T-Sal. My DH has been happy with T-Sal.

If sugar seems to make it worse...maybe try looking up candida.

My problem is "ITCHY" scalp. No dandruff. I've tried using just the conditioner, Johnson's baby shampoo, Tea Tree Oil, and several others. Nothing has helped. I haven't seen a dermatologist, but I mention it to every doctor I see and none have any suggestions. I feel like it is hopeless. I may try each one mentioned here that I haven't tried yet and see what happens, if any thing.

My daughter is still struggling with an itchy flaky scalp. It's bad and we have seen a dermotologist. The derm prescribed a steroid for the itchy scalp which we she hasn't wanted to use yet.

So maybe if you see a Dr they can prescribe something.

Wash hair w/ regular shampoo & rinse well, then apply Nizoral shampoo & LEAVE ON SCALP for 5-10 minutes, then rinse well. Use daily until symptoms gone, then use 2-3 x per week.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3233984/

My dermatologist recommended a shampoo called "free and clear" - has none of the harmful chemicals in it - they carry it at Walgreens and on line. There are also some "name brands" making shampoos without those chemicals today.

On another thread awhile back, someone mentioned shampoo soap bars...they are soaps designed to be shampoos. I went to a health food store and got one with tea tree oil and nettle and coconut oil and such in it. They are all natural, and I have to admit that my hair looks fuller than it has in a long time. I've also had fewer issues with my scalp since using it. Thought I'd mention it.

Just make sure to test if you are allergic to tea tree oil before you use products containing it. Many people are allergic. I am extremely allergic. I didn't know till I used a shampoo that had it as an ingredient. I had blisters on my scalp almost immediately. Unfortunately the products don't list it prominently. I now have to read the very tiny list of ingredients in everything because they are now putting tea tree oil in many many products.