Dandruff Treatment for Kids

[Kungjo]

One of my DD's has dandruff. The flakes really bother her, but I'm hesitant to use something like Head and Shoulders or Selson Blue.

Any natural remedies or something that's considered relatively safe on the Skindeep database?

Thanks!

[BunnyBee]

Tea tree oil shampoos often help. Do you have Trader Joes nearby? They have a good, cheap one, though I have no idea how it ranks on SkinDeep. Giovanni has one that's at Target. Nature's Gate (I think that's the brand) makes one we like that I've gotten at Whole Foods.

[AnnieW625]

I had Dandruff really bad between the age of 10-12, I think it was probably a puberty thing, but I used this brand it started with a D (I can't remember the brand), but it worked quite well. There was no skin deep in the 80s so I am no help there. Honestly though this is kind of the one thing that if it works I would just use it. For occaisional flare ups I use Head & Shoulders and I really like it. DH uses it on a daily basis and he likes it more than the expensive Aveda I gave him to try.

[waitingforgrace]

Head and shoulders works great, she may not need it everyday.

[lizzywednesday]

The active ingredient in shampoos like H&S and Selsun Blue is salycic acid, which can help slough off dead skin cells.

If they make you uncomfortable, you can try dilute apple cider vinegar with good results. Personally, I would try that before I moved to a fungicide.

If you suspect it's due to a fungal infection, tea tree oil is a fungicide and a good option.

TJ's Tea Tree Tingle shampoo is pretty good; my DH was using it with good results for about a year before the smell became a morning sickness trigger for me. Before that, he used Paul Mitchell, but it worked about the same as TJ's.

Three of the more "natural" options are LUSH Squeaky Green, which has rosemary (also a fungicide); Soak and Float, which has cade oil & smells like a campfire; and Rehab, which has peppermint & tea tree oil.

LUSH also has a couple of new scalp treatments - "Snake Oil", which is cade oil, tea tree oil and cinnamon in a cocoa & shea butter base; and "SuperBalm."

I've been using the LUSH Snake Oil every few shampoos with good results. I'm hesitant to try the SuperBalm because it's $20/tin, but I may do it next fall.

Links to product pages -

LUSH Snake Oil: http://www.lushusa.com/Snake-Oil-Scalp-Treatment-Bar/00027,en_US,pd.html?start=8&cgid=hair-treatments

LUSH SuperBalm: http://www.lushusa.com/Superbalm/03743,en_US,pd.html?start=9&cgid=hair-treatments

LUSH Soak & Float Solid Shampoo: http://www.lushusa.com/Soak-and-Float/00101,en_US,pd.html?start=13&cgid=liquid-shampoos

LUSH Squeaky Green Solid Shampoo: http://www.lushusa.com/Squeaky-Green/02736,en_US,pd.html?start=6&cgid=liquid-shampoos

LUSH Rehab Shampoo: http://www.lushusa.com/Rehab/9999902012,en_US,pd.html?start=25&cgid=liquid-shampoos

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Oil Shampoo: http://www.paulmitchell.com/PRODUCTS/TEATREE/TEATREESPECIAL/Pages/TeaTreeSpecialShampoo.aspx

[crayonblue]

Honestly though this is kind of the one thing that if it works I would just use it.

DD1 uses H&S occasionally when she gets flakey hair and I agree with Annie. When it comes to my kids being self-conscious, I'm willing to let go of anything I worry about!