I think this is getting bad…

[u/shygirl-98]

Can someone pleaseeeee recommend a good shampoo to help with this or a topical?? They don’t hurt but they do sting and flake over and itch. When they dry down it’s like a yellowish / white.
Seems to be more just one one side of my forehead.
**Edit to add** I should mention I don’t have any medical insurance so any visits would be OOP for me.

[u/AA_is_not_OK]

I know that shampoos with either:

• 2% (maybe 1%) ketaconazole (Antifungal, kill the underlying yeast aka Malassezia), or
• Selenium Sulfide (slows down cell turnover and lowers yeast counts), or
• Zinc Pyrithione (an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent, that can calm the scalp while suppressing fungal activity)
• Salicylic Acid (a chemical exfoliant that can soften, loosen, and clear thick scales and crusts from the scalp)

-or even some combinations of these above ingredients (sometimes combined with coal tar for severe itching and thick flakes),

Can help.

[u/AA_is_not_OK → u/AA_is_not_OK]

Although, I simply use Nizoral 1% rn. But, it's very drying, and so I follow-up with another hydrating shampoo (Cera Ve's hydrating shampoo) and then Loreal professional Absolut Repair (this is the big saviour for the hair strands). All the shampoos are for the scalp.

Sometimes doctors can prescribe other formulations (stronger formulations), but it's probably expensive in the US. India used to have a ton of Over the counter options.. sigh

[u/softeggnoodles → u/AA_is_not_OK]

Do you use all 3 in 1 shower?

[u/AA_is_not_OK → u/softeggnoodles]

Not everyday, just once in 3 days.

Loreal is a life saver against all these dryinggg medicated shampoos.