I think all of our situations areally very different, my head doesn't itch, so there's no shampoo or cream to help me, it's a mental urge to pick, the goal is to create a scab, many, and to keep picking these scabs, I have talked to my therapist, psychiatrist, and doctor and none of them really seemed to show any interest or concern and what I was telling them, I was being treated for anxiety, panic disorder, depression, and PTSD so maybe they were so I thought I was the only one. My grandmother has since passed many many many years ago but it just shows me somewhere between 50 and 100 years ago I had a relative who had the same affliction?
Thanks for sharing your story for others to read.
I have scratched and picked my scalp for about fifteen years. It started with a spot on my scalp that may have been normal dandruff, or it may have been fungal. Who knows, but it's been a long road since. It has always flaked and when I would scratch, tons of dandruff came off. Over the years, the size of the spot has gotten bigger and bigger and obsessive scratching has taken over my life. To me, I've always scratched until dandruff stopped falling. I felt better once it was all off of me, so to speak. Of course, guilt and shame often followed. My skin would be sore and I'd still feel dirty for doing it.
I had tried all the regular shampoos. Head and Shoulders, coal tar, Selson Blue. Nothing worked. I realized most of the problem was behavioral and even tried using a scalp massager whenever I got the urge to scratch. But, itching would always drive me nuts after a couple of days. I am prone to eczema on my torso and even tried Mometasone Furoate Rx cream on it. But I only did a couple days treatment and quit.
I went to a dermatologist and she gave me a sample of Ketaconazole foam. That didn't work. Recently, the spots on my scalp spread to the other side of my head and I really began to feel despair. Something needed to be done.
Recently, I had my eczema cream refilled for my torso rash. I also splurged on the expensive Nizoral Ketoconazole shampoo in the store. I shaved my head and started using the shampoo once a day and the cream twice daily.
I almost cry because it seems to be clearing up. And it doesn't itch anymore and the positive feelings have made me not want to scratch at it and just leave it be. For the first time in fifteen years, I feel like I'm finally winning this battle.
So, I realize this cure may not work for everyone. But, especially if you are prone to eczema, I urge you to try it. Prescription Mometasone Furoate cream to treat it as eczema and Nizoral Ketoconazole shampoo to treat it as fungal.
Oh - what a great idea to show success stories and I am sorry that I didn't see this till I had posted my comments in the existing thread. I may well become known for my work in this field as time progresses. I'm glad I found this forum.
Keep at it JGF25 your comments are so honest and supportive.
Reposting just in case anyone is interested.