I'm having, what I find to be, a slightly embarrassing problem with my scalp.  :-[

If you look in my journal, and on other previous posts I've made, you'll see that I've made comments about hair loss I've been experiencing since about July. I'm not sure if this is related to the problem I'm having, but I'm looking at all possible avenues, which is why I posted this here.

Ok...*deep breaths*...here's my problem:

When I shower, and mind you, only when I've showered - or gotten my hair wet in some significant way - if I scratch my scalp, I get a ton of waxy white buildup stuff under my fingernails. I don't know if this is dandruff (because I've heard conflicting definitions of what exactly dandruff is), or just flakes, or shampoo buildup or what.

I've vinegar rinsed, switched shampoos, tried using dandruff shampoo in the past (which absolutely WRECKS my hair and makes it dry), scalp massaged, etc and I STILL get this problem. (It kinda goes away after I've coloured my hair for some reason, but then is back within a short while.)

Now here's the weird part: This white stuff doesn't show up my hair when it's dry. You can't visablly SEE any flakes on my shoulders when I wear dark clothes. In fact, I can hardly get anything under the fingernails if I scratch my scalp when it's dry. Only when it's WET. And a ton of gunk at that.

Am I the only person who's experiencing this? I've been plagued with this for some time and I can't figure out what to do. Is it related to my shedding problem?

ANY input would be greatly appreciated. It's taken me an age to get up the guts to post this because I find it really embarrassing. I'm a clean person, really! But all this manky rubbish on my scalp is making me feel really gross!

TIA

xxx

Don't be embarrased.  This is a good place to ask.  I'm not sure I have an answer for you but we'll see what we can come up with.

Is it possible that the "gunk" on your scalp is just skin that needs to be exfoliated?  That would only be noticable when the scalp is wet.  When we are so gentle with our hair, we may not be providing the means for the dead skin to be removed from the scalp.  This would be different from dandruff.  

Chemical processes might loosen the skin enough for it to slough off with the rinsing.  

During the summer I notice a bit of build up on my scalp - I figure it is because I am shampooing more often and there would be more build up of product.  I usually just gently run my plastic shower comb over my head a few times to try to remove it during the showering.

I hope this helps a little bit.  If not, here's a (((hug))).

i've always had problems with oily dandruff. and nothing worked better on me than CO washing!!! i thought it would get worse but i don't have that smelly goo under my nails anymore when i scratch. still a bit an itchy scalp now and then though.

I was scalp massaging during every wash to remove that gunk. Now I've found that the quickest way to do it is to use a plastic comb to do the massage, not long strokes, but little scritchy ones. And I do CO wash, which didn't change my scalp at all.

Thank you everyone for your replies! I'm glad I'm not the only one that gets this. I will defo try the comb method in the shower. I was talkin to my mum last night and I told her about this. She reckons that it could be a build up of sebum on my scalp.

Oh, and thanks for the hug BB.  :)
I don't know why I get so agitated with this problem. Maybe it's cuz it makes me feel all manky.  :P

If anyone else has any suggestions, please let me know! Cheers in advance!

I have the same problem Rua. Since visiting this board it has been better just a lot less. After I stopped using conditioner too much it went away but after a few days it comes back and the only way I can get rid of mine for the next few days it to use the suave claifiying shampoo. Sometimes the co washing just can get it all off. I don't know if this will help you but I thought I'd post.  :)

How about some of the shampoos that have salicylic acid?  That exfoliates and after a few uses it should strip off the skin build up (if that's what it is).

Another good one, advertised for getting rid of Manky Skanky Scalp is BIG from Lush.

Skin, any skin, really does looses and exfoliate in chunks when thoroughly soaked.  That's certainly true of my facial skin when I'm using exfoliants, good luck, g

Have you tried a brown sugar scrub? I thought of this only because BB suggested exfoliating. You just mix some brown sugar with conditioner and use it to scrub your scalp while in the shower.

Hugs!

That's an interesting one! Brown Sugar!
I didn't know you could do that. When BB said about exfoliating, I thought she meant extra fingertip massage or using a plastic shower comb.

I would've thought the sugar would get stuck to your scalp!

I will defo try that. Thank you, Leia!  :)

wrote on Dec 16^th, 2004 at 3:16am:

Have you tried a brown sugar scrub? I thought of this only because BB suggested exfoliating. You just mix some brown sugar with conditioner and use it to scrub your scalp while in the shower. Hugs!

i will deffo try that once  now i co too ... but the coing on it's own seems to have cured my scalp these days. i do use still shampoos now and then but i've always found that anti-dandruff stuff makes it even worse usually. they can remove dandruff but they also leave your scalp in a poor state! salicylic or glycolic acid or both, none are really amazing especially if you use them like the bottle prescribes: 10 weeks in a row ... haleluja!

How often do you wash your hair?  When I had my extensions in I'd go as long as possible before washing my hair (since the extensions hair is so dry and brittle already), usually 4 or 5 days.  I'd always have white stuff under my fingernails when I'd scratch my scalp, it must just be the skin that's coming off and also the natural oils in your scalp that give it the waxy feeling.  I never thought anything of it, but I can see how someone could start getting really freaked and grossed out by it.  
As far as getting rid of it, maybe wash your hair more often, or be sure to get the scalp really clean when you do wash your hair.  Even if it doesnt entirely go away, the only way anyone will ever know about it is if they watch u in the shower and if they're doing that, they probly wouldnt care about that anyway..lol ;)

It sounds to me to be cradel cap like babies get. if your hair is really thick and heavy, the sebum or natural oils your scalp produces is possibley over producing. Try a baby typ shampoo about 2 times a week, the alkaline base is diffrent and should help, or try a proffetional Clariffing shamppo 1 time a week. this should be followed by a moisture based conditioner.

Hope this helps.