Hair & Scalp

Head lice and nits are very common amongst young children and they can cause unpleasant itchiness.

To treat head lice, start by washing your hair with regular shampoo and applying lots of conditioner, then comb the whole head of hair while it’s wet with a detection comb.

If that doesn’t work after a couple of weeks, your pharmacist may recommend a medicated lotion or spray to kill the headlice within a day.

There are lots of different causes of dandruff, and they can differ depending on the type of dandruff you have.

For example, it could be caused by a dry skin condition like eczema, dermatitis, or psoriasis, or you could get dandruff as a result of a fungal infection like ringworm.

In babies, cradle cap is a common cause of dry, crusty skin on the scalp, which can easily be mistaken for dandruff.

Scalp psoriasis is a common condition that causes raised, red, scaly patches on the scalp, forehead or the back of the neck.

Symptoms include red patches, silvery scales, dandruff-like flaking, itching, dryness, burning, pain and hair loss.

Treatments for psoriasis include topical creams and ointments, phototherapy and oral or injected medicines.

Salicylic acid is a beneficial ingredient for treating mild scalp psoriasis as it can work to soften the patches and remove scales from the skin.

Coal or wood tar is another ingredient to look out for; this works by slowing skin cell growth and reducing inflammation.