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Help with scalp odor as it smell bad all the time
For the past 6 months, my scalp has developed a bad hair odor. The smells occurs after my hair is dried. I used to wash my hair once a week but because of the smell, I wash my hair 2-3 times a week. I did go to the dermatologist and was prescribed Keketoconazole 2 % but it doesn’t work as the smell comes back. The doctor did an exam and there was no appearance of dandruff. I have washed my hair with Head & Shoulders, T/Gel, and Knot Today Clarifying Shampoos (as I have naturally curly hair) but nothing seems to work. I also thought it was my styling product so last week I just shampooed my hair and let it dry and the smell appeared after it dried.
This odor is taking an emotional and physical toll on me as I try to isolate myself from people because this problem makes myself and other people around me uncomfortable. People are always holding their noise and telling me I smell. If you have any ideas why this might be happening, please share!
Has anyone had anything similar and managed to get rid of it? It'd be good to hear from any specialists who can give me some ideas on how to eliminate this smell as it's starting to become a big issue now.
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Im struggling exactly like you, except for a year now. Tried everything. Have you found a solution
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1 ReactionDid you find a cure or relief for this?
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1 Reactionhttps://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/24751-smelly-scalp
It's heartbreaking to read about your situation. I have been experiencing it myself and it can really take a toll on your confidence and mental health generally. My own research has led me to believe that the bad odour is caused by a yeast overgrowth on the scalp. The yeast is MALASSEZIA. We all have it on our skin, but for some of us, it goes a bit out of control (stress, genetics, who knows!) and it loves to eat fats! Scalp sebum is the perfect food. The musty odour is the yeast releasing volatile organic compounds (VOC's). Some people mistakenly use products on their scalps thinking it will counteract the yeast (coconut oil, castor oil) but these only feed it!! However, it cannot digest MINERAL OIL such as baby oil. So, here is how I take care of my own situation, and so far so good! Get baby oil and tea tree oil (this is antifungal) and a pair of disposable gloves (optional). Before washing my hair, I put several drops of tea tree oil into a good bit of baby oil, and massage this into my scalp, and leave it on for an hour before washing my hair when I have my daily shower. The amount of tea tree drops will depend on its strength (the stronger/more pure, then the less you need). Just experiment yourself. And gently massage this mixture in. No scrubbing. Your scalp is having enough trauma as it is! On day 1 I was pleasantly surprised that 70% of odour was contained, and when I did it again on Day 2, NO ODOUR AT ALL, only a nice faint pleasant scent of my shampoo (which was a teatree/mint combo from my local supermarket). I will also advise that I started taking KEIFIR to help balance my gut microbiome, which can't hurt either! I hope this information will help you enjoy your life more. It definitely has helped me.
A few drops of tea tree oil mixed in with baby oil (mineral oil), gently massaged into scalp and left for 1 hour. Then wash off and shampoo with something that doesn't have coconut or other "edible fat" for the scalp yeast (Malassezia) to eat! I used a tea-tree/mint shampoo from my supermarket, or use the usual head n shoulders type shampoo. The yeast can't digest mineral oil so it gets smothered. Experiment with the number of drops of tea tree. Don't go overboard!
Tea tree oil drops diluted in baby oil. Massage into scalp and wait 1 hour at least before shampooing hair. The scalp yeast can't digest mineral oil, and tea tree is anti fungal. It worked for me!