Nizoral AntiDandruff Shampoo, 7-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 2)

I heard about this shampoo a while ago from a hairstylist but it was prescription only so on a whim, a few weeks ago, I googled it after reading a story on AOL that it was rated #1 by doctors for help with healing severe dandruff issues. My 15 year old daughter (African-American) suffered terribly from a very itchy scalp and thick scaly patches of dandruff. No other shampoos seem to relieve the itching or clear up the patches. It just seemed to be getting worse and worse. After using this product ONE time her hair no longer itches and she has no traces of dandruff. It's like she never suffered from it at all. This is truly amazing since I could wash her hair on a Sunday and by Tuesday she had thick patches and severe itching. We are back to washing her hair every two weeks and the added benefit of this shampoo is that it smells GREAT! This was the best investment I could have made on her behalf.

Let me start this off with the fact that I have been trying to get control of my minor dandruff for almost 20 years. My head does not itch, but a moderately annoying amount of tiny flakes would be produced each day. I have tried everything over the years to get control of my flakes. Tiny amounts on my shoulder or the back of my neck, on my pillow when I woke up in the morning, it was something I was very selfconscious about and embarrassed. Being a guy though, I rarely go to the doctor, and really how many guys would go to the doctor to talk about such a small problem. So I tried everything, every shampoo in the supermarket isle, I changed hair gels 20 times, stopped using hair gels all together.Then I found this little gem. Literally after 3 weeks of use, zero flakes, not one. I used to get them on the front sides of my head and would have to "clean" my hair almost daily to not look flakey, no more. I can wake up next to my g/f and not be embarassed that theres flakes all over the pillow, its great! If you feel like youve tried everything and the tiny flakes just wont go away, give this a shot. One of the other reviewers mentions why it is different than the other treatments over the counter and for me at least, it hit the nail on the head!

Of the many, MANY dandruff shampoos I had tried, the only one that worked well for me was Nizoral. I was more than a bit frantic, then, when McNeill pulled it from the US retail market for over a year. Sure, with a doctor's prescription you could get the 2% "prescription strength", but it cost more. I eventually discovered UK sellers on Amazon offering the UK retail version (which is the 2% strength) at reasonable prices, and I have been using that.But now the US 1% version is back, and Amazon has it for a decent price for the 7-ounce bottle (less than a 4-ounce 2% bottle cost me from the UK.) Most dandruff shampoos on the US market use pyrithone zinc as the active ingredient. A couple use coal tar or salycilic acid, which can be good for some conditions, but not what I have. Nizoral is the only one with ketaconazole, and the one that works for me. Note that the instructions suggest that, once you have your dandruff under control, you should use the Nizoral only once or twice a week. I do this, and it seems to do the job.

I've been using Nizoral 1% for about 8 months. I've had very bad dandruff for over four years, as a result of dry skin than came on suddenly. I find that almost any shampoo (even non-dandruff shampoos) will prevent dandruff for a few days. Then it comes back as bad as ever. Nizoral is the most effective shampoo I've tried. It isn't a cure for me, as it has seemingly been for others here. It started out great, nearly eliminating the flaking and itching. After a couple of weeks of use about every 3 days, it became less effective, with flaking and itching starting in the afternoon -- but the flakes were smaller and the itching less intense than with other shampoos. After eight months, it is still good, but I get flakes and itching every day. It's expensive, but it offers some relief. On the non-Nizoral days I usually use the Ginger shampoo from The Body Shop.

Though I think you get the point that this stuff works when nothing else does I'll still chyme in.I'm almost 40 and have had scalp issues since I was 12 (earliest I can remember).Neutrogena - noSeltzen Blue - noHead and Shoulders - no (though the Troy Polamalu commercials are funny - even to a Browns fan)I'd kept my hair buzzed because that seemed to help fend off the itch that would crop up after a day or 2 (that annoying itch that you knew was related to flakes and irritation). Growing my hair out was asking for trouble. I am in sales so there is no avoiding the judgmental eyes of the world.Doctor prescribed it (2% version), I use it once a week or so, and all is well. I mix it in with other products safely (i.e. conditioner cuz it doesn't attempt to touch that area obviously). I once ran out of it and quickly reverted back so called me hooked. I know it made the difference.My hair is grown out, I'm never annoyed by that itch on the back of my head just above the hair line and where that swirly thing is. I only wish I had discovered this 20 years ago. At least this will never be a problem with my children. Just buy it.