lynus's Full Review: Nizoral Anti Dandruff Shampoo
This is going to be a pretty sad review. You see, I have really bad dandruff. My doctor has said that the same gene responsible for asthma is also responsible for dry skin especially dry scalp. Since I now have to take daily medication to control my asthma and I use up a big bottle of Cetaphil about once a month, my dandruff has also continued to hit me like a snowstorm.
There was a time I was able to control it with the various Head and Shoulder’s products which I cannot speak badly about. They work but they only work for about a day. If I don’t use them every day I find myself scratching and itching way past my bedtime. Based on other reviews here on Epinions I decided to try this product, Nizoral A-D.
First let me say that when it came to my dandruff Nizoral worked amazingly well! After just one use my dandruff was gone.
I had no itching. Nothing!
However, the next day, and doctor’s cannot quite pinpoint for a medical certainty if Nizoral is the culprit - I broke out into a horrible rash. First it started on my shoulders, then traveled down to my arms, then onto my chest and back, and then it started spreading up my neck and down my legs. After a quick trip to the Urgent Care facility, I had a 104 temperature and was immediately put on medication (Hydroxyzine HCL) to calm the redness and itching and was told to put moisturizer lotion all over my body. The medicine knocked me out and I awoke the next morning with redish skin but no more hives. I have not used Nizoral since – and haven’t had hives since.
Unlike Head the Shoulder’s which may have a meek formula, Nizoral at one time was available only as a prescription. In fact, its main ingredient is Ketoconazole which is normally given to treat fungi – a fact I only bring up because the oral form of this drug carries with it a whole slew of warnings including the possibility of increasing liver damage. Granted, such warnings are on the oral form of Ketoconazole and no one is bound to start swallowing Nizoral shampoo any time soon but still – perhaps there’s a semi-small issue floating around there. Prescription strength Nizoral has just 2% of Ketoconazole whereas the over-the-counter version drops itself down to 1%. If I’m allergic to Ketoconazole – that 1% sure kicked my butt!
As with any shampoo I used as directed. The bottle did warn that a rash could occur and if so to stop use and see a doctor. After getting my hair nice and wet I applied a small portion to my head and generously lathered. I let it sit for a couple of minutes and then rinsed it off. I noticed almost immediately that this was something far better than Head and Shoulders. I felt absolutely no itching at all. And felt none for several days. The instructions state that you should wait 3-4 days before using again.
If Nizoral has one hindrance (besides giving me hives) it would be the price. This stuff does not come cheap. A small 4 fluid ounce bottle cost over $10! Even using only every 3-4 days I’d calculate that I would have to buy one bottle at least every month. Not a bad investment to virtually cure dandruff and only around 50% more expensive than Head and Shoulders. Of course in my case once you calculate in medical expenses to Urgent Care, Nizoral is very unaffordable.
Overall, I recommend Nizoral. It is kind of odd to recommend it but for the few short days I got to experience Nizoral (without the hives) I was not suffering from any of the effects of having dandruff.
So, I’m sad I can’t use it – but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t.
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