Nizoral is labelled as a dandruff shampoo, which normally means a flaky scalp, but it can also mean greasy scales, scabs, or in my case weeping skin – how lovely!
Dandruff (or seborrhoeic dermatitis of the scalp) is thought to be caused by either the proliferation of a normal skin inhabitant, a yeast called Malassezia furfur or the over-sensitivity of the skin to a fungus called Pityrosporum ovale. Dandruff is not contagious, nor related to diet, but stress and being run down can make it worse if you are prone to it.
I have never actually suffered from the normal flaky dandruff that makes you avoid wearing black. Instead every now and then my scalp sort of bubbles a clear liquid which dries to a yellowy scab – it reminds me of tree sap. I get very conscious that people might notice this and it is also sore. Previously I had been prescribed Polytar or used Vosene, but I always felt that I needed to wash my hair again due to the dreadful smell. Both of these shampoos worked, but the smell was so vile that I was embarrassed using them. Then I saw an advert for Nizoral on the television and decided to give it a go.
The two most impressive things about this shampoo is the lack of smell and the fact that it works! The faint smell is slightly clinical, and does not remain in your hair after rinsing. After about three washes with this bright pink shampoo, my scabby, oozing patches had completely gone. The pink box it comes in states that it ‘contains an ingredient previously available only on prescription’ - this ingredient being ketoconazole.
The down side of this shampoo is the extortionate price - £8.75 for 100 ml or £5.75 for 60ml (from www.pharmacy2u.co.uk but similar prices at local chemists). Compared with my £0.99 for 200ml of Organics shampoo (from www.halfpriceorless.co.uk), I felt done! Fortunately you do not need to use much or often. The instructions say to use every 3 or 4 days for the first 2-4 weeks then use every 1 or 2 weeks as a preventative. They also say not to use the shampoo more often than this - use a normal shampoo if you need to wash your hair more often. I only use mine when I am having a bad bout (maybe twice a year) so it is lasting me well. You should leave the lathered shampoo in your hair for 3-5 minutes, giving it time to work. I suffer from greasy hair and I haven’t noticed any improvement or deterioration using this shampoo, but it does leave my hair nice and clean.
The shampoo should be kept at room temperature (at or below 25 degrees) and has a shelf life of about 2 years depending on how long the bottle has been on the shop shelf for, but remember to check the expiry date on each bottle. The white bottle has a pink label with full instructions on it in case you lose the paper instructions in the box. It has a flip lid with a hole in it that doesn’t get bunged up.
•• WARNINGS •• As with most preparations there are warnings. Stop using the shampoo if you have an allergic reaction to it. If you are already using a steroid cream for your condition, slowly reduce it while you start to use the shampoo. Nizoral shampoo can be used whilst pregnant or breast feeding. One occasional reported side effect has been hair discoloration of grey hair that has been treated frequently, e.g. colours, perms or bleaching, so beware!
•• MANUFACTURER •• It is made in Belgium by Janssen Pharmeceutica NV, but licenced to Janssen-Cilag Ltd in High Wycombe. Searching the web I have found out that this company is a top ten UK pharmaceutical company and is part of the Johnson & Johnson groups of companies. For more information visit: www.janssen-cilag.co.uk.
•• CONCLUSION •• Very good! Very expensive! If you have scalp problems I can recommend giving this one a go, as it has worked on me and did not leave me smelling like a newly laid road.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
I was just about to do an opinion for this :-) But you have said it all here. I've been using Nizoral for nearly the same reason you have used it. I would have liked using it when I was a kid, as there were only the others you mentioned then. I hate those clinical smells. Nizoral can be provided on prescription if your needs are severe. But the price isn't very different either way, unless you get prescriptions paid for. Excellent opinion Offy :-) Thanks :-) Ray.
Marchant 23.03.2002 01:43
Although this seems expensive, I think it could be good for my daughter. Thanks. Mike
sue.51 22.03.2002 22:27
Great op (as usual) on a product I haven't tried - maybe I should - minor point and a real bug-bear of mine as someone who used to work in pharmaceuticals (wish I still did) is avoid shelf-lifes, expiry dates etc - someone could read it and take it is as gospel - often stock will have a much shorter shelf-life, but some people hearing something once will remember this and not check - it is all too easy to get caught out (if it carries an expiry date then it has active ingredients which may change over time.
Sue
Nizoral Dandruff Shampoo not only treats dandruff, but also the inflammation associated ... more
with dandruff, relieving scalp redness and itching. Its targeted action specifically treats the underlying cause of dandruff, yet is pleasantly gentle to your hair ...
Postage & Packaging: £4.01 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Nizoral Dandruff Shampoo not only treats dandruff, but also the inflammation associated ... more
with dandruff, relieving scalp redness and itching. Its targeted action specifically treats the underlying cause of dandruff, yet is pleasantly gentle to your hair ...
Postage & Packaging: £2.50 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Mar 19th, 2002
(Mar 23rd, 2002)
very helpful by (100%):
