Scalp Condition - Grainy Sand/Sugar

[Meme052]

I found this website through a google for "sand on scalp", and I found a journal entry from someone here at http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/12858/scalp-condition that I wanted to draw attention to on this forum.  Everyone on that journal suffers form the same issue I do.

For the past two years, I have what feel and appear to be like grains of sand on my scalp.  They seem to be "attached" to the base of the hair shafts, but when I massage my scalp gently with my fingertips, they come off.  My scalp has 100s of them.  If I scratch my head, the itching sensation is INTENSE, and I try never to scratch my scalp.  If I do give in, and scrape a few dozen of them off, I can get them out form under my fingernails (gross, I know), and they look like grains of sugar or sand.  They are hard like grains of sand.  You can not "squish" them.  

They are not lice...my husband is an RN, and he has looked at my scalp many times, and we are certain of this.  The dermatologists I have seen also tell me they are not lice, but seem to be unconcerned, and give me no suggestions of how to stop them or the itching, except to use dandruff shampoo - which does absolutely nothing.

You can see more details of exactly what all of us (over 70 posts at that link) are going through - very similar to exact same stories.  They are not flake-like at all.  Any suggestions would be appreciated, thanks in advance.  We are all looking for answers to this mystery, and would love to hear some new ideas.  So far, suggestions have been Morgellons disease, White piedra, Demodex folliculorum, and the one I lean towards: seborrheic dermatitis.  However, not being FLAKES seems to rule the last one out!?  Help?

[HailsF]

Has anyone noticed hair loss as well with this problem. I have this exact problem for years and have been using ACV it helps, but I also notice thinning of my hair. I am 32

[WtF004]

I have the same with hair loss as well. It's really stressful :/

[aud1943]

I have had this problem for years till my wife suggested that I stop washing my hair with soap, that was 3 months ago and after the first time I used baking soda (I have a small plastic cup that I put one tablespoon in and mix with my finger) cured.
Before my hair was an oil pit and I had to wash every day. I tried everything but nothing ever worked till now.
I now  shower 3 times a week, my scalp itch has been reduced 95% and the sand has gone.

[Ives]

I came to this site a few months ago looking for some help in getting rid of this problem. After going to a dermatologist a few times and paying a ton of money for slaves and lotions that didn't help at all. I ran across a post from some guy who suggested using Apple Cider Vinegar and Nizoral A, D Anti, Dandruff Shampoo. Well I used them both with every shower. But the Apple Cider Vinegar was a pain in the butt. If you shave before using it, your face is on fire after using it. Even if I used it before I shaved, if I had a cut or opened pimple it would burn like hell. So I stopped using the Apple Cider Vinegar but continued using the shampoo, and I can tell you that it help tremendously. Now when I run my hand over my head maybe I will feel one or two of these granules if that. But no where near as bad as it was before. It has gotten to now where I don't have to use the shampoo every time I take a shower, because this shampoo has really helped me get rid of this stuff. Now I might use the shampoo a couple of times a week. And when I don't use it, I use Johnson's Baby Shampoo. I don't know if this will help everyone, but it sure has worked for myself. Give it a try, what do you have to lose? It is a hell of a lot cheaper than going back to the Dr. and paying all that dough for stuff that doesn't help. You can get the Nizoral A, D Anti, Dandruff Shampoo on Amazon cheaper than in a drug store. Good Luck I hope this helps someone else out.

[yitness]

I have the same problem.

[Hizzie9]

I had this exact same thing and it turned out my thyroid was REALLY out of whack. Get tested for a thyroid condition

[Sandra510]

I have a thyroid condition but never in my dreams thought it could be relate. I'll keep researching but do you know how what causes it what aspect of my thyroid is it related/ why? I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism when I was 12 and only now having this problem in my late thirties.

[Binzer777]

I get this from using any shampoo with sodium laurel sulfate or it other derivatives in it.. It took me 20 something years to realize,that I'm allergic to SLS! This is why the Drs couldn't ever find out if I had eczema or psoriasis.. it was constant contact dermatitis from SLS being in like every liquid soap except bronners,and a few shampoos.. Make sure you watch out for the derivatives,though...

[rimpa14may]

What did you do to get rid of this?