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Dettol On Hair And Scalp To Treat Dandruff. Is The Burning Sensation And Hair Loss Due To The Application?
Posted on
Tue, 24 Jan 2012
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Tue, 24 Jan 2012
Answered on
Sun, 24 Jun 2012
Last reviewed on
Question : Hello, I've been putting dettol in my hair, by patting it lightly on the scalp using a towel. I used it to treat dandruff and haven't been washing it off afterwards because I saw a huge improvement. Recently I've felt a burning sensation as well as hair loss. I was wondering if there was any correlation between the dettol use and my hair loss. And what I could so to my hair to treat the hair loss
Hi,
Thanks for posting your query.
Dettol causes burning when you use it directly on the skin. It is a good disinfectant but can definitely lead to irritation especially in people like you who have a predisposition to allergies (given that you have a history of asthma). Yes, the hair loss could have occurred because of irritation.
I would suggest the following:
a. Eat a nutritious and well balanced diet XXXXXXX in protein and vitamin A. Good sources of protein include poultry, fish, legumes, lentils and cottage cheese. Good sources of vitamin A include spinach, all yellow fruits and vegetables and carrots.
b. Exercise regularly for atleast 50 minutes a day.
c. For the dandruff, you could use ENDRUF lotion (Cetrimide 5%, calcium pantothenate 2%). Mix 2 teaspoonful with a teaspoon of lukewarm water. Massage into your hair and leave for 20 minutes. Then wash with minimum amount of mild shampoo, followed by a good conditioner. Do this twice a week and once you get rid of it, use it once a week. I will also advise you to keep your hair moderately conditioned (neither dry nor oily) by a warm oil massage once a week.
d. If ENDRUF does not work--I have yet to see a failure for 20 years--you can use a 2% ketoconazole preparation.
Regards
Best wishes for your health.
Thanks for posting your query.
Dettol causes burning when you use it directly on the skin. It is a good disinfectant but can definitely lead to irritation especially in people like you who have a predisposition to allergies (given that you have a history of asthma). Yes, the hair loss could have occurred because of irritation.
I would suggest the following:
a. Eat a nutritious and well balanced diet XXXXXXX in protein and vitamin A. Good sources of protein include poultry, fish, legumes, lentils and cottage cheese. Good sources of vitamin A include spinach, all yellow fruits and vegetables and carrots.
b. Exercise regularly for atleast 50 minutes a day.
c. For the dandruff, you could use ENDRUF lotion (Cetrimide 5%, calcium pantothenate 2%). Mix 2 teaspoonful with a teaspoon of lukewarm water. Massage into your hair and leave for 20 minutes. Then wash with minimum amount of mild shampoo, followed by a good conditioner. Do this twice a week and once you get rid of it, use it once a week. I will also advise you to keep your hair moderately conditioned (neither dry nor oily) by a warm oil massage once a week.
d. If ENDRUF does not work--I have yet to see a failure for 20 years--you can use a 2% ketoconazole preparation.
Regards
Best wishes for your health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Aparna Kohli
Answered by
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