I can smell it when I'm walking around outside usually, especially if I get a little sweaty. Many times, it's easy to brush it off as your hair having a bad smell. This is a place where you can ask for advice on many subjects. Can anyone help? I looked into the symptoms and I don't have any of the other ones mentioned, however. I have PCOS myself and the greasy hair thing is a common symptom, as is greasy skin, and women with pcos have higher risk/incidence of acne, seborrheic dermatitis, and other similar conditions. As soon as my hair hit the water, that’s all i smelled. Personal hygiene is very important! That's how out of the ordinary, but serious, problems get missed. BUT IT WASN'T ALWAYS LIKE THIS. When the smell-o-meter gets going up top, scalp funk has been described as “greasy.” It just feels dirty, even though you may have recently washed and styled your hair. Hey thanks! Cheese. When my hair is long my face seems to get more greasy too. That is why the sweat starts producing a smell like the cheese. Any chance you've changed your diet significantly? If you have noticed the same problem, you are probably wondering why your baby’s head or hair smells bad. Last resort would be...botox for the scalp for those who suffer from hyperhydrosis. I have been having this really embarassing problem.... even right after shampooing, my scalp itself has a really gross, cheesy and almost feet-like smell to it. Sorry for the long update, but it was definitely a trial and error experience. I eat take out once a week and meal prep every single thing. How to Solve Your Smelly Scalp Problem. Ears that smell like cheese most likely point towards the presence of an ear infection. You may not like it, but consider a buzz-cut or something shorter. This is Reddit's very own solution-hub. It's a kind of dirty, musty, sweaty (and on the verge of cheesy in some areas smell). So, what is your diet like? The dermatologist didn't find anything in my scalp but gave me a topical solution anyway. My best advice is to: 1. take probiotics 2. use omega 3s like flaxseed, chia seeds, walnuts or fish oil 3. cut down or eliminate sugar 4. eat whole grains and vegetables and fruits 5. wash scalp vigorously with shampoo that has ACV, don't use fingernails, only fingertips This is probably caused by a yeast or fungus that goes out of control when your immune system isn't working well. . I never had this with my 2 year old. Well, I've got the right solution for you in this post: Luckily, this little thing called dry shampoo saves the day by absorbing all those oils, while making your hair smell like a fresh garden of roses, leaving you unphased about your stinky scalp. A doctor should always listen to a patient's concerns, not just blow them off. The only major changes I can think of was that I got off birth control last year and maybe this is how my hormones really are naturally. Edit: An update because I've been getting messages asking if the issue is cleared. I tried the neutrogena clarifying shampoo and honestly thought it was gonna do the trick because I felt so clean after washing but it started to smell again after 2 days. Sep 3, 2018 - Does your scalp smell like cheese? When the scalp problem really gets bad, the language used to describe it moves into food territory. The presence of cheese ripens bacteria. My scalp was EXTREMELY itchy and my hair strands felt rough and hard. I don’t know. I'm starting to think that I produce a lot of body heat and because my hair is so thick, it just traps the sweat and moisture in my scalp and that causes the odor. Any patient with scalp smell needs to eradicate yeast as a fundamental step in treatment. Thank you so much! Ketoconazole Shampoo (also comes in oral form) will really be your friend here which likely what your dermatologist will prescribe. Issues with your scalp can range from itching and flakes to dryness and irritation. It seems like it started to smell badly around October/November of last year. Many patients with SHS like both components, but particularly the sulphur component. Get a clarifying shampoo and dandruff shampoo, and wash once every day or two. Is the hibiscrub something I can order online or it has the be a prescription? I have had to co-wash/rinse my hair more often because ever since a couple of months I sweat excessively, especially from my scalp. After you get out of the shower, blow dry your hair right away, hot or cool doesn't matter, you want to get your hair on your scalp at least fully dry. I honestly thought my diet is not bad. Now, I went to go see my doctor about it and he wouldn't give me a referral to a dermatologist because he didn't see any inflammation or anything suspicious on my scalp. Me too. But I'll make sure to bring this up with my doctor next time I go...if he takes me seriously, lol. You should definitely head to a dermatologist for the best treatment, if you need a referral in order to see one then definitely see another doctor that will actually listen to your concerns and either treat you themselves or give you a proper dermatologist referral. It's winter so I've been wearing beanies a lot, but as soon as 5 minutes afterwards, my hair will develop the awful smell. I'd get zits on my neck. I'm getting a haircut to really thin out the hair on my head so it doesn't trap as much heat, especially for the summer. Also, both bacteria and fungus generally like to live in warm damp environments, which your head is both of those things, so help your body out while in this period of rebalancing and keep your head dry. Scalp smells sour like cheese This condition is mostly caused by smelly hair syndrome which usually manifests itself in very bad odor that originates from the hair and the scalp. I take showers and wash my hair like all people, and have tried different patterns of washing. Reactions to hair care products. Usually, when I wear a hat, or if I don't bathe for a day or two, my hair starts smelling really foul, like parmesan cheese. Could help me out from sweating from my scalp at least. I don't want to scare you, but if you don't lose this odor, not only will you be embarrassed for the rest of your life, you could end up like me or have some other autoimmune disease. Fungi. It's a hormonal condition and since you mentioned it started after coming off birth control, I immediately thought of that. I really suspect this. Yours sounds horrible. If you workout and your scalp gets sweaty in the process, again, dry it with a blower as soon as you can and don't go to bed with wet hair either. Terrible advice. Go to doc to ask for derm referral. Here is what you can do in the mean time. However, if you can get past the smell, a lot of them actually taste amazing (or so I've heard). Or else, mix 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar with 3/4 cup water, ten drops of rosemary essential oil and 1/8 cup lemon juice. It sounds like either a yeast infection or you’re allergic to a component of the shampoos. Also pick up a dry shampoo for on the go. It seems that every time I let my hair grow my scalp would really smell. Do blood work as well to rule out anything else. Scalp ringworm causes dandruff-like flakes, bald areas on the skin and scabs or pus-filled bumps on the scalp. Comb your hair from root to tip, don’t just brush it. I noticed the other night when putting her to bed that my kid’s scalp smelled like Parmesan. Perhaps ingesting all that could have created an imbalance in the body. No amount of anti-fungals, vitamins, etc will stop the dirty sock/ feet/ cheese / rancid butter smell. Washing your hair just once a day is more than enough. Some bacteria are used in the food industries. Certain foods and alcohol can really come out with a strong scent when you sweat. Of course I get the occasional itch, but the smell is gone. If not, I’d carry a small container of a scented dry shampoo with you to use whenever you feel like it starts to cheese up! You must lose all Gluten, and you MUST be very strict about this. Leave it on your scalp for 20 minutes and rinse out with cool water. Are you drinking a lot of alcohol? Apply on your scalp for 30 minutes and rinse off with cool water. You know what I'm suspecting it could be? Usually, when I wear a hat, or if I don't bathe for a day or two, my hair starts smelling really foul, like parmesan cheese. I'm sure it was a hormonal issue so I took better care of my diet and stress management, started exercising more also. ACV and baking soda are not formulated for scalp pH. Also, get a new doctor. Body odor is one of those things most of us take great pains to prevent. It also dispels smells. I'm desperate for some help or insight about what's been going on with my scalp. That pasta looks like it could use some—you guessed it—cheese. 2. I've tried ACV rinses, baking soda paste, tea tree oil, lavender oil, head and shoulders, t-gel, nutrogena clarifying shampoo, nizoral, oily scalp shampoos, natural shampoo bar from lush. But, when it's the skin underneath it could be the sign of an underlying scalp problem. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Alcohol, onions, and dairy products create a certain unpleasant odor when I eat them. Dandruff is a yeast infection on the scalp, it can become really compact on the scalp. It smells like an odd Body odor type of smell, but it's not my body. Yeast known as Malassezia are thought to be the key underlying cause of seborrheic dermatitis. Press J to jump to the feed. Def thinking yeast. The light, natural scent that your mask gives off, either eucalyptus or grapefruit, may help block any cooking smells from penetrating your scalp. Like from extreme afro to wavy flat, oily hair, In addition to smelling like sulfur or “wet dog”. Anyone else LO have a Smelly head? 7. My hair/ my scalp has had this weird smell ever since i started losing my hair. (As it doesn't seem to happen as much when my hair is short.) New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Good luck to anyone going through this! This is what I was thinking as well until my doctor said he didn't see anything. Garlic apparently doesn’t just ward off vampires. Throw some cheese on there. you could try some apple cider vinegar in place of shampoo, and then make an appointment with your doctor. I know it will take time. Recently, I have become very stressed and have experienced a bit of depression. Good luck! It was gradual and now it's full blown stinky after a day or two. Would my hair being long result in this? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Wow, this is very thorough! He also has patches of dandruff in some places and had cradle cap on the eyebrows. Some people have described it as smelling like potatoes or cheese. As if body odor wasn’t enough, here's another issue you need to deal with – smelly scalp and hair. As others have said, you should definitely see another doctor. I didn't want to wait months for another appointment so I got a hot oil treatment from lush called Yuge that has calming mint in it. I am worried that this is some kind of fungal infection as it doesn't seem to be going away. The Fix: Consider wearing your scalp mask while you cook! Thanks for your time! I don't know how to escape having smelly hair. Get a second opinion from a doctor who won't minimize your concerns. Or is it just the smell? So I found out that this isn't a common thing. Look up PCOS and if you have any other symptoms, ask your doctor to test you for it! Now there is a very strong smell in my room where it's no longer a stale type of smell. My scalp smells really gross and it has for 2-3 years now. It smells like cheese and it emanates out of me like an aura when I move around, lol. Maybe you can cut it !? Now I alternate between Neutrogena clarifying shampoo, a tea tree oil one or Sebcur. You must have noticed your hair and scalp emanating a weird smell … Insights? Is there more dandruff than usual? Maybe try eliminating one food for a couple of weeks on your own and see if it makes a difference. When a baby’s head or hair smells bad it is most often caused by cradle cap (seborrheic dermatitis). I don't know what else to do? (I have all three in my bag right now.) Fungal infections may be responsible for scalp odor. If I can smell … Even the sweat starts drying in the same places. It smells like old cheese. (Like cheese, nasty nasty old cheese It'd feel like too ugh.) With that out of the way here is how you can utilize it: Buy a shampoo that contains tea tree oil, this is the easiest method, but YMMV as some shampoos have more tea tree oil than others. Kidding of course, but diet was something I was wondering too and should definitely be considered. Could be something fungal or sebherric dermatitis or whatever, possibly leaking pus or flakes? And I'm SO EMBARRASSED. Hi! Good luck! Between the smell and the scalp sensitivity it sounds like a scalp biome/flora imbalance that has let to an overgrowth of fungus aka a fungal infection. I hesitate to take off my beanie because it is very pungent (I took it off in the subway once - big mistake). I don't know what else it could be. Sounds like some sort of hair fungus. Foods with strong odors like onion, garlic, curry and cumin contain oils that can be excreted through skin, including the skin on your scalp. It's winter so I've been wearing beanies a lot, but as soon as 5 minutes afterwards, my hair will develop the awful smell. Tea tree oil help kill off some of the fungus in the mean time which will help with the imbalance of fungal flora on your scalp. And when I wet bun, the middle will still be wet like 2 days later. The doctor didn't seem to think it was necessary to do a blood test to check my hormones either. Has anyone else actually told you they've noticed a bad odor? The shampoo worked wonders but suddenly it was on back order at every pharmacy for months. I have an on-going condition with my scalp - it smells! Add several drops of tea tree oil to your current shampoo but like I said, be weary, tea tree oil is very potent and can hurt your skin if you put it on full strength so you are going to want to use it only in diluted form you can start with like a 1-2% ratio and increase from there after if needed and as tolerated. I am not an expert here, but everything you’ve listed is pretty harsh. This subreddit aims to provide resources for achieving better hair quality through scientific research in trichology, physiology, chemistry, and biology. You can use the tea tree oil in addition to the Ketoconazole shampoo. One woman notices a "thick, oily, flour-like substance on my scalp." Whatever you eat there are components which are excreted in the sweat and oil your body normally secretes and excretes. I know everyone is focusing on strictly the localized aspect of your head/hair, but the cause could be from a more global (bodily speaking) problem/change. Press J to jump to the feed. But I might as well not wait around! Have you ever heard of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)? I was wondering about one of these problems. Why now?? Avoid wearing toques if you can - try earmuffs or headbands. Or better, get a referral to an endocrinologist. That's why we're constantly stayin' fresh with gum, perfumes, and deodorant. The ringworm may … I've tried ACV rinses, baking soda paste, tea tree oil, lavender oil, head and shoulders, t-gel, nutrogena clarifying shampoo, nizoral, oily scalp shampoos, natural shampoo bar from lush. If you're dealing with a smelly scalp caused by excess oil, switching your shampoo may be an easy solution. Coffee, 2 cups a day at most. While this embarrassing condition might not receive a lot of coverage, scalp odor is a real issue in many people's lives. Yeast has a cheesy smell and considering op had fungal acne all signs point fungal. Then I found a shampoo called Sebcur available at most pharmacies...and it cleared everything! Alcohol maybe once every 2 weeks. It smells like cheese and it emanates out of me like an aura when I move around, lol. I dont know how to describe the smell, but it is not good smelling. It felt like I had a very itchy rash. Take a shower more though and wash it good. 132 votes, 42 comments. The smell is often accompanied by flaky patches of yellow scaly skin and occasionally some redness. It can be a really slow and long process to getting the flora your scalp rebalanced but it is definitely attainable, stick with the prescribed shampoo, that is going to be your biggest help. My issue now is that even when I co-wash and shampoo, my scalp still has this soury milk/sweat smell … I know 100% that it has absolutely nothing to do with hygiene. Scabs and sores on the scalp can be painful and itchy, but they often clear up on their own after a few days. If oiliness makes your scalp smell during the day, a dry shampoo powder can soak up excess oil to reduce odor and greasiness, says Pantene celebrity hairstylist Cheryl Marks in "Fitness" magazine 2. Make your concerns heard!! But see a doctor and or dermatologist. I thought the hormonal changes would have subsided by now as it's been over 6 months. “You are what you eat” is an old saying. This problem can cause your confidence to take a back seat and also make you socially awkward. ... Its difficult to provide any conclusive answer without asking a ton of questions, but it very much seems like a fungal infection on the scalp. See a doctor. It never feels like it's clean. Spray the diluted solution directly on our scalp will your scalp is wet, massage it in and let it sit for 5-10min, then get in the shower and wash your hair like normal afterwards. After the 14 day treatment, my scalp blew up into full blown dermatitis. Your scalp, it turns out, is just like the rest of your body — it sweats, with oils and fatty acids, and then bacteria sets in to feast. Wash your hair atleast once a day. Cut out oily, fried or fatty foods from your diet. Tinea capitis, more commonly known as ringworm, may cause a funny odor on the scalp. Is your scalp itchy? Anything from stress to hormonal changes can trigger an excess in the production of your scalp's natural oils, which in turn heightens the presence of harmless bacteria, which cause the odor. You can get tea tree oil in a few forms but whatever you do, do NOT applied it undiluted to your skin. Ok, interesting! Yeah, I think I'll do that. Supplements help. I've quit 5 days ago and I'm hoping to see/feel changes to confirm my suspicions but so far, nothing. Some hair care products will react with natural oil on your scalp leading to a bad odor. So I found out that this isn't a common thing. Have you tried dry shampoo in between washes? Your doctor should be able to tell you how frequently you should use the shampoo, for some people it's once a week in between regular shampooings, for others its more frequently, defer to your dermatologist's judgement. I'm really hoping this works! In addition to seeing another doctor. The smell is usually compared to sour milk, wet dog, moldy hay, potatoes, an old shoe or dirty socks, a jacket that’s never been to the dry cleaner, and an oily smell mixed with vomit. My boyfriend noticed my curls were pretty much gone one day! They tend to be the best with pcos. It holds onto all the oils, sweat, etc. I'll give those shampoos you suggested a try. I quit smoking through vaping a few years ago and I learned that a lot of the e-juices on the market contain artificial sweetners. She prescribed me a medicated shampoo called Stieprox and got me an appointment with a dermatologist. Now, cheese isn't necessarily known for having the prettiest of odors, but these 13 smelliest cheeses really take stench to another level. I know, this is terrible, depressing, and very annoying as well, and in this post, I’m going to share with you what you need to do in order to get rid of this problem, and most importantly, how you can relax and enjoy your hair again without having to smell terrible! Stinky Scalp: My 6 week old has a very distinct smell to his scalp. Everybody has issues that they run into, and everyone needs advice every now and again. So important for your general health. Even if its not quite pcos, it still could be hormonal changes from your body adjusting to not being on birth control. Does your scalp smell like cheese? If your scalp has I got a second opinion from another doctor. Causes and cures These secondary symptoms made us wonder if a potential cause of Smelly Hair Syndrome could be seborrheic dermatitis (seb-o-REE-ik der-muh-TI-tis), because it causes an increase in oil production and flaky scalp residue. Start taking a probiotic or eating yogurt with probiotics in it. Please help me Reddit! Any big changes in what you are eating? With the bad smell and the long thick hair, it’s making me think yeast. I blow dry my hair after every wash. But why does hair smell more than, say, your face? This one is my preference. In Canada, it would be free to see a dermatologist if I get a referral from a doctor first. It's more manageable to control the tea tree oil to dilution ratio easier in this method imo, and using a small water bottle you can change the ratio each time you use it to serve your needs. I can smell it on my fingers if I rub my scalp. I got a bottle of antifungal shampoo and a tube of antibacterial cream. It's interesting you mentioned this because my sister has it too. I shampoo his hair everyday with Aveeno but the smell is still there. Unfortunately, some people also experience a funny odor coming from their scalp. Spray bottle with diluted tea tree oil in water. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the HaircareScience community. This cheesy smell is due to the sweat glands which produces sweat during the process of sweat production. Psoriasis is also normally caused by excessive fungus, so topical products that … It wasn’t a bad smell, just … Yeast are a common culprit in scalp smell for many patients. Any suggestions? Could you do a small patch test of Monistat on your scalp?