Great for problem scalps (Neutrogena Therapeutic T/Gel Shampoo)

Member Name: Dooyaa

Product:	Neutrogena Therapeutic T/Gel Shampoo
Date:	19/01/08 (279 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Clears up itchy flaky scalps

Disadvantages: Smells disgusting

What is Neutrogena T Gel Shampoo?

Neutrogena T gel is a shampoo for use for soothing if you have itchy, flaky scalp, dandruff or any other scalp problems. It was recommended to me when I got psoriasis on my scalp from other shampoos, and prescription medicine that I had prescribed for me by the doctor was way too harsh. It is best used only on recommendation from a doctor as it is a lot harsher than regular anti dandruff brands like head and shoulders. That said, it is still a useful product for milder scalp conditions such as dandruff, as well as being good for conditions like psoriasis. It promises to prevent itching, scaling and buildup of excess skin, exactly what I needed.

Packaging wise, it is easy to recognise on the shelves as it comes in a blue and white box with T/Gel written on in bold black writing. Inside, the bottle is clear plastic which allows you to see the brown liquid inside. I must say, it isn't the most pleasant thing to look at in the world. The bottle reinforces that it controls the symptoms of psoriasis and seborrhea dermatitis, but it can also be used on persistant dandruff if other products dont work.

Ingredients

Active ingredients: 1% Coal Tar. Inactive ingredients: Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Polysorbate 20, Laureth-4, Cocamide DEA, Cocmidopropyl Betaine, PEG-120 Methyl-Glucose Dioleate, Bishydroxyethyl Dihydroxypropyl Stearammonium Chloride, Tetrasodium EDTA, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Fragrance.

The coal tar is what gives it its anti dandruff properties. Coal tar is also used in the prescribed psoriasis medication and is a powerful ingredient. It also gives the shampoo the most disgusting smell in the world. Luckily it doesnt linger on the hair too much during the day but it isnt pleasant! Hold your nose whilst shampooing, I say.

What kind of results does it give?

You have to remember that this is a medicated shampoo and isnt designed to give you flowing glossy pantene locks. It doesnt lather very well and has an unpleasant brown colour. The bottle itself is rather dull clear plastic with a blue lid, very clinical looking.

It is advised not to use conditioner with medicated shampoo as well as the mixture of chemicals can affect the performance, and also using a different brand of hair product afterwards can cancel the effects of the T/Gel as the useful ingredients are washed away by harsher chemicals. This means that all in all this shampoo doesnt exactly make you hair look gorgeous, although it does do a good job of cleaning it.

But its main job is of course to get rid of nasty flaky scalp problems. After just a week of daily use (which is safe) my scalp had cleared almost completely and was no longer itchy. After two weeks I was allowed to switch back to a regular shampoo and as yet the problem hasnt returned. This is unsusual seeing as it was other shampoos that gave me the problem in the first place, but the skin seems to have become more resiliant, or maybe its all just been deadened by the tar, who knows?

My overall thoughts on this shampoo

The idea of putting tar on your hair isnt very appealing, but this really does do the job well and is a much milder alternative to horrible prescription shampoos for anyone with skin conditions on the head. As an anti dandruff shampoo I wouldnt recommend it as it smells so horrible and it costs an awful lot for such a little bottle. It costs around £4.99 for a 125ml bottle and even then it is practically impossible to get the whole lot out so a little bit is wasted. It doesn't really go very far and compared to say, head and shoulders, which has a far more pleasant smell and appearance and I also feel is much better value for money.

Where can you buy it from?

If you like the sound of this, and overall I think that I would recommend it for anyone suffering from a skin problem on their scalp, then it can be picked up from pretty much anywhere that sells shampoo, such as Boots, Superdrug, and most supermarkets also stock it. Prices don't seem to vary between shops though, so shopping around isn't really that worth it.

Summary: A great medicated shampoo