What is the best dandruff shampoo for your itchy, dry and flaky scalp? Nowadays, there are many popular choices. These range from Nizoral anti-dandruff shampoo, to Neutrogena T/Gel, to Head & Shoulders. The below list of dermatologist recommended 5 best dandruff shampoos is applicable for both men and women.
Make sure to also read my post on natural dandruff treatments. Several recent studies have suggested that the condition of the scalp can impact hair growth. In particular, killing the Malassezia fungi and yeast has been proven to benefit scalp hair growth.
What Shampoo Gets Rid of Dandruff?
The best dandruff shampoo (with or without conditioners) will relieve your dry, itchy, flaky scalps. Flaking scalp skin and inflammation are especially common in balding regions of the scalp. For those suffering from recurring dandruff episodes, treatment choices can be confusing.
A first solution defense is to look for an effective dandruff treatment shampoo for your hair care needs. Most of the leading products (both non-prescription and prescription strength) work effectively in both men and women. Some will work better than others for color treated hair, grey hair and curly hair. Others will work better on oily scalps versus dry scalps.
The tingling scalp and embarrassing white flakes on dark clothing cause a lot of stress in people suffering from this problem. For some, the dandruff comes and goes, while for others, it represents a daily problem that can be genetic in nature.
Dry indoor winter heating and washing your hair too often can further exacerbate the flaking, itchiness and dead skin cells. Note that dandruff is one particular manifestation of a condition called seborrheic dermatitis.
Over the years, I have had many episodes of severe dandruff and scalp itching and burning, especially during dry weather days. Luckily, these are not too frequent, and I have found a number of dermatologist recommended hair loss shampoos to help when things get out of hand. I have tried almost all of the top rated medicated anti-dandruff shampoos out there.
How to Treat Scalp Flakes and Dryness
A number of scientifically sound approaches are being used nowadays to target and control scalp flaking. Most of the below selected medicated products have their own unique key ingredients. These have their own unique mechanisms of action to give you a smooth flake-free scalp. I try to alternate between several different antifungal and dandruff shampoos every month. My reasons for doing this are so as to:
- Not get side effects from the overuse of any one product with its key anti-dandruff ingredient(s).
- Avoid having my scalp becoming immune to the effects of certain ingredients due to overuse. This can lead to dandruff recurrence.
In addition to dandruff, many of the below shampoos also work to treat other skin conditions of scalp buildup and flaking such as eczema and psoriasis. Usually, these products work by reducing the overproduction of skin cells, when mild to moderate. Note that several of the products contains sulfates and other potentially harmful ingredients that cause side effects in some people.
Key ingredients in these shampoos that reduce dandruff include:
- Salicylic acid.
- Sulfur.
- Zinc pyrithione.
- Coal tar.
- Selenium sulfide.
- Ketoconazole.
- Ciclopirox.
- Clobetasol.
Product effectiveness can also vary depending on whether you have a dry scalp versus oily scalp; whether you are male or female; and your own propensity for allergic reactions to certain ingredients. For best results, make sure to leave the shampoo on your scalp for at least several minutes before lathering and rinsing.
The 5 Best Dandruff Shampoos
The below is an official list of the best dandruff shampoos to tackle dandruff, scalp itching and dry flakes. All of the below shampoos are recommended by dermatologists and medical doctors. Most are also among the top choices in rankings and ratings by WebMD, Consumer Reports and Amazon.
- Nizoral Shampoo
- Neutrogena T/Gel
- Head & Shoulders Clinical Strength
- Jason Natural
- Head & Shoulders Classic
Nizoral A-D Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
Nizoral A-D
My favorite dandruff shampoo product with ample scientific backing behind its efficacy and numerous Amazon and Walmart reviews. The key active ingredient in this over-the-counter shampoo is Ketoconazole 1%, which is an anti-fungal agent with anti-dandruff and anti-androgenic properties. The last of these aids scalp hair growth according to a number of studies.
Nizoral attacks the Malassezia microbe, the main cause of dandruff in many instances. See my post on Nizoral for much more details and discussion of the science behind this product. Nizoral comes in a fairly small bottle, but still lasts for many months with twice a week usage. I do not recommend more frequent usage or else you can exacerbate scalp dryness and end up with brittle hair quality and texture. You can also get Nizoral 2% medicated shampoo with a prescription.
Neutrogena T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo
Neutrogena T/Gel
The key active ingredient in this popular dermatologist recommended product is 2% coal tar extract. Accompanying instructions suggest just once a week usage to be ideal in combating dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis as well as psoriasis. The coal tar gives this product an unusual color and keratolytic properties that can smoothen and improve scalp skin.
Some users do not like the smell of this medicated anti dandruff shampoo and also complain about dyed color treated hair fading. Coal tar also helps slow down the shedding of dry skin cells and can reduce scalp acne. Note that Neutrogena T/Sal is a different product made by the same company, but is also highly rated and contains salicylic acid 3%.
Head & Shoulders Clinical Strength Dandruff & Dermatitis Shampoo
Head & Shoulders Clinical Strength
Over the years, Head & Shoulders has probably produced more varieties of shampoos to target dandruff than any other company out there. Their most popular product for targeting scalp flakes is this clinical strength shampoo. The key active ingredient in it is selenium sulfide 1%, which reduces scalp fungus and bacteria at the root. This product offers lasting relief from scalp itching and flaking. You can also find a number of other highly rated and reviewed Head & Shoulders dandruff shampoos on Amazon.
JASON Natural Dandruff Relief Shampoo
JASON Natural
Although not as well known as the above three listed products, this is a unique pH balanced largely natural product. It contains colloidal sulfur 2% and salicylic acid 2% as the two main active ingredients to tackle dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis.
Formulated with additional beneficial herbal and natural ingredients that improve scalp health, including: cooling aloe vera, apple cider vinegar, jojoba oil, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), olive oil, rosemary oil, seaweed extract, tea tree oil and vitamin E.
Head & Shoulders Classic Anti-Dandruff
Head & Shoulders Classic Clean
Head & Shoulders came out with a pyrithione zinc based shampoo all the way back in 1961. To this day, the company still makes anti-dandruff shampoos that are based on this original active ingredient, in a zinc pyrithione 1% formulation. This key ingredient helps inhibit scalp yeast and fungus growth. A cleaner scalp helps provide relief from uncomfortable itching and flaking, reduced redness, and removes product buildup.
Best Dandruff Shampoo Video
Other Popular Anti-Dandruff Shampoo Choices
- A number of readers have mentioned the highly rated Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo. I have heard about this product a lot over the years, and might even have tried it some years ago. You can often purchase it at local hairdressers and beauty salons for a discount. Besides tea tree oil, the product also contains peppermint and lavender according to the manufacturer’s website. Other ingredients are not listed.
- Selsun Blue Maximum Strength dandruff shampoo is another popular bestseller. Its active ingredient is selenium sulfide 1%.
- Some people have mentioned that ciclopirox olamine based shampoos may be effective for moderate levels of dandruff. However, I have as yet not found any popular over-the-counter dandruff shampoo that is based on ciclopirox olamine.
Your Experiences Relieving Itchy, Flaky Scalps
Do you have an itchy scalp and dandruff related problems? What shampoos have worked best for you over the years without drying out your hair (both men and women can respond)? Have you tried any natural and herbal products and seen a reduction in flaking and dryness? Feel free to share success and failure stories, as well as rate your top shampoos.