The 11 Best Dandruff Shampoos of 2024, According to a Dermatologist

Dandruff is a common condition that many people struggle with — it can cause flakes on the scalp that build up and well, flake off. Although dandruff can be unsightly and uncomfortable to deal with, having dandruff doesn't always mean you're doing something wrong.

In fact, the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA) explains that dandruff (also known as seborrheic dermatitis) isn't always the result of poor hygiene habits. The exact cause of dandruff is thought to be more complex and, according to the Mayo Clinic, involves things like yeast-like fungus building up on the scalp; having naturally oily, sensitive or dry skin; or having other skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema.

"This condition is thought to be a response to the presence of Malassezia yeast that normally lives on the scalp and body. Why some people develop seborrheic dermatitis and others don't is unclear," board-certified dermatologist, Shoshana Marmon, MD, PhD, assistant professor and director of clinical research in the Department of Dermatology at New York Medical College, tells LIVESTRONG.com.

Not shampooing enough can be a factor in dandruff developing, so along with natural remedies for dandruff the AADA recommends using shampoo that's specifically formulated for dandruff at least twice per week.

Here are the best dandruff shampoos, as recommended by dermatologists.

We tapped board-certified dermatologists to share their top recommendations for dandruff shampoos. The products were chosen based on the following criteria:

• Ingredients
• Cost
• Effectiveness

Find more information on how we choose products here.

Simply put: "This is dermatologists' top pick," Dr. Marmon says. "It has ketoconazole to directly target the yeast that causes seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff."

According to Dr. Marmon, the selenium sulfide in this shampoo works against dandruff by slowing the growth of yeast on the scalp. It also has aloe to prevent dryness.

This is Dr. Marmon's pick for kids and babies because it's a fragrance-free, hypoallergenic formulation that uses primarily natural ingredients like sunflower seed oil and avocado fruit extract to exfoliate and treat cradle cap.

Dr. Marmon chooses this Biolage shampoo for Black hair that hasn't had its texture altered by chemicals because its zinc pyrithione formulation will combat flakes without stripping the scalp of natural oils.

Plus, it also has cooling mint leaf extract, which soothes irritation.

Pyrithione zinc targets yeast and decreases scales, plus it's pH-balanced and has nourishing coconut to help with hydration.

"This natural formulation uses charcoal and peppermint, spearmint oil and tea tree oil to soothe irritation," says Dr. Marmon.

It works by gently scrubbing away flakes with microexfoliation while still letting necessary oils absorb to keep the scalp healthy.

Formulated with the same powerful zinc pyrithione as many other shampoos on this list, you get all the oomph of a full-sized dandruff shampoo in a convenient travel size.

Dr. Marmon's luxury pick has salicylic acid, which helps exfoliate the scalp and dissolve dead skin cells as well as caffeine to refresh and invigorate the skin. Plus, it's keratin- and color-safe, and it has no parabens, sulfates or sodium chloride.

The star of this dandruff shampoo is pyrithione zinc, which helps treat the scaly buildup from yeast and decreases itch and inflammation.

This shampoo targets fungal elements with 2 percent pyrithione zinc, but it is free of fragrance, sulfate and gluten, so it's perfect for sensitive skin, notes Dr. Marmon.

"This has salicylic acid to break down the dead skin cells that accumulate on the scalp," says Dr. Marmon, so it can be helpful when used as a preventive measure for dandruff.

When choosing a dandruff shampoo, you can usually find an over-the-counter remedy that can help manage your symptoms. You should always work with a dermatologist to help ensure that you are choosing the right formulation for your specific needs and that there aren't any other underlying causes or alternative diagnoses that need to be treated.

And if your scalp seems to worsen with shampoo use, stop using it and see your doctor, as you might be having an allergic reaction to one of the ingredients in the shampoo.

With that said, here are some of the things to look for in a dandruff shampoo:

"Look for ingredients like pyrithione zinc, ketoconazole and selenium sulfide," Dr. Marmon says.

She recommends these ingredients because they will tackle flaking and scaling on the scalp.

Alongside ingredients that will handle the flaking and scaling, Dr. Marmon recommends looking for shampoos that contain moisturizers. For instance, "To combat dryness, choose formulations that include moisturizers like coconut oil as well," she says.

A medicated shampoo can be used up to two to three times per week, according to the Mayo Clinic. People with dry hair, however, may benefit from shampooing less often to preserve hair's natural oils.

There is not enough research to suggest that dandruff shampoo causes hair loss. If anything, there is one small December 2018 study in the ‌International Journal of Trichology‌ that suggests dandruff shampoos containing zinc pyrithione can help reduce premature hair loss.

If you have dry/damaged hair, however, you may experience a worsening of this when using dandruff shampoo, due to its strong ingredients.

Make sure you shampoo your hair twice when washing with dandruff shampoo. On the second lather, let the product sit on your scalp for five minutes before rinsing. This helps the medicine soak into your skin, per the University of Michigan.