Nowhere on your body is safe from acne; outbreaks can occur on your scalp or hairline, felt but invisible. According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Steven Shapiro, founder of the Shapiro MD hair care line, scalp acne is characterized by whiteheads and blemishes that are immediately on the scalp and are brought on by an excess of sebum.
To assist you in healing your scalp, we spoke with dermatologists and hair specialists about the best methods for treating and preventing acne on the scalp, including which substances to watch out for and steer clear of, as well as our recommended products.
GO Ahead and SkipHow can I shop for scalp acne shampoo? Why should I trust NBC Select? Top scalp acne shampoos and treatments for 2025?
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Best overallDove Dermacare Shampoo
$undefined$4.84Amazon
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Best splurgeCLn Shampoo
$undefined$36.00Amazon
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Best for oily hairGarnier Fructis Pure Clean Shampoo
$3.99$5.49Amazon
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Best for dry scalpsNeutrogena Therapeutic Shampoo
$7.32$10.48Amazon
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Related
A healthy scalp equals healthy hair. These products will help.
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The best scalp acne shampoos in 2025
These eight products are recommended by the physicians and hair specialists we spoke with and are produced with typical components that combat pimples, such as glycolic acid and salicylic acid. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jessie Cheung, MD, says that no matter what product you use, you can have a drying impact right away. However, don’t worry, as scalp acne might take a few days to heal.
Best overall:
Dove Dermacare Shampoo
Dove Dermacare Shampoo
- Very affordable
- pH-balancing formula
- Safe for color-treated hair
- Not unscented
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner recommends Dove Dermacare shampoo, which has an average rating of 4.5 stars based on 4,527 reviews on Amazon, to his patients who want to treat scalp acne. According to Zeichner, it contains zinc pyrithione, which lowers yeast on the scalp, reduces inflammation, and lessens the quantity of pimples, flakes, and lumps on the scalp. To give it ample time to do its job, he advises leaving it on the scalp for five minutes before washing. Additionally, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King recommends it, praising its gentle recipe that can reduce skin yeast without irritating the skin.
The active component is zinc pyrithione.
Best splurge scalp acne shampoo:
CLn Shampoo
CLn Shampoo
- Skin-balancing formula
- More expensive than other options
Because CLn’s shampoo contains salicylic acid, a typical ingredient in hair and skin care products that helps unclog hair follicles and remove excess sebum, Cheung suggests it. Despite being more costly than the drugstore alternatives on this list, Cheung believes that this shampoo is worth the money because of its mild lather that cleans your scalp without drying it out too much. Additionally, it has an average rating of 4.3 stars based on 4,601 reviews on Amazon.
Salicylic acid is one of the active components.
Best scalp acne shampoo for oily hair:
Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Shampoo
Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Shampoo
- Gentle on hair
- Can leave scalp feeling dry
King also recommends Garnier’s Pure Clean Shampoo for people with greasy hair; it has an average rating of 4.5 stars based on 18,850 reviews on Amazon. According to her, salicylic acid contains niacinamide, which promotes scalp health, and it also aids in exfoliating the scalp and removing residue. Additionally, it contains aloe and glycerin, which King claims moisturizes and calms the scalp.
Niacinamide and salicylic acid are the active components.
Best scalp acne shampoo for dry scalps:
Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo
Neutrogena Therapeutic Shampoo
- Works after a single use
- Formula can be drying
Because of its salicylic acid recipe and 4.5-star average rating from 9,155 Amazon customers, Jaliman suggests Neutrogena’s T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo. Because T/Sal is a potent keratolytic—that is, it helps to eliminate the thick scale off the scalp—it is also dermatologist Dr. Rina Allawh’s preferred dandruff shampoo choice in our guide to the finest shampoos for every scalp and hair type, she adds.
Salicylic acid is one of the active components.
Best color-safe scalp acne shampoo:
Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo
Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo
- Relieves general scalp irritation
- Treats and softens hair
- Has a strong scent
According to William Gaunitz, a certified trichologist (hair health specialist), this shampoo is the best option for treating acne on the scalp. It has an average rating of 4.7 stars out of 58,285 reviews on Amazon. According to the firm, the paraben-free, color-safe shampoo uses tea tree oil—which Cheung also says reduces surface bacteria—to cleanse hair of pollutants and calm the scalp.
Tea tree oil is one of the active components.
Best scalp acne dry shampoo: Carter + Jane
Carter + Jane Scalpfix
Carter + Jane Scalp Fix
- Quick and easy to use
- Can also be used as a toner
- Not as effective for severe cases
According to Zeichner, if you can’t shampoo your hair often, try Carter + Jane’s Scalp Fixdry shampoo. Zeichner claims that peppermint oil and witch hazel help calm the scalp and eliminate extra oil, which can assist with both flakes and acne. Additionally, it contains rosemary oil, which he claims has astringent properties. Additionally, it has an average rating of 4.5 stars based on 141 reviews on Carter + Jane.
Active components: peppermint oil, rosemary oil, and witch hazel
Best scalp acne treatment gel: Differin
Differin Acne Gel
Differin Acne Gel
- Safe for sensitive skin and all skin types
- Helps to treat scarring left behind by acne as well
- May take longer to see results
- Messy application process
Before you say “yes,” you can apply face-specific acne spot treatments to your scalp. According to Cheung, these treatments may be messy because they probably won’t mix in with your hair, but they can still be effective in treating acne on the scalp in an emergency. Adapalene, a well-known retinoid used to treat adult acne, teen acne, and blackheads, is used in Differin, a product with an average rating of 4.5 stars based on 80,819 reviews on Amazon. According to the manufacturer, noticeable improvements in acne may not be seen right away and may take up to twelve weeks.
Adapalene is an active component.
Best tea tree oil scalp acne shampoo: Ovante
Ovante Folliculit Solution Shampoo
Ovante Folliculit Solution Shampoo
- Can help with scalp pain relief
- Very strong smell
- More expensive than other options
According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman, this shampoo is excellent for treating acne on the scalp because it contains tea tree oil, which has antibacterial qualities. According to her, it also contains lactic acid, a common form of alpha hydroxy acid that aids in pore unclogging. Ovante recommends applying one to two tablespoons of shampoo to your damp scalp and hair, allowing it to soak for up to five minutes, and then washing it off. Based on 1,768 reviews, this option has an average rating of 4.0 stars on Amazon.
Lactic acid, sulfur, and tea tree oil are the active components.
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How to shop for scalp acne shampoo
According to Cheung, clarifying shampoos might help get rid of buildup on your scalp. When looking for shampoos, gels, sprays, and other therapies for scalp acne, she and other specialists advise concentrating on particular chemicals.
Ingredients to look for
Salicylic acid, according to King, is essential: It is a great comedolytic, which means it prevents the development of blemishes, and it enters pores to gently exfoliate and eliminate excess oil. Try using a shampoo that contains salicylic acid if you frequently get acne on your scalp and/or the parts of your body that are next to it.
Cheung also like using hair care products that contain sulfur, benzoyl peroxide, and tea tree oil, all of which reduce surface microorganisms. “Coal-based shampoo reduces inflammation and exfoliates the scalp, and dandruff shampoos will reduce oil production,” Cheung says.
Finally, Zeichner advises monitoring for zinc pyrithione, which he claims helps reduce the amount of yeast on the scalp that first causes pimples.
Ingredients to avoid
Regarding the worst components in shampoos for acne, Cheung advises against:
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Sulfates
, which produce lather to clean the scalp but can cause excessive drying which leads to irritation, she says. -
Dimethicone
, which smoothes dry hair but can cause build up on the scalp. -
Triclosan
, a controversial antimicrobial because it can act as a hormone disruptor, says Cheung.
Frequently asked questions
Even while it may not be as noticeable as a large pimple on your nose, scalp acne is still an annoyance when it’s hidden beneath your hair. The American Academy of Dermatology states that folliculitis, the general medical word for the variety of ways a hair follicle can become inflamed, can occasionally be mistaken for acne on your scalp. Alternatively, it can just be typical acne. According to Cheung, the accumulation of dead skin, oil, and hair products can provide an ideal habitat for bacterial overgrowth that results in pimples. Sweat, friction, and humidity can also promote acne on the scalp.
Another possible cause of scalp acne, according to Zeichner, is an overabundance of yeast, which also causes flaking and dandruff.
Changing the products you use or the way you use them is a simple method to avoid scalp acne. Oil-based hair care solutions prevent oil from escaping from follicular or pore openings, according to Dr. Lindsey Bordone, a board-certified dermatologist at Columbia University Medical Center. She suggests using lighter, water-based styling solutions in place of such oil-based ones. To avoid pimples, she advises applying heavier hair style products at least an inch away from your scalp.
Speaking of administration, the efficacy of your therapies can also be significantly impacted by how you administer them. According to Zeichner, it’s crucial to utilize the items as scalp treatments even though many of them are legally classified as shampoos. In order to allow the active component to work on the skin, he advises applying them to your scalp and letting them sit for at least five minutes before washing.
The bad news is that treating hormonal or hereditary acne on the scalp can be more difficult. Pregnant women, for example, can produce progesterone, a hormone that can cause oil glands to secrete more sebum, which builds up on your scalp, congests your pores and leads to scalp acne, says Shapiro. Making an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist who can assist you in determining treatment options is the safest and most efficient course of action in certain situations.
Finally, there’s picking. “Don’t do it,” King says. It will only aggravate the problem, prolonging the time to heal and increasing the risk of infection, inflammation, discoloration and scarring, she says.
It normally doesn’t in mild cases. However, experts warn that severe cases can lead to hair loss due to scarring, hair follicle damage and more. If there are very inflammatory nodulocystic acne lesions, there could be enough inflammation to lead to scarring, and this could include scarring of hair follicles, which would lead to hair loss, says King. If hair loss becomes an issue, Zeichner recommends that for those experiencing scalp, pimples or flaking it s important to treat it as part of any regimen that treatsthinning hair.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we collaborate with professionals that possess specific expertise and power derived from pertinent education and/or job experience. Additionally, we take precautions to guarantee that all professional counsel and suggestions are given impartially and free from unreported financial conflicts of interest.
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Dr. Steven Shapiro
is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of
Shapiro MD hair care line
.
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Dr. Jessie Cheung
is a board-certified dermatologist with practices in Chicago, Illinois and New York City. She has also offered her guidance in Select s guides to thebest clarifying shampoos
and
scalp scrubs
.
-
Dr. Hadley King
is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. She has also offered her guidance in Select s guides to thebest drugstore shampoos
and
razor burn treatments
.
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Dr. Joshua Zeichner
is an Associate Professor of Dermatology and the Director of Cosmetic & Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. He has also offered his guidance in Select s articles on
treating razor burn
and preventing
adult acne
.
-
Dr. Debra Jaliman
is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. She offered her guidance in Select s guide to
the best shampoos for dry scalp
.
-
William Gaunitz
is a certified trichologist (hair health expert). He has also offered his guidance in Select s guide to
the best drugstore shampoos
.
-
Dr. Lindsey Bordone
is a board-certified dermatologist in the Department of Dermatology of Columbia University Medical Center.
Why trust NBC Select?
Nicole Saunders is a former associate commerce editor for Select on NBC News, covering wellness and lifestyle.
Ashley Morrisis an associate SEO reporter covering skin care, wellness, and more for NBC Select. For this piece, they spoke to experts including trichologists and board-certified dermatologists to find out everything you need to know about scalp acne shampoos and treatments.
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