Nenoff P1, Haustein UF, Fiedler A. (1995) The antifungal activity of a coal tar gel on Malassezia furfur in vitro. Schmidt‐Rose, T., Braren, S., Fölster, H., Hillemann, T., Oltrogge, B., Philipp, P., & Fey, S. (2011). ‘Efficacy of a piroctone olamine/climbazol shampoo in comparison with a zinc pyrithione shampoo in subjects with moderate to severe dandruff.’ International journal of cosmetic science, 33(3), 276-282.

Neutrogena, on the other hand, recommends, “For best results, use at least twice a week or as directed by a doctor.” Sebclair Biotin shampoo is a mild, SLS-free formula that gently cleanses and prevents hair loss. It contains biotin, which is an essential vitamin for healthy hair growth. Without understanding your condition, it’s pointless to even try to find the right shampoo. You have to match the active ingredient to the type of dandruff. Liquorice root extract – a skin conditioner helpful in reducing flaky dry skin, anti-irritant, anti-inflammatoryDHS’s Fragrance-Free formula is particularly notable as it washes well, doesn’t smell as bad as most other coal tar shampoos, and is the gentlest coal tar shampoo we’ve yet reviewed.

It has an excellent safety profile with no restrictions on age, duration of use or application on the face. Clinical research shows that the Cream/shampoo may be used as a first-line treatment for seborrheic flare-ups and for long-term maintenance. For some further clarity, Dr. Ben Barankin, told us, “For mild-moderate dandruff, I recommend daily shampooing, and ideally alternating 3 shampoos, each with active anti-dandruff ingredients.”I constantly have a piroctone olamine shampoo on hand for those times I don’t have a bad breakout so I don’t have to use a harsher ingredient.

Piroctone olamine is not regulated as a medicine, and so all formulations can be bought from supermarkets or pharmacies. The ingredient is permitted up to 1.0% in rinse-off cosmetics (e.g. shampoos) in both the EU and US.Sebclair shampoo for dandruff and seb derm was prior to 2016 owned by a pharmaceutical company called Sinclair. To this day bottles of Sebclair shampoo – like the one we’ve tested today still bear the logo of Sinclair. da Rocha Neto AC1, Maraschin M2, Di Piero RM3. (2015) Antifungal activity of salicylic acid against Penicillium expansum and its possible mechanisms of action.

Before looking at our favorite shampoos, in true Dandruff Deconstructed fashion, we’ll present the facts. So you can work out if it’s the ingredient for you. Maple Holistics Tea Tree Shampoo is an outstanding Tea Tree shampoo for treating Dry Scalp or Seb Derm. Dandruff is a common condition that causes dry, flaky skin on the scalp. It can also cause itching and redness. For some people, dandruff may be caused by an overgrowth of yeast in the scalp called Malassezia furfur (also known as pityrosporum). Dr. Matthew Zirwas, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Bexley Dermatology in Bexley, Ohio, told us that he prefers shampoos that contain multiple active ingredients. “Our experience has been that all of the ‘normal’ dandruff shampoos work about the same, on average, in terms of effectiveness. Obviously one or another works best for most individuals, but on average, they are all about the same. For resistant dandruff, compounded shampoos that contain multiple active ingredients work much better than regular shampoos.”

Where did it come from?

Chaijan MR1, Handjani F2, Zarshenas M3, Rahimabadi MS4, Tavakkoli A1. (2018) The myrtus communis L. solution versus ketoconazole shampoo in treatment of dandruff: A double blinded randomized clinical trial. Sebclair® Shampoo is indicated in the treatment of the diseases of the scalp (Seborrheic dermatitis, Pityriasis versicolor) and as anti-dandruff treatment. These recommendations are based on a pivotal systematic review published in 2009, which evaluated the efficacy of ketoconazole and selenium sulfide for seborrheic dermatitis[15]. The study reviewed six high-quality trials, ranging from 20-350 participants, and found that both ingredients were associated with an improvement in scaling, itching, redness, and dandruff].