14 Best Shampoos for Scalp Acne of 2024, Tested & Reviewed

You probably already know that pimples can pop up on places other than your face, but it’s not just your back, chest, and booty that are blemish-prone. The scalp is another spot where zits happen, although using the term “scalp acne” isn’t exactly as straightforward as it may seem. 

“Scalp acne refers to breakouts, such as red pimples and pustules, on the scalp. It may result from a build-up of oil and clogged pores, bacteria, and inflammation, and can also have a hormonal component,” explains Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. More specifically, p.acnes, the bacteria that causes acne vulgaris (acne, in the traditional sense) can be involved, she says. But, what’s often referred to as scalp acne, may actually be folliculitis. This refers to inflammation of the hair follicle triggered by a different type of bacteria, staphylococcus aureus, notes Brooke Jackson, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in Durham, North Carolina. The two conditions often have very similar manifestations—papules, pustules, nodules—so it can be hard to distinguish between them, she adds. While it’s not a foolproof method of determining, those who have acne on their face, body, and scalp may be dealing with traditional acne, whereas if it’s just on the scalp, it’s more likely to be folliculitis, says Dr. Garshick. 

To complicate things even further, there’s also a condition known as acne cosmetica, which occurs when ingredients in hair products cause clogged pores that manifest as tiny bumps and pustules. This most often shows up around the hairline and on the forehead and back of the neck. Your hair type or texture doesn’t play a role here; those with an oily scalp may be more predisposed to developing scalp acne, but any hair type can experience it, says Dr. Garshick. Medicated shampoos treat the skin on your scalp but rather than use them alone, you should rotate them with other shampoos that you use for your specific hair type.

We conducted hours of research on the best medicated shampoos for scalp acne, evaluating each formula on active ingredients and effectiveness. More on that point in a moment. We also had a look at whether or not the formula contains sulfates, which can be a potential scalp irritant. After consulting with two board-certified dermatologists, and considering dozens of top-rated brands, we landed on the following top-rated choices.

Best Overall

• Clears acne with salicylic acid

• Sulfate- and fragrance-free, great for those with drier hair and/or sensitivities

• Prevents flakes and product build-up

Both dermatologists we spoke with include this on their list of top recommendations. Dr. Garshick says that it’s a particularly good choice for those dealing with both an oily scalp and breakouts. “It contains three-percent salicylic acid, a beta-hydroxy acid exfoliant that gets rid of dead skin cells, unclogs pores, and reduces oil. The shampoo can also help reduce itching and dryness, and is helpful for other scalp conditions, including seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, and dandruff,” she explains. On top of that, it’s super affordable, too.

Active Ingredients: Salicylic acid | Size: 4.5 fl oz  | Sulfate-Free: Yes| Cruelty-Free: No

Best Budget

• Treats acne and dandruff with antimicrobial benzyl benzoate

• Helps restore the pH balance of the scalp

• Suitable for all hair textures

Despite being one of the least expensive options we’ve found, Dr. Jackson approves of this pick. Affordable and effective, it relies on benzyl benzoate, a solvent and preservative that helps combat pimples and dandruff with its antimicrobial properties. It is a common allergen though so it’s best to test it on your skin before applying it all over to avoid a reaction. Make sure to pair it with a moisturizing conditioner, as it can be fairly stripping, particularly if your hair is on the drier side to begin with.

Active Ingredients: Benzyl benzoate| Size: 7.5 fl oz | Sulfate-Free: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Drugstore

• Contains acne-fighting niacinamide

• Contains ingredients such as glycerin and panthenol that help to soften the hair

• Formulated without sulfates and parabens

This drugstore formula contains activated charcoal to soak up and remove excess oil, niacinamide to reduce acne inflammation, and antimicrobial tea tree oil to cleanse the scalp. We love that it doesn’t contain sulfates or parabens–synthetic preservatives, which have been linked to cancer and infertility. The refreshing, minty-citrusy scent (thanks, tea tree oil) is a crowd-pleaser. Just make sure to rinse it out thoroughly, as it does tend to leave behind a bit of a residue.

Active Ingredients: Activated charcoal, tea tree oil| Size: 18 fl oz  | Sulfate-Free: Yes| Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best with Salicylic Acid

• Amazing sophisticated scent

• Comes in recyclable packaging

• Clears acne with salicylic acid

Salicylic acid is often recommended for face and body acne, and the same holds true for your scalp. Dr. Garshick says salicylic acid is one of the best ingredients to look for because it can both eliminate excess oil and unclog pores. Here, you get a 2% concentration, but in a shampoo that smells so sophisticated (and a bottle that looks so fancy) you’d never guess it was made for addressing scalp issues. It is one of the priciest options we found though.

Active Ingredients: Salicylic acid| Size: 10 fl oz | Sulfate-Free: Yes| Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best with Tea Tree Oil

• Formulated without sulfates and parabens

• Delivers a refreshing and invigorating scent and feel

• Removes scalp build-up without stripping hair

As far as natural acne-fighters go, tea tree oil easily tops the list—it’s well-known for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. It’s the star of the show here, though there’s also astringent witch hazel in the mix, helping to further balance excess oil production.Bonus points for the invigorating scent and sensation it delivers which soothes the skin and wakes you up. We like that it doesn’t contain sulfates, but don’t love that it’s not cruelty-free.

Active Ingredients: Tea tree oil | Size: 13 fl oz  | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: No

Best for Sensitive Skin

• Formulated without fragrance or parabens

• Effective for a deep cleanse, yet still gentle on those with sensitive skin

• Dermatologist-recommended

Dealing with both sensitive skin and uncomfortable breakouts on your scalp is no fun. Happily, this formula is the perfect option if you have both, says Dr. Garshick. “It’s fragrance-free, sulfate-free, paraben-free, and dye-free, but still helps remove buildup without leaving your hair feeling stripped or scalp irritated,” she says. It’s a smart choice for deep cleaning the hair while restating it from intense medicated shampoos. However, it’s not strictly designed to treat scalp acne. 

Active Ingredients: N/A| Size: 12 fl oz  | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Flakes

• Great for both dandruff and breakouts

• Fragrance is naturally-derived

• Safe for color-treated hair

The bad news: Dandruff and scalp breakouts can go hand-in-hand since flaking and buildup can both contribute to breakouts, says Dr. Garshick. The good news: This shampoo will help nip all of that in the bud. The medicated formula relies on zinc pyrithione, an anti-dandruff ingredient but also includes coconut oil and squalane for hydration so it won’t be too drying. It’s also a delight to use, thanks to a scent of mint, vanilla, sage, and lavender, Dr. Garshick points out. The only downside is that some reviewers found it left an oily residue behind. 

Active Ingredients: Zinc pyrithione| Size: 9.5 fl oz  | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Itching

• Available at most drugstores

• Effectively soothes and combats itch

• Hydrates with shea butter

Is there anything more uncomfortable than an itchy scalp? We think not. That’s where this ‘poo comes in. “This shampoo helps to improve flaking and reduce itching without leaving the scalp feeling dry or irritated. It contains zinc pyrithione to effectively treat, while also nourishing the scalp,” says Dr. Garshick of another one of her favorites. 

It’s a top choice if you have scalp acne and dandruff (both of which, you guessed it, can be itchy and uncomfortable). However, it contains both sulfates and fragrances, which can be irritating, and the addition of hydrating shea butter may be too heavy for oily scalps. 

Active Ingredients: Pyrithione zinc| Size: 12 fl oz | Sulfate-Free: No| Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Exfoliating

As is the case with other types of acne, exfoliating can be beneficial…so long as it’s done correctly. Dr. Garshick says glycolic acid is one of the best exfoliating ingredients to seek out since it gently yet effectively removes potentially pore-clogging build-up. It’s the star of the show in this formula, which technically isn’t a shampoo, but does work great as a weekly treatment to keep breakouts and flakes at bay.

Active Ingredients: Glycolic acid | Size: 5 fl oz | Sulfate-Free: Yes| Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Color-Treated Hair

• Does contain fragrance, but the minty, invigorating scent is very pleasing

• Comes in a variety of sizes and prices

• Vegan and cruelty-free

• Not sulfate-free

If you have color-treated hair, medicated shampoos can pose a tricky conundrum as many can be too harsh and strip your color. While this pick does contain sulfates it is still safe for color-treated hair. Dr. Garshick likes it because it contains tea tree oil, which has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties—good things if you’re dealing with any kind of breakouts on your scalp. And the minty fresh scent is a nice bonus, especially since it’s not artificial.

Active Ingredients: Tea tree oil| Size: 2.5, 10.14, 16.9, 33.8 fl oz  | Sulfate-Free: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Read Full Review: Reviewed: Paul Mitchell's Tea Tree Shampoo Is the Ultimate Deep Clean

Best Anti-Fungal

Along with all of the different types of scalp “acne” mentioned earlier, there’s another potential culprit behind the bumps on your scalp. “Pityrosporum folliculitis happens when a yeast that’s naturally occurring on the skin multiplies and infects the hair follicles,” says Dr. Jackson. You need an anti-fungal ingredient to target that, like the ketoconazole in this shampoo. It’s great for fighting dandruff too, hence the name. We don’t love that it contains BHT though, a controversial preservative that the Environmental Working Group says poses a moderate risk for cancer and a high risk for allergies and immunotoxicity.

Active Ingredients: Ketoconazole| Size: 4 fl oz | Sulfate-Free: No| Cruelty-Free: No

Best for Folliculitis

• Can also be used on facial hair to treat razor bumps

• Contains glycerin to prevent excessive dryness on both the hair and scalp

• Salicylic acid and sodium hypochlorite remove oil and dead skin cells

• Not sulfate-free

Another recommendation from both of our experts, this is an especially good choice if you’re dealing with folliculitis. Credit sodium hypochlorite in the formula, a do-it-all ingredient that’s antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory, yet still super gentle on even sensitive skin. It’s paired with salicylic acid to effectively cleanse, disinfect the scalp, and unclog pores, says Dr. Garhsick, who also lauds it for the addition of hydrating glycerin so that you don’t have to worry about it over-drying your hair or skin.

Active Ingredients: Sodium hypochlorite, salicylic acid| Size: 8 fl oz | Sulfate-Free: Yes| Cruelty-Free: No

Best Non-Comedogenic

• Lathers nicely, even though it’s sulfate-free

• Sulfate- and fragrance-free, great for those with drier hair and/or sensitivities

• Designed by a Harvard-trained dermatologist

To be fair, this shampoo doesn’t contain any active ingredients that are going to treat scalp acne, per se, but it also doesn’t have any of the common culprits that will make it worse. So, rather than a treatment, look at this shampoo as a scalp acne preventative. Namely, we’re talking about heavy, pore-clogging oils that can contribute to breakouts not only on your scalp, but also on your hairline, forehead, neck, and back. This non-comedogenic formula contains hemisqualane, a plant-sugar-derived silicone alternative that adds moisture, and bisabolol, a skin-soothing ingredient to reduce irritation. 

Active Ingredients: N/A | Size: 8.6 fl oz | Sulfate-Free: Yes| Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for a Luxe Experience

• Delivers a nice lather and has a pleasant scent

• Contains an effective concentration of two-percent salicylic acid

• Free from parabens and sulfates

• Can be drying

There’s nothing sexy about a medicated shampoo…or is there? This splurge-worthy option may be intended for combating dandruff (although it’s also good for breakouts, thanks to a 2% concentration of salicylic acid), but using it feels super special and spa-worthy. Everything from the gorgeous pink bottle to the luscious lather to the lovely scent makes it a far cry from most other medicated shampoos out there. It can be drying, though, so follow with a hydrating conditioner. 

Active Ingredients: Salicylic acid | Size: 8.5, 33.8 fl oz| Sulfate-Free: Yes| Cruelty-Free: Yes

Where We Stand

Overall, our favorite medicated shampoo to treat scalp acne is Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo, an affordable drugstore staple that contains salicylic acid, one of the most often derm-recommended ingredients for dealing with scalp breakouts. We also love our budget pick, Sulfur8 Deep Cleaning Shampoo, an antimicrobial formula that works for all hair textures. 

How We Researched

To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best medicated shampoos for scalp acne on the market, evaluating their key features in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We also consulted dermatologists for their opinions and recommendations. We then used this research to choose the best picks to inform this article. 

Attributes we evaluated each medicated shampoo on:

• Active ingredients to treat acne
• Effectiveness
• Other notable ingredients 
  

What to Look For in a Medicated Shampoo for Acne

• Active Ingredients: While some of the winners on our list are gentle options intended not to exacerbate scalp acne, if you’re looking for a true treatment-type pick, try one that contains active ingredients. According to Dr. Garshick, oil-dissolving and pore-unclogging salicylic acid is one of the best. It’s the main ingredient in our best overall pick, Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo. Garshick also recommends looking for anti-inflammatory and antibacterial tea tree oil, found in  OGX Extra Strength Refreshing Scalp+ Tea Tree Mint Shampoo. Finally, exfoliating glycolic acid can help to purge the scalp of clogged pores. Consider The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Scrub if you’re looking for more of a medicated scalp treatment.
• Frequency of Use: As in most cases, your best bet is to follow the directions for the particular product you’re using; many are only meant to be used a few times per week. That said, as a general rule of thumb, medicated shampoo can be drying, so you can also consider following one with any regular shampoo that you’re using for your particular hair type, notes Dr. Jackson.
• No Pore-Clogging Ingredients: Steer clear of heavy oil and other ingredients that can be comedogenic (aka clog pores) in your hair care products, notes. Dr. Garshick. This holds particularly true if your scalp is very oily and your scalp acne is due to excessive oil. However, those with dry scalp may also experience scalp acne, as flakes and scalp acne often go hand-in-hand. For that, both the Jupiter Balancing Shampoo and the Dove DermaCare Scalp Dryness & Itch Relief Anti-Dandruff Shampoo are top choices.
  

FAQ

• It’s both not really its own thing, and yet, also can be many different things. It can either be acne vulgaris (the kind you’d see on your face or body), folliculitis (an inflammation of the hair follicle cause by a different type of bacteria than acne vulgaris), a type of fungal acne known as pityrosporum folliculitis, or just clogged pores caused by the hair care products you’re using.

• You can try using an over-the-counter medicated shampoo but, if you have pimples that aren’t resolving or deeper cysts or nodules, it’s important to see a dermatologist, Dr. Garshick advises. Not only can it be hard to determine the type of scalp “acne” you have, there are other more serious conditions that can also have similar symptoms and require medical treatment.

• According to Dr. Garshick, it’s not typical, although she is quick to note that some of those aforementioned conditions that may look the same can be associated with scarring hair loss, which is why it’s so important to be evaluated by a derm. And Dr. Jackson points out that folliculitis that’s left unchecked can lead to hair loss as a result of chronic inflammation.

Why Trust Byrdie

Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. She’s covered all kinds of acne extensively during her career (and personally has a very oily scalp that’s prone to clogged pores).

Additional guidance was provided by Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist practicing in New York City and New Jersey, and Brooke Jackson, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon in Durham, North Carolina.

Byrdiecontributor Esme Benjamin checked and updated this article in December 2023 to ensure every detail was correct and each product deserves its place on Byrdie’s list.