Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic and inflammatory skin condition that affects the head and the torso. The affected areas are those with a greater number of oil-producing glands. Dandruff is a milder form of seborrheic dermatitis.
A full-blown case of seborrheic dermatitis is characterized by a red and itchy rash on the scalp along with flaky scales. Stress, gene factors, cold and dry conditions, yeast thriving on the skin, and some medications are identifiable causes for this skin condition.
Medicated shampoos are the best way to treat seborrheic dermatitis dandruff. They contain active ingredients that, when left on wet hair for a specified period, will help control the flare. These ingredients include coal tar, zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide, and salicylic acid in different combinations.
Treatment for seborrheic dermatitis is long term. You might have to alternate between various seborrheic dermatitis shampoos to ensure their effectiveness. Considering the fact that they are medicated, you will need a prescription to buy seborrheic dermatitis shampoo from the drugstore. For mild cases, regular anti-dandruff shampoos that can be bought over the counter are effective.
Composition of medicated seborrheic dermatitis shampoos
Malassezia fungus causes dandruff. Medicated shampoos curtail the growth of this fungus, reducing itchiness, flaking, and dryness of the scalp. Medicated shampoos to treat seborrheic dermatitis contain any one of the following as the key ingredients: ketoconazole, coal tar, salicylic acid, selenium sulfide, and zinc pyrithione.
Reviewed below are popular shampoos that help to treat seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp.
Head & Shoulders with Pyrithione Zinc
A popular shampoo to treat seborrheic dermatitis, it contains an antifungal agent that helps arrest the growth of yeast/fungi that causes this skin condition.
The active ingredient, i.e., zinc pyrithione, is safe and effective. In fact, you experience immediate results. The itching that normally accompanies dandruff disappears immediately after a shampoo wash. The redness also subsides. Irritation and dermatitis will taper off gradually. Over repeated usage, flakiness and dryness also disappear.
Neutrogena T/Gel
Coal tar is the active ingredient in this shampoo. It has been used extensively to treat various skin conditions. It does have a strong smell, which may not be to everybody’s liking, but it is pretty effective at treating seborrheic dermatitis.
The shampoo composition also includes pine tar and sulfonated shale oil. These natural ingredients help to contain skin cell reproduction, normalizing the skin’s inflammatory response mechanism, and destroying the fungus.
Nizoral Anti-dandruff Shampoo
The active ingredient here is ketoconazole, the most effective compound to treat seborrheic dermatitis. Being an antifungal agent, ketoconazole hits the scalp with veracity and gets rid of the infection in the shortest possible time. Itchiness, flakiness, and dryness disappear. Owing to its strong concentration, you are recommended to not use this shampoo more than two or three times a week.
This shampoo treats seborrheic dermatitis and helps promote hair growth. Both hair shaft thickness and overall hair density improve post usage. If you’ve been losing hair due to dandruff, Nizoral is your best bet.
Selsun Blue
Selenium sulfide is the active ingredient in this shampoo. The accompanying menthol has a cool and tingling sensation. The 1% concentration of selenium sulfide gets dandruff under control. Selenium sulfide might not get full marks on safety as it is a suspected carcinogen. However, on the efficacy front, it is as good as ketoconazole.
You can use it two times a week to steer clear of seborrheic dermatitis.
Neutrogena T/Sal
If you are combating mild dandruff, this is the right shampoo for you. The key ingredient, i.e., salicylic acid, is very effective at removing flaky dead skin. The strong acid stops yeast build-up and leaves the skin pink and feeling tight.
Salicylic acid is a natural product that is derived from the bark of willow trees, making it a safe product. This is a very mild shampoo that can effectively treat mild cases of seborrheic dermatitis.
You can use this mild shampoo in conjunction with the ketoconazole-based shampoos.
Jason Natural Dandruff Relief
The active ingredients are a combination of sulfur and salicylic acid. While sulfur clears up the fungus/yeast, the salicylic acid effectively removes dead skin cells and flaky scales. The sulfur-based shampoo is safe and effective to treat seborrheic dermatitis. The only downside is its rotten-egg smell.
On par with other formulations like ketoconazole and coal tar, the results of using this shampoo last long.
Seborrheic dermatitis can be controlled through the use of over-the-counter shampoos. However, if the dandruff is severe and persistent, you might have to use prescription seborrheic dermatitis shampoos. All these shampoos contain active ingredients in various proportions that aid to curtail the growth of the fungus, yeast, and bacteria responsible for skin infections.
The prescribed use of these shampoos can help to keep seborrheic dermatitis under control.
