The goal isn’t to cover the scalp with oil – it’s to treat what’s causing the dandruff.
That’s where anti-dandruff shampoos come in. Ingredients like ketoconazole, zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide and piroctone olamine are designed to target the yeast and reduce flaking, rather than simply moisturising the scalp.
If you’ve been using one for a few weeks and nothing has changed, or your scalp is painful, very red or you’re losing more hair than usual, it’s worth seeing a dermatologist.
Not every flaky scalp is dandruff. Conditions like eczema, psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis can look very similar, but they need different treatment.
