8 Best Dandruff Treatments That Calm an Itchy, Flaky Scalp

18.12.2025, 20:52 allure.com

If treating flakes has always left you, er, scratching your head, you’re not alone—and finding the best dandruff treatments starts with understanding what’s actually causing them. “Dandruff is a very common concern. While the term gets used as a catch-all, it can stem from several different issues, including seborrheic dermatitis, product buildup, contact dermatitis, and psoriasis,” says Julie De La Cruz, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami.

What dermatologists typically mean when they say dandruff is seborrheic dermatitis. “This is where an overgrowth of normal flora yeast leads to inflammation, itching, and flaking,” Dr. De La Cruz explains. True dandruff has a distinct look, which helps explain why it doesn’t always respond to basic moisturizing alone. It typically appears as larger white to yellowish flakes that have a slightly oily quality and tend to cling to the scalp and hair rather than dusting off easily. Redness and itchiness are common underneath, and it’s most often seen on oilier scalps, especially around the crown, hairline, or behind the ears. (By contrast, small, white, powdery flakes paired with a tight—but not inflamed—scalp usually point to dryness, while thicker, silvery scales with sharper edges may signal scalp psoriasis.)

That’s why managing dandruff often takes more than just a shampoo (though it’s still a great place to start). Supportive conditioners, leave-ins, and barrier-repair formulas can help calm irritation, rebalance the scalp, and keep flakes from making a comeback between washes. Ahead, the best dandruff treatments derms recommend when flakes show up uninvited.

Nizoral

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Walmart

Why it's worth it: When it comes to treating dandruff, dermatologists often turn to ketoconazole, “which is an antifungal that inhibits an enzyme key to yeast growth,” as a first line of defense, says Dr. De La Cruz. “Usually I start with a ketoconazole-based shampoo like Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo with 1% ketoconazole, given that studies show ketoconazole to be slightly better tolerated than other ingredients,” says Dr. De La Cruz. Ketoconazole works by controlling Malassezia yeast that fuels dandruff, helping calm flaking, itching, and irritation at the source instead of simply rinsing flakes away. If an over-the-counter formula doesn’t do the trick, Dr. De La Cruz notes she’ll prescribe a 2% ketoconazole shampoo for severe dandruff. Bonus: Nizoral has a fresh, clean scent that makes it feel more pleasant to use regularly.

Tester feedback from Allure senior commerce director Shanna Shipin

"Eczema doesn't just plague my skin—it hits me with an intensely itchy(!!) and flaky scalp. Needing a gentle yet effective solution, my doctor long ago suggested I use Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo with 1% Ketoconazole, and it's helped me manage the snowy flakes of dandruff over the years. Nizoral has helped me tackle suspected fungal acne breakouts on my forehead, too. Those tiny acne bumps hate to see the blue shampoo coming.” —Shanna Shipin, shopping director

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Vichy Laboratories

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Dermstore

Ulta Beauty

Why it's worth it: If your dandruff comes with thicker, oilier scales, selenium sulfide is often the next move. “Selenium sulfide works very well and feels comfortable, is not overly drying, and works quickly,” says Dr. De La Cruz. Like ketoconazole, it targets the fungus behind flakes, but via a different angle: “Unlike ketoconazole that blocks the enzyme for yeast production, selenium sulfide prevents the division of fungal cells,” she explains. Vichy Dercos is formulated with 0.6% micronized selenium sulfide, allowing the active to distribute more evenly across the scalp and fight flakes at the source. Supporting ingredients like niacinamide, glycerin, salicylic acid, and menthol help calm itch, loosen buildup, and leave the scalp feeling refreshed. “Oftentimes I have patients alternate between this and a ketoconazole shampoo to get the best results,” she says.

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CeraVe

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Ulta Beauty

Why it's worth it: Most dandruff treatments focus on flakes alone, but CeraVe Hydrating Anti-Dandruff Conditioner takes care of the scalp, too (no surprise if you already know the brand for its gentle, barrier-supporting skincare). This formula relies on 0.5% pyrithione zinc, a milder antifungal that helps keep dandruff-causing yeast in check while being gentle enough for regular use, paired with ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid to reinforce the scalp barrier, soothe irritation, and keep hair feeling soft and easy to detangle. “The ceramides offer a very comfortable conditioning experience to help detangle the hair, while the zinc pyrithione further helps to treat dandruff,” says Dr. De La Cruz. It’s a nourishing pick when you want ongoing flake control without the dryness that can come with stronger antifungals like ketoconazole or selenium sulfide, which are often better suited for short-term treatment.

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Cécred

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Cécred

Why it's worth it: Cécred's Scalp Refreshing Spray is made with braids, wigs, and extensions in mind—making it perfect for those in-between wash days when your scalp still needs care. While it doesn’t contain medicated ingredients to treat dandruff at the source, it helps take the edge off itchiness and discomfort that often come with flakes, especially when buildup or style-related tension is involved. The lightweight, no-rinse spray features a targeted nozzle that breaks down buildup and dead skin without disturbing your style, while menthol delivers a subtle, instantly soothing cooling effect. Ingredients like Lactobacillus ferment, ceramides, and honey help calm and comfort the scalp, making it an easy daily refresh for protective styles and extensions.

Tester feedback from Allure editor in chief Jessica Cruel

“I inherited my flaky scalp from my father. Just like him, I used medicated dandruff shampoos for most of my life. Then I tried the Cécred Detoxifying Shampoo. The silky later doesn't dry out my hair like pyrithione zinc. It smells faintly of peppermint oil and cools my scalp with menthol (and it has a purplish blue color, whish is just cool). But what keeps me going back is that it keeps itchy patches away for two solid weeks. For an even better boost, I spritz my scalp with the Cécred Scalp Refreshing Spray before hopping in the shower. The spray was formulated to stop the itch when wearing protective styles like braids, but I find it a great pre-shampoo treatment to dislodge any debris or flakes before I wash. It has a tingling sensation that lasts then the detoxifying shampoo finishes the job.” —Jessica Cruel, Allure editor in chief

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Jupiter

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Dermstore

Why it's worth it: Wash-off dandruff treatments don’t always get enough time on your skin, which is where a leave-in scalp treatment like Jupiter Restoring Serum comes in. Designed to stay put, the lightweight serum delivers 0.125% zinc pyrithione to help control the yeast linked to flakes and irritation between washes. It’s backed by salicylic acid to gently loosen buildup, plus niacinamide and panthenol to calm irritation and support the scalp barrier. Soothing botanicals (like aloe, green tea, and Lactobacillus yeast ferment) help take down redness and itch, while lightweight oils add comfort without greasiness. It absorbs quickly and easily—you can use it up to four times a day—and is ideal for anyone rotating dandruff actives or spacing out wash days while still wanting consistent flake control.

Tester feedback from Allure senior editor Jesa Marie Calaor

"Dandruff treatments always have a medicinal, off-putting smell—but not this one. It smells clean as it soothes my flaky, itchy scalp." —Jesa Marie Calaor, Allure senior editor

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Neutrogena

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Why it's worth it: Most people assume flakes automatically mean a dry scalp, but classic dandruff is usually tied to excess oil, not a lack of it. The yeast that drives dandruff (Malassezia) feeds on sebum, so when oil builds up, flaking and itch often follow. Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Dandruff Shampoo uses 3% salicylic acid “to break down thick, greasy scales and loosen stubborn buildup,” making it especially helpful for dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, and even psoriasis-related flakes, says Dr. De La Cruz. Unlike antifungal shampoos that target yeast directly, T/Sal focuses on clearing the excess skin and oil that keep flakes coming back. The fragrance-free formula cleanses thoroughly, giving even sensitive scalps a chance to reset while minimizing skin irritation.

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Dove

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Why it's worth it: If your flakes are small, white, and powdery, it’s easy to jump straight to “dandruff,” but that combo usually means dry scalp, especially if things feel tight rather than itchy or inflamed. Dove Derma Dryness and Itch Relief Anti-Dandruff Shampoo focuses on what dry, itchy scalps need: gentle, moisturizing cleansing that helps soften and reduce the shedding of dry skin. It uses 1% pyrithione zinc to help calm dryness-related itch and keep your scalp feeling comfortable. Then the formula backs that up with coconut oil, shea butter, glycerin, and sunflower seed oil to condition, smooth, and help the scalp feel more balanced.

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Nioxin

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Ulta Beauty

Why it's worth it: Dandruff lives its best life in an environment of buildup and excess oil, which is why targeted exfoliation can make such a difference. Nioxin’s Scalp Purifying Exfoliator is designed to clear away what keeps flakes coming back, giving the scalp a deeper reset than shampoo alone. “This product is a creamy exfoliant that helps lift buildup and excess oil off the scalp without irritation,” says Fatima Fahs, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Southfield, Michigan. Used on dry hair before shampooing, the rinse-out treatment relies on lactic, tartaric, and benzoic acids to loosen dead skin, unclog follicles, and rebalance the scalp—key steps for managing dandruff and flakiness.