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Im someone who is lucky enough to be blessed with not only butt acne, bacne, and cystic acne, but also persistent scalp acne (tyvm). But to be honest, I didn’t even know I was dealing with scalp zits at first—I just thought the bumpy texture was due to too much dry shampoo or too few scalp scrubs, especially because they didn’t look like traditional whiteheads. According to dermatologist Diane Madfes, MD, though, that’s normal: “Scalp pimples can look like little inflamed bumps that may be firmer and deeper than traditional whiteheads,” she says. And lucky for us, the easiest way to treat them is with a scalp acne shampoo.
Some scalp acne shampoos tend to strip the hell out of your hair and scalp, potentially leading to more breakouts. But a good scalp acne shampoo will use active ingredients, like salicylic acid, tea tree oil, and zinc, to help break down clogged pores and soothe inflammation, all without being too harsh on your hair. And to help you find the most effective formulas on the market, I chatted with Dr. Madfes and trichologists Dominic Burg and Lorna Jones for the 13 best scalp acne shampoos, whether your scalp acne also involves itchy skin, dry curly hair, or supremely oily roots.
