Here’s the Exact Shampoo Routine You Need for a Dry, Itchy Scalp (2024)

If you’re dealing with a dry scalp, you know just how itchy and even embarrassing it can be. But the condition is actually pretty common: “Dry scalp affects up to 15% of the population,” says Shari Lipner, M.D., Ph.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian.

Generally, a dry scalp means the surface layer of skin cells on your scalp is compromised, allowing moisture to escape. It can have many different causes, including dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, a fungal infection, or even an allergic reaction to the hair products you’re using, says Diane Madfes, M.D., F.A.A.D., a board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor of dermatology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Meet the experts: Shari Lipner, M.D., Ph.D.; Diane Madfes, M.D., F.A.A.D.; Azadeh Shirazi, M.D., F.A.A.D.; Stephanie Mehlis, M.D.; Jules Lipoff, M.D.; Joshua Zeichner, M.D.; Blair Murphy-Rose, M.D., F.A.A.D.

But what exactly can you do about it? If you’re looking to soothe your dry, itchy scalp, here’s the good news: You can usually find some relief with over-the-counter treatments like dandruff shampoos, hydrating oils, and more. To help you fight dryness and banish those pesky flakes for good, we tapped top dermatologists to break down the possible causes behind your discomfort—and the remedies that will bring relief ASAP.

Dandruff

“The most common reason for a dry scalp is seborrheic dermatitis, also known as dandruff,” says Dr. Lipner. But dry scalp and dandruff aren’t exactly the same thing: “It’s important to distinguish dry scalp from dandruff as they share similar symptoms, such as dry, itchy, flaky skin, but are two very different entities,” explains board-certified dermatologist Azadeh Shirazi, M.D., F.A.A.D. “Truly dry skin on the scalp is a hydration issue whereas dry flaky itchy scalp is an inflammatory issue. Although the symptoms are similar, the causes and treatments vary greatly.”

Dandruff may be caused by a variety of factors, including a yeastlike fungus, scalp irritation, and skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema, which can lead to dryness and flaking in your eyebrows, face, or ear canals in addition to your scalp, says Dr. Lipner. While the exact cause of seborrheic dermatitis isn’t known, one thing is for sure: It doesn’t mean you’re dirty or unkempt in any way. “It’s not caused by poor hygiene,” Dr. Lipner says.

Cold weather

Just like the skin on your legs, arms, or face becomes dry when temperatures drop, your scalp gets zapped of moisture, too. “Cold weather makes your skin and scalp drier because humidity is low, causing low water content in the skin,” says Dr. Lipner.

Allergic reactions

You can develop an allergy (also known as contact dermatitis) to certain ingredients in your hair products (including shampoos, leave-ins, and hairsprays). This includes things like dyes, fragrances, sulfates, or parabens, and the problem can persist regardless of the change in seasons.

“On the scalp, it is very hard to see the red, rashy look that is common on the rest of the skin from an irritation, but that inflammation causes the barrier to not work as well and manifest only as flakes and dryness,” says Stephanie Mehlis, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist with NorthShore University HealthSystem in Skokie, IL. In this case, your dermatologist can help pinpoint the problematic ingredient(s) and help you find the right hair products to avoid it.

Skin conditions

Certain skin conditions—including the fungal infection ringworm or conditions like eczema or psoriasis—can also zap moisture from your scalp, says Dr. Lipner. Ringworm may look like itchy, scaly, and bald patches, while eczema that affects the scalp can come with dandruff, itching, and redness. Scalp psoriasis, on the other hand, is a condition where skin cells grow faster than normal, causing them to build up into silvery plaques and flake off. In these instances, getting the underlying cause diagnosed and treated is the best way to boost the health of your scalp and bring back comfort.

Also be on the lookout for seemingly unrelated symptoms, like joint pain. “When a dry scalp is due to psoriasis, the joints may also be affected, a condition called psoriatic arthritis,” says Dr. Lipner. Other symptoms include fatigue, swollen fingers and toes, morning stiffness, and nail changes.

Once you nail down the cause of your dry scalp, there are a number of expert-approved remedies you can use to tone down itch, banish flakes, and replenish parched patches.

1. Use an antifungal dandruff shampoo.

If dandruff is the root cause, antifungal shampoos are going to be your best bet for dealing with scalp dryness, says Jules Lipoff, M.D., assistant professor of clinical dermatology and board-certified dermatologist at the University of Pennsylvania. These medicated shampoos contain ingredients like zinc pyrithione, ketoconazole, and selenium sulfide, all of which help treat and prevent scalp dandruff, says Dr. Shirazi. She personally recommends Head & Shoulders shampoos, which she says are “formulated with zinc pyrithione to help reduce inflammation, scalp itching, and yeast counts that often cause dandruff.”

Selenium sulfide is another commonly used antifungal ingredient, but it may not be best for those with sensitive scalps, notes Joshua Zeichner, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in NYC. “[It’s] known to be irritating so I only recommend it in people who do not have any sensitivity,” he says.

2. Try a salicylic acid shampoo.

Your favorite acne-fighter may do wonders for your dry scalp, too. A salicylic acid shampoo “helps dissolve those little flakes and is effective for relieving itch, especially if you’re dealing with extra dryness,” says Dr. Mehlis. That’s because salicylic acid is a top-notch exfoliator that gets rid of dead skin cells sitting on the surface. “Salicylic acid is a skin exfoliant that reduces scaling on the scalp,” explains Blair Murphy-Rose, M.D., F.A.A.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New York. “This is best for some inflammatory skin conditions of the scalp as well as scalp breakouts.”

Both Dr. Murphy-Rose and Dr. Madfes recommend the Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo, which contains 3% salicylic acid. Another great pick from Neutrogena is the Scalp Therapy Anti-Dandruff Extra Strength Shampoo, which is “also effective at reducing scalp buildup and exfoliating dead skin cells to promote new healthy skin cells,” notes Dr. Shirazi.

3. Take your time with cleansing.

There’s a method to washing with anti-dandruff shampoos. “These all have a medication in them, so you don’t want to just put it in your hair and rinse out immediately,” explains Dr. Lipoff. “It gives no opportunity for the medication to get into your scalp.”

Apply this shampoo only to your scalp area and leave it on for at least five minutes before rinsing (take this time to shave your legs or scrub your body!). It’s also important to note that medicated shampoos can dry out your hair fibers, so it’s important to keep the product in your scalp area only, says Dr. Mehlis.

If you feel like the rest of your hair really needs a sudsing, simply use your go-to shampoo from mid-length to ends “so you smell like your normal self,” she says. Follow up with your regular conditioner.

4. Touch up when needed.

When first washing with an anti-dandruff shampoo, use it every day for one week to get the yeast under control—and thus feel dryness subside, advises Dr. Lipoff.

After, you can return to your normal shampoo and schedule. If dandruff is your problem, then you’ll need a touch-up occasionally. “Every week or two, you have to remind [your scalp] who’s boss,” he says, so suds up with the anti-dandruff shampoo if you notice the flakes coming back. If your scalp seems to grow accustomed to your dandruff-fighting shampoo, switch to another product with a different active ingredient.

5. Consider washing your hair less.

If you don’t have dandruff but your scalp dryness seems to be taking over, it may be time to look at your shower routine as a whole. Excessively hot water, super-long showers, and harsh soap ingredients (like sulfates), can all disrupt the barrier that protects the skin on your scalp, says Dr. Mehlis. As such, washing your hair too often may be the culprit behind a dry scalp, she says.

Unless you have greasy hair, you can try to shampoo a little less often. Try every other day at first (some people may be able to extend it to every three to four days), adds Dr. Mehlis. The best interval is different for everyone, and it takes some trial-and-error to find what’s right for you.

6. Apply an oil treatment.

“Dry scalp is treated similarly to dry skin. The goal is to replenish the moisture barrier and reduce water loss,” says Dr. Shirazi. “Using a nourishing scalp oil or leave-in scalp treatment helps reduce water loss and increase skin hydration.” She recommends applying 3-5 drops of scalp oil to your fingertips and massaging it into the scalp skin after a shower, then rinsing it off the next day.

Dr. Madfes specifically likes the Badger Jojoba Hair Oil: “It’s moisturizing to the scalp but also cooling with menthol as dry scalps can be itchy, too,” she says. Eczema Honey’s Soothing Scalp Oil is another top-rated pick approved by Dr. Murphy-Rose. “[It] contains skin calming aloe, protectant colloidal oatmeal, and honey that acts as a humectant and has antimicrobial properties to reduce risk of infection. Jojoba oil, olive oil, and vitamin E deeply moisturize and condition,” she says.

But even just a simple jar of coconut oil, which you can find in any grocery store aisle, can do the the trick. “I like coconut oil because it has nice anti-inflammatory properties,” says Dr. Mehlis. If your hair is long enough, you can apply the coconut oil to your scalp and then wrap your hair in a bun or put it up in a towel or shower cap to encourage penetration and keep your pillow clean while you snooze. The trick, says Dr. Mehlis, is getting it out in the morning. She recommends massaging a gentle shampoo into your scalp on dry hair before going into the shower, which will help pull the oil out easier.

7. Add a hydrating serum.

Dr. Shirazi recommends applying a detoxifying treatment such as Vegamour’s GRO Scalp serum, which she says is “formulated with baobab and marula oils, Omega 6 and 9 fatty acids to moisturize the scalp skin, along with zinc to help reduce inflammation.” Another pick she likes is the Gisou Honey Infused Scalp Treatment Serum. “[It’s] a lightweight, intensive leave-on serum formulated with mirsalehi honey, which is a natural humectant to restore the moisture barrier,” she says. “It also has ectoine to help repair dry scalp and calm redness while the prebiotic complex promotes a balanced scalp microflora to keep the skin balanced.”

You can also look for serums that contain salicylic acid to help exfoliate and reduce scaling on the scalp. Dr. Murphy-Rose personally likes First Aid Beauty’s Anti-Dandruff Scalp Serum, which she notes is formulated to be safe even for sensitive skin. “It contains 2% salicylic acid that is great for exfoliating adherent scaliness as well as clearing pores and preventing scalp breakouts,” she says.

8. Re-think your hair products.

If you find that your scalp is sensitive or easily irritated, consider switching to more gentle hair products. There are certain lines that are free of common irritants, including fragrance and dyes. Dr. Mehlis recommends Free & Clear Shampoo and Conditioner, DHS Clear Shampoo, and DHS Conditioning Rinse, all of which are formulated without common irritants.

9. Skip home remedies.

Apple cider vinegar, CBD products, and witch hazel are all commonly recommended home remedies. (At least by Dr. Google.) “There’s not sufficient evidence that these things work or are safe. Because they’re not well studied, I recommend trying the things that are proven to help first,” says Dr. Lipoff. While they’re probably not dangerous, certain topicals, like apple cider vinegar, can be harsh and may cause irritation—not what you want right now.

If you’re still not getting relief or seeing any improvement after using over-the-counter shampoos or treatments for 2-4 weeks, it’s best to visit a dermatologist for evaluation and prescription options, says Dr. Zeichner. Dr. Madfes also advises consulting an expert if you experience severe symptoms. “See your doctor when the scale becomes extra thick and the flakes are excessive (in your eyebrows also),” she says.

Your dermatologist can offer prescription treatments that may be more effective than over-the-counter options, like a prescription dandruff shampoo, topical steroids, or topical vitamin D (in the case of psoriasis), depending on the underlying problem, says Dr. Mehlis.

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