Dandruff Shampoo for Acne: The Risks and Benefits Explained by Dermatologists

Have you ever considered switching out your facial cleanser for Head & Shoulders to fight your acne? TikTok wants you to.

Apparently this affordable, brilliant hack has the potential to replace all my acne products in one fell swoop. And if that sounds too good to be true, it’s because it is.

Some Acne Isn’t Technically Acne

To explain why this hack isn’t that effective against acne, it’s important to understand what these TikTok creators are actually experiencing. Because they are seeing an improvement to their skin after using dandruff shampoo, but it isn’t because the shampoo is treating their acne.

Firstly, because dandruff shampoos like Head & Shoulders contain anti-fungal ingredients, it can positively impact what’s commonly called fungal acne.

New York dermatologist Marina Peredo, MD explains that fungal acne gets its name because of how the condition presents. “Fungal acne is a skin condition that occurs when hair follicles become infected with a fungus called Malassezia yeast,” Dr. Peredo explains. “It can appear as a sudden breakout of small red pimples around the hair follicles and look similar in size to pimples.”

So, fungal acne looks like acne, but isn’t.

According to Melville, NY dermatologist Kally Papantoniou, MD, fungal acne can be distinguished from traditional acne. “Fungal acne is an ‘acne-like’ skin condition caused by overgrowth of a yeast, called pityrosporum,” Dr. Papantoniou explains. “It is usually worsened by sweating and hot, humid climates. It is different from traditional acne, in that it is not blackheads and clogged pores, but rather superficial inflamed little pus-filled bumps, usually clustering on the forehead and chest.”

Why Dandruff Shampoos May Work on Fungal Acne

According to Dr. Papantoniou, fungal acne is usually treated easily with anti-fungal products. “This [fungal acne] is successfully treated with anti-fungal cleansers and or creams,” she explains. “The response is usually relatively quick.”

Though these products are successful, it isn’t uncommon for people to turn to dandruff shampoos that also include anti-fungal ingredients. “Some people use Head & Shoulders shampoo, which has the active ingredient zinc pyrithione to help reduce overgrowth of the causative yeast,” Dr. Papantoniou says.

Dr. Peredo agrees that these kinds of shampoos can help some. “If the condition of the fungal acne is mild, it can be treated by ketoconazole shampoo or Head & Shoulders shampoo,” she explains.

Ultimately, Dandruff Shampoo Is Not Recommended to Treat Acne

In spite of its apparent TikTok success at clearing fungal acne, Head & Shoulders isn’t for your face.

New York dermatologist Michelle Henry, MD explains that dandruff shampoos are too harsh for our faces. “Using shampoo on the face is not recommended for treating fungal acne, also known as Malassezia folliculitis,” she explains. “While some shampoos contain anti-fungal ingredients like ketoconazole or zinc pyrithione, these ingredients are meant to be used on the scalp and may be too harsh and drying for the face.”

In fact, a lot of shampoos contain ingredients we would consider too harsh or comedogenic for the face. “Additionally, shampoos may contain other ingredients that can be irritating to the skin and exacerbate acne,” Dr. Henry explains.

What Should You Do If You Suspect You Have Fungal Acne

Your best bet is to see a dermatologist.

“If you suspect you have fungal acne, it’s best to consult with a dermatologist who can recommend an appropriate treatment plan,” Dr. Henry says. “They may recommend topical or oral antifungal medications, as well as skin-care products containing ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to help manage the condition.”

There’s a lot you can do to help keep fungal acne in check.

“Maintaining good hygiene, avoiding oil-based skin-care products, and using a gentle, noncomedogenic moisturizer can also help prevent and manage fungal acne,” Dr. Henry explains.

It's Personal

At NewBeauty, we get the most trusted information from the beauty authority delivered right to your inbox

Find a Doctor

Find a NewBeauty "Top Beauty Doctor" Near you

Select a state State Virtual AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC FL GA HI IA IL IN KY LA MA MD MI MN MO NC NE NJ NV NY OH OR PA SC TN TX UT VA WA WI Select a state Specialty Cosmetic Dentist Dermatologist Facial Plastic Surgeon Hair Restoration Specialist Oculoplastic Surgeon Periodontist Plastic Surgeon Prosthodontist Vein Specialist Select a state Treatment Abdominal thread lifts Accent your Body Acne Treatments Alexandrite Laser Arm Lift Asclera Bellafill Belotero Blue Light Body Body Lift Botox Botox Browlift Brachioplasty Brazilian Butt Lift Breast Augmentation Breast Augmentation with Fat Grafting Breast Implants Breast Implants with Saline Breast Implants with Silicone Breast Lift Breast Lift with Implants Breast Reconstruction Breast Reduction Browlift Butt Enhancement Carboxytherapy Cellulite Treatment Cheek Augmentation Cheek Augmentation with Fat Grafting Cheek Implants Cheek Lift Chemical Peels Chin Augmentation CO2 lasers Cool Lipo CoolSculpting CoolTone Crowns Dental Bonding Dental Implants Dimpleplasty Diode Laser Dysport embrace Active Scar Defense Emsculpt Endermologie Endoscopic Browlift Endoscopic Facelift Endoscopic Tummy Tuck Erbium Lasers Exilis Ultra 360 Eyelift Eyelift with Fat Grafting Face Facelift Facelift with Fat Grafting FaceTite Fat Melters and Fat Reducers Fat Transfer Forma Fractional CO2 lasers Fractional Resurfacing Lasers Fractora Glycolic Peels Glytone Enhanced Brightening Cream Gum Dermabrasion Gum Lift Hair Hair Removal Hair Transplant Hair-Loss Treatment Injectables & Fillers for Cheek Augmentation Injectables & Fillers for Eyelift Injectables & Fillers for Lip Enhancement Injectables And Fillers Injectables and Fillers with Fat Grafting Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Invisalign Isolaz Juvéderm Juvéderm Volbella Juvéderm Voluma Kybella Lactic Acid Peels Laser Liposuction Lasers Lateral Tension Tummy Tuck Limited Incision Facelift Lip Enhancement Lip Enhancement with Fat Grafting Lip Implant Lip Lift Liposculpture Liposuction Liquid Facelift Long Pulsed N: Yag laser Lower Blepharoplasty Lower Body Lift Lower eyelid surgery Lower Facelift MACS Lift Mandelic Peels Microdermabrasion Microinjection Microneedling Microwave Laser Treatment Mini Tummy Tuck Mini-Facelift Mommy Makeover Nd: Yag Neck Liposuction Necklift Nonsurgical Facelift Nonsurgical Rhinoplasty Obagi Blue Peel Otoplasty Perlane Phenol Peels Photobiomodulation Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) Photofacial PiQo4 Plasma Resurfacing Lasers Power Assisted Liposuction Prevelle Pulsed Dye Radiesse Radio Frequency with Microneedling Radio Frequency-Assisted Lipolysis Red Light Restylane Restylane Defyne Restylane Lyft Restylane Refyne Restylane Silk Revision Rhinoplasty Rhinoplasty Salicylic Peels SculpSure Sculptra Aesthetic Selphyl Silhouette Instalift Skin Skin Tighteners Skin Treatments Slim Lipo Smart Lipo SMAS facelift Smile Smile Makeover Smoothshapes Straightening Stretch Mark Treatments TCA Chemical Peels Teeth Whitening Thermage ThermiTight Thigh Lift Titan Tooth Contouring Traditional Facelift Tumescent Liposuction Tummy Tuck Ulthera Ultherapy Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction Umbilicoplasty Upper Blepharoplasty Upper eyelid surgery Vanquish ME VASER Lipo Vein Treatments Velashape Velasmooth Veneers Xeomin Search