Basically, seborrheic dermatitis is a more intense and extreme form of dandruff that occurs due to the same factors. If you know what steps to take, it is treatable.
It looks like dandruff: you have flakes, itching, and irritation. However, seborrheic dermatitis is a little stronger than typical dandruff, and you may need a different treatment. Here's how to find a shampoo for seborrheic dermatitis.
Seborrheic dermatitis is more severe than dandruff, therefore, you need something stronger to treat it
Sure, anti-dandruff shampoo will help you get rid of dandruff, but if you have already tried Head & Shoulders with zinc pyrithione (ZPT), then you need to try a shampoo specifically designed for seborrheic dermatitis.
Do I need a prescription? No, you don't need a prescription. You can get over-the-counter shampoo for seborrheic dermatitis that works just as well as prescription shampoos¹.
Products designed to treat seborrheic dermatitis contain different active ingredients and not all are equally effective. So it's important that you choose the right one.
Head & Shoulders Clinical Strength shampoo contains selenium sulfide as an active ingredient, providing you with flake protection with the power of a prescription product.¹
It is our most effective shampoo and eliminates more flakes faster than common anti-dandruff shampoos². It fights severe dandruff from the first wash and helps prevent itching and redness.
Selenium sulfide is even more effective against dandruff than zinc pyrithione, the active ingredient in our common anti-dandruff shampoos.
Selenium sulfide prevents scalp irritation caused by a scalp microbe called Malassezia, so the body can return to normal.
It is the most potent dandruff relief available without a prescription.
Use it at least twice a weekAccording to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), you should use clinical strength shampoo twice a week for it to be effective, so most people will not have to modify their bathing routine to accommodate this.
However, to better combat the problem of seborrheic dermatitis, use this medicated shampoo every time you wash your hair..
Alternating washes with a cosmetic shampoo will remove the active ingredient, selenium sulfide, and interfere with dandruff treatment.
What about the scent? Medicated shampoos have had a bad reputation in the past for having a medicinal smell. Many of these use ingredients like coal tar that have a strong aroma that is difficult to mask.
Our selenium sulfide formula doesn't have that scent. It smells like shampoo. Because that's what it is: it's designed to do all the things a good shampoo should do, so you can use it regularly to help fight flakes.
More information about seborrheic dermatitis
¹ vs. prescription anti-dandruff shampoo with 2% ketoconazole ² vs. anti-dandruff shampoo with 1% zinc pyrithione
