7 Best Dandruff Shampoos in 2025, Ranked by Dermatologists | U.S. News (2025)

What Are OTC Dandruff Treatments?

Over-the-counter dandruff treatments are shampoos used once or more per week (sometimes per day) to fight dandruff.

Ingredients that are effective at fighting dandruff and that you'll often find in dandruff shampoos include:

Here’s a little more background about some of the most common dandruff-fighting shampoo ingredients:

Ciclopirox

Ciclopirox is an ingredient used to treat seborrheic dermatitis, a chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes oily spots and scaly patches on the scalp. Seborrheic dermatitis also can cause recurrent dandruff.

Coal tar

Coal tar can be effective at fighting dandruff but it has a strong scent that may take some getting used to, says Dr. Anne Truitt, a board-certified dermatologist with Skin Surgery Medical Group in San Diego.

Ketoconazole

Ketoconazole is an antifungal. Plan to use it up to three times a week or as often as the label recommends. You may need to do more to moisturize your hair when using ketoconazole as it can be drying, says Dr. Steve Daveluy, an associate professor and program director of Wayne State University's Department of Dermatology in Detroit.

Selenium sulfide

Although this active ingredient is effective, it can cause a yellow-brown discoloration on white, gray or dyed blonde hair. “Rinsing it out thoroughly can prevent this," Daveluy says.

Salicylic acid

Some dandruff shampoos use salicylic acid combined with another topical medication so the shampoo removes the flakes and the medication gets to the scalp.

Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is an essential oil that can reduce the symptoms of dandruff and help stop the buildup of oil associated with dandruff.

Zinc pyrithione

Zinc pyrithione can be helpful for both dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. If you choose this product, plan to use it three to four times a week and then a regular shampoo on other days you would wash your hair.

How Should I Use OTC Dandruff Treatment?

Use an OTC dandruff treatment just as you would any other shampoo for cleansing your hair. Here are a few tips to help you use an OTC dandruff shampoo effectively:

Side Effects of OTC Dandruff Treatment

Each ingredient geared toward dandruff treatment may have potential side effects. Generally speaking, side effects of OTC dandruff treatment can include:

Seek medical attention if you experience swelling, hives or trouble breathing after using an OTC dandruff treatment.

Precautions for OTC Dandruff Treatment

Here are some tips and precautions to keep in mind when using anti-dandruff shampoos.

What Is Dandruff?

Dandruff occurs when the skin on your scalp scales or flakes off. Not only does it cause oiliness and itchiness, but it creates those annoying white flakes you may see on your clothes.

Dandruff is a common condition, affecting about 50% of the population, according to a 2023 report in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science.

Dandruff involves a yeast that lives on everyone’s skin, as well as sebum, a type of oil made by the body. Sebum on the scalp protects our hair, which is why dandruff can appear on the scalp. Skin then reacts to the yeast by causing flaking, itch and redness.

However, the exact cause of dandruff is unknown.

“We don’t know why some people dandruff and others don’t,” Daveluy says.

Dandruff can be more common in people with:

Although dandruff is definitely annoying, it’s not contagious. Usually, it can be treated without seeing a health care professional. However, dandruff also can be confused with:

Since the signs of dandruff can be similar to the signs of other conditions, it's important to see a dermatologist if you try dandruff shampoos and they don't help.

OTC Dandruff Natural Remedies

If you'd like to try to get rid of your dandruff without using a dandruff shampoo, you can incorporate these ingredients into your hair care routine:

How to Treat Dandruff In Kids

For most kids over the age of 2, it's OK to use a dandruff shampoo if needed. Read the instructions on the shampoo packaging, and ask a health care provider if you have any questions.

If you have a child under age 2 with dandruff, talk to a health care professional for guidance.

When to See a Health Care Provider AboutDandruff

You should see a health care professional, like a dermatologist, if you are using an over-the-counter treatment for dandruff and it's not getting better after about a month or if it's getting worse.

“Dandruff is usually a lifelong condition,” says Dr. Sandy Marchese Johnson, a dermatologist with Johnson Dermatology in Fort Smith, Arkansas. “When you treat it, you should see results within one week on average. When you stop treatment, it often recurs within a week.”

“Dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis can often be frustrating, and working with a dermatologist can help decrease that frustration,” Johnson says.

The Best OTC Medicine & Health Products are based on the reviews of nearly 500 independent pharmacists and dermatologists.

U.S. News partnered with The Harris Poll, a global market research and consulting firm with more than 65 years of experience conducting surveys. For the 2025 rankings, The Harris Poll randomly assigned 133 over-the-counter categories of health or personal care products to 357 pharmacists and 134 dermatologists who practice in the U.S. and asked them to rank their top three brands for each category based on what products they would most recommend to consumers.

Independence and transparency

Across the 133 categories that were evaluated, each category included between five and 10 products representing their respective brands that could be ranked. More than 1,100 products were included in the survey. The products included in each category were selected to represent their respective brands based on input by several independent pharmacists and dermatologists on our

. The list of products were finalized by the health editorial team to ensure all products can be purchased without a prescription and are readily available at most pharmacies or pharmacy sections of grocery stores in the U.S.

We independently evaluate the products we recommend. Brands do not pay to be included or ranked in our survey. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. The dermatologists and pharmacists who participated in the survey were paid a small honorarium by The Harris Poll for their time.

OTC category winners

Pharmacists and dermatologists selected their top three brands from representative products in each OTC category assigned to them. At least 112 dermatologists evaluated each skincare-related category and at least 108 pharmacists evaluated each of the other categories. For each evaluation, the top-ranked brand received 5 points, the second-place brand was awarded 3 points and the third-place brand earned 1 point. All unranked brands were given 0 points. Points were averaged for each brand. The results were then rescaled so the winner in each category scored 100 points, and the scores for other brands were expressed as percentages of the top score. Brands were then ranked according to their rescaled scores. Scores were rounded to the nearest whole number.

Category winners and brands that scored within the margin of error of the category winner and achieved a score of 80 or higher were given a Gold Badge in that category. The results: 196 brands received a Gold Badge. In total, 849 products are displayed. Brands that received a score of less than 10 were not included in the final display list. See our full methodology here.