How to cure dry scalp and dandruff

This article was medically reviewed by Caroline Chang, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and member of the Prevention Medical Review Board, on January 3, 2020.

If you’re dealing with a dry scalp, you know just how itchy and even embarrassing it can be. It's also 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 NewYork-Presbyterian.

A dry scalp means the surface layer of skin cells on your scalp is compromised, allowing moisture to escape. What can you do about it? We tapped top dermatologists to break down the possible causes behind your discomfort—and the remedies that will bring relief ASAP.

What causes a dry scalp, exactly?

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. 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, she says.

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,” says Dr. Lipner.

Cold weather

Just like the skin on your legs, arms, or face becomes dry when the 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.

How to get rid of a dry scalp

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 OTC 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. There are a few active ingredients that address the yeast that may contribute to dandruff, including pyrithione zinc, selenium sulfide, and ketoconazole. They’re also all easy to find in drugstore shampoos, including the following:

Pyrithione Zinc

Head & Shoulders Classic Clean Daily Shampoo (Twin Pack)Credit: Amazon

Selenium Sulfide

Selsun Blue Medicated Maximum Strength Dandruff Shampoo

Now 21% Off

Ketoconazole

Nizoral A-D Anti-Dandruff ShampooCredit: Amazon

Pyrithione Zinc

Vanicream Free & Clear Medicated Anti-Dandruff ShampooCredit: Amazon

2. Then, 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.

3. 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.

4. Or, you may actually need to wash 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.

5. 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.

SULFATE-FREE

Free & Clear Shampoo and Conditioner for Sensitive SkinCredit: Amazon

FRAGRANCE-FREE

DHS Clear ShampooCredit: Dermstore

FRAGRANCE-FREE

DHS Conditioning RinseCredit: Dermstore

SALICYLIC ACID

Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic ShampooCredit: Walmart

6. Try a salicylic acid shampoo.

Your favorite acne-fighter may do wonders for your dry scalp too. A salicylic acid shampoo, like Neutrogena’s T/Sal Therapeutic 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.

7. Smooth on a coconut oil mask.

There are a number of scalp-specific beauty products you can buy that claim to use topical moisturizers, like hyaluronic acid, to hydrate the area. However, they can also be pricey—and they probably won’t make much of a difference, says Dr. Mehlis. Instead, she recommends an oil soak to soothe a dry scalp. “I like coconut oil because it has nice anti-inflammatory properties,” she says.

If your hair is long enough, you can apply 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, she says, is getting it out in the morning. Massage a gentle shampoo into your scalp on dry hair before going into the shower, which will help pull the oil out easier, says Dr. Mehlis.

8. 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.

9. See your dermatologist.

If you’ve tried a couple shampoos and you don’t start to get relief after a week or so, then call your doctor or dermatologist, advises Dr. Lipoff.

They have prescription-strength treatments, like a prescription dandruff shampoo, topical steroids, or topical vitamin D (in the case of psoriasis), depending on the underlying problem, adds Dr. Mehlis.

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Jessica Migala is a health writer specializing in general wellness, fitness, nutrition, and skincare, with work published in Women’s Health, Glamour, Health, Men’s Health, and more. She is based in the Chicago suburbs and is a mom to two little boys and rambunctious rescue pup.

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