9 best scalp acne shampoos for getting rid of bumps, spots, and redness (tested & reviewed)

You’re likely getting pimples on your scalp due to a mix of oil, dirt, and bacteria clogging your pores, leading to inflammation and zits. “Your scalp is an extension of the skin on your face,” says trichologist Lorna Jones, which means it's incredibly common for pimples to be found “on your face, chest, back, and sometimes even your scalp,” she says. Of course, acne can be caused by several other factors, including harmless bacteria already found on the skin, hormones, excess oil, and blockage of your hair follicles.”

To clear scalp acne, your first line of defense should be keeping your scalp clean and free of build-up with regular shampooing (even once a week, if you’re working with type-4 hair). And no, dry shampoo doesn't count. Product build-up and scalp oils are major causes of scalp acne, so wash your hair a minimum of once a week with a medicated shampoo containing salicylic acid or tea tree oil to help reduce clogged pores.

It’s also crucial that you wash your pillowcases and headscarves twice a week to make sure you’re not redistributing oils and grime back onto your scalp. Don’t feel like changin’ the sheets so often? I highly recommend buying a set of cheap pillowcases and swapping them out every week instead—which, FYI, can also benefit your facial breakouts too.

Just know that it might take more than a single shampoo to treat your scalp acne—especially if your acne is due to hormones or your zits are painful and cystic—in which case you’ll need to see your dermatologist for a targeted treatment plan that can range from medicated shampoos to oral medications.

A scalp acne breakout can last one to two weeks if it's due to hormones or an allergic reaction, or it may come and go if you’re naturally acne-prone. Still, a medicated scalp shampoo with salicylic acid, tea tree oil, or antifungals may help decrease scalp acne within four weeks of consistent use. If not, you may need to try a new formula or make an appointment with your dermatologist.

No, you should not pop or pick at your scalp acne. When you try to pop a pimple on your scalp, you increase the risk of the zit becoming more inflamed, painful, and even infected. Popping zits also tends to spread acne-causing bacteria around your skin and scalp, which can lead to even more breakouts over time. If you do have a single, super-inflamed whitehead you’re looking to pop, try spot-treating it with a dab of salicylic acid toner and a Q-tip twice a day instead.

In a magical world where nobody’s hair ever dried out, you would ideally wash your hair every day or every other day for scalp acne, says board-certified dermatologist Diane Madfes, MD. If you have a very oily scalp and fine hair that doesn’t dry out easily, you can wash daily with a sulfate-filled shampoo and likely still have soft, smooth hair. However, those with already dry or damaged hair should stick to their regular wash schedule and add in a salicylic acid-based shampoo once a week to mitigate zits.

To avoid additional dryness, focus all your shampoo at the roots of your hair and limit sulfate-filled formulas to once a week or every other week, if possible. A deep conditioner and a moisturizing leave-in conditioner will also be your best defense against dryness, especially if you’re working with curly hair, so try to incorporate them into every wash day.

Pick active acne-treating ingredients

For your regular scalp acne shampoo, trichologist Dominic Burg says you should look for “a sulfate-free shampoo that’s formulated with anti-inflammatory ingredients,” like tea tree oil, which can help soothe your scalp and even help kill some acne-causing bacteria.

But for a weekly treatment to get rid of scalp pimples, look for active ingredients like salicylic acid (an exfoliant that breaks down oil that could clog pores), zinc (an anti-inflammatory to reduce redness and bumps), and AHAs (like glycolic acid and lactic acid to exfoliate bumpy textures).

Avoid potential pore-clogging or irritating ingredients

Everyone responds to ingredients differently, so there is some trial and error involved here. But if you know that your face breaks out easily from oils (like mineral oil and coconut oil), you should limit the use of oils on your scalp, just in case it’s contributing to your scalp acne. Similarly, if you’re sensitive to fragrances or specific ingredients, you should avoid them in your shampoo, too, just to be certain you’re not breaking out from irritation.

Look for leave-on formulas

Scalp acne shampoos are often loaded with harsh surfactants and active ingredients that can strip dry, damaged, curly, or 4c hair. If your hair can’t handle these formulas, but you still need active ingredients to get rid of your zits, try opting for a leave-on salicylic acid serum or a tea tree oil treatment that can be massaged onto your scalp a few times a week before showering.

• Diane Madfes, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York, NY and Greenwich, CT where she treats all skin conditions, including acne, rosacea, and melasma. She is also an attending physician at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC.
• Lorna Jones is the owner of Caring for Hair, a group of hair loss and scalp specialists, and a member of the International Association of Trichologists. Jones specializes in many hair and scalp conditions—including hair thinning and CCCA alopecia—and has written her debut book, If Only Hair Could Talk, detailing her own experiences with hair loss.
• Dominic Burg is a chief scientist, hair biologist, and certified trichologist at Evolis Professional, Burg was a key member in creating the Évolis hair care line.