5 Best Shampoos For Acne Prone Scalp That Actually Get The Job Done

5 Best Shampoos For Acne Prone Scalp

In our dedication to helping you end your skin breakouts, whether they’re on your face or scalp, we’re listing down the best shampoos for oily acne prone scalp in this article. We’ve spent a lot of hours and went through 20 different products to make sure that we only bring the best ones to the table. They were ranked based on their ingredients, ability to control oil and acne-preventing properties.

Doctor's Choice

5 Best Shampoos For Acne Prone Scalp That Actually Get The Job Done

Neutrogena T/Sal Shampoo, 4.5 Ounces Neutrogena T/Sal Shampoo, 4.5 Ounces

Other Products

5 Best Shampoos For Acne Prone Scalp That Actually Get The Job Done

Eau Thermale Avene XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cream

Other Products

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo

At  A Glance: Our Choices For The Best Shampoos For Acne-Prone Skin

If you are looking for something organic, Naked Bee Orange Blossom Honey Shampoo and Conditioner is highly recommended. It can get rid of the dirt and excess oil on your scalp without leaving it dry.

It does have an orange blossom scent. It can be refreshing or too harsh, depending on your nose's tolerance.

Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Scalp Acne Shampoo contains salicylic acid. It's medicated and created specifically for people struggling with scalp acne.

It's meant to be used a couple of times a week. To avoid the associated dryness, you can follow it up with a non-oily conditioner.

Maple Holistic Degrease can’t only cleanse your hair and scalp. It can also minimize the size of the pores on your scalp as well as bring back its natural pH.

Sebamed Everyday Shampoo is a good choice when it comes to scalp acne since it doesn't disrupt the scalp's natural pH and balance. It can leave your hair softer and your scalp moisturized.

Its scent, however, can be a major con for some people.

Anti-B Antibacterial Shampoo has the ability to soothe inflammation as well as any redness. It does a good job in relieving itch, too.

Brand

Key Features

  • Main Action: Cleans scalp without drying it
  • Scent: Orange blossom honey scent
  • Packaging: Squeeze tube
  • Main Action: Relieves itchy scalp, controls oil
  • Scent: No scent
  • Packaging: Bottle
  • Main Action: Removes oil and grease build up on the scalp
  • Scent: “Earth-y”
  • Packaging: Bottle
  • Main Action: Preserves scalp’s natural oils and pH
  • Scent: Somewhat similar to scent of hair colorants
  • Packaging: Bottle
  • Main Action: Control inflammation
  • Scent: Lemon
  • Packaging: Bottle

Here’s the full scoop on the best shampoo for acne-prone skin.

#1 Naked Bee Orange Blossom Honey Shampoo and Conditioner

Naked Bee Orange Blossom Honey Shampoo and Conditioner is perfect for people who like multi-purpose products. Since the product already has cleansing and moisturizing properties, you’ll only need to keep one bottle with you while you shower.

The Naked Bee

Although convenient, this combination might not be enough, particularly if you have dry hair. Some of its customers actually think that there’s not enough conditioner in the formulation.

As a solution, you can try leaving it on your hair longer to give this shampoo and conditioner combo enough time to do its magic.

The product is non-comedogenic and made with 70% organic ingredients. It’s hypoallergenic, too.

It has organic aloe vera, honey and spirulina. These ingredients are great in nourishing the scalp while leaving the hair shiny and healthy.

As a shampoo, it lathers well but not as much as commercial shampoos. It has a nice scent, too.

What We Like

  • Noncomedogenic and hypoallergenic
  • Made with 70% organic ingredients
  • Refreshing scent
  • Leaves hair shiny

What We Didn't Like

  • Conditioner may not be enough for some
  • Fragrance can be a bit too strong
Neutrogen

Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Scalp Acne Shampoo is a medicated shampoo containing 3% salicylic acid. It’s initially created to help treat seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis.

However, because of its active ingredient, the product also works well in preventing scalp breakouts. A lot of its users find it helpful in relieving itchy scalp, too

This Neutrogena acne shampoo has no fragrance or preservatives. It’s thick in consistency and clear in color.

It’s recommended to use the product three times a week. It can, however, be used every day but you must anticipate getting dry hair with that.

To keep your hair moisturized, you can use a non-oily conditioner after. Another good tip is to keep the product to your scalp where it’s most needed.

What We Like

  • Contains salicylic acid
  • Effective in controlling
  • No fragrance

What We Didn't Like

  • Can be drying to the hair
  • Can be a bit difficult to completely wash off
Maple Holistics

Oily and greasy hair are two things that can easily trigger acne. To make sure that doesn’t happen to you, try Maple Holistic Degrease.

It contains lemon essential oil to to restore your scalp’s natural sebum and pH. It can also alleviate itch and hydrate your hair follicles.

One of the nice things this shampoo can do is minimize large pores. This can help prevent clogging, which often ends up in scalp breakouts.

The product contains all natural ingredients. It doesn’t have sulfates, parabens and silicone.

Its hypoallergenic formula can work well for those with sensitive skin, too.

Take note, however, that the product is formulated for cleansing and not conditioning. If you have thick and frizzy hair, you might want to invest in a good condition.

But, make sure you only condition the ends. Applying conditioner on your scalp can lead to product buildup which can clog your pores.

Things We Liked

  • Contains natural ingredients
  • Has a hypoallergenic formula
  • Restores scalp’s pH
  • Minimizes pores

Things We Didn't Like

  • Doesn’t condition hair
  • Smells “earthy”
Healthy Hair Plus

Anti-B Antibacterial Shampoo contains lemon essential oil, witch hazel and aloe vera. The combination of these ingredients make the product highly effective in inhibiting bacterial growth as well as tone down inflammation.

The shampoo also works well in soothing any itching and redness. It works to replenish vitamins, too.

The product contains no sulfates, which make it a good match even for those with sensitive skin. It does, however, have a subtle lemon scent.

Although it isn’t that overpowering, it’s something you have to consider, particularly if you have a really sensitive sense of smell.

Take note that it can potentially dry out your hair. To remedy this, make sure you have a quality conditioner around.

Things We Liked

  • Can fight bacteria
  • Can tone down redness and irritation
  • Stops itch

Things We Didn't Like

  • Scented
  • Can dry out hair

Reviews And Comparisons Of The Best Shampoos For Acne Prone Skin

Rankings

Best Overall

2nd choice

3rd choice

4th choice

Top-Rated Shampoos For Acne Prone Skin 2017

The Naked Bee
Neutrogen
Maple Holistics
Sebamed

Brand

Main Action

Cleans scalp without drying, 70% organic made

Relieves itchy scalp, controls oil, has Salicylic acid

Removes oil and grease build up on the scalp

Preserves scalp’s natural oils and pH

Scent

Orange blossom honey scent

No scent

“Earthy”

Somewhat similar to scent of hair colorants

Quantity

6.7 fl oz

4.5 fl oz

8 oz

6.8 fl oz

Coverage

Squeeze tube

Bottle

Bottle

Bottle

Get Started

What Makes The Best Shampoo For Acne Prone Scalp

Listen:

Have you ever heard of Pomade Acne?

Don’t laugh. It’s actually a thing- a pretty common thing.

Much like how pomade can cause acne, using the wrong shampoo can also trigger breakouts in your skin.

Acne, as we all know, is caused by a lot of factors. Just think about clogged pores, dirt and excess oil. And your hair products count, too.

When you use a shampoo, it’s not enough that you consider its scent or its ability to lather on your hair. More than the cleaning properties of shampoos, you should also be conscious of their ingredients.

Your scalp, much like the skin on your face, can react negatively when exposed to the wrong products. Here are some of the things you need to keep in mind when picking the best shampoo for acne prone scalp.

Organic

When a hair product or shampoo is made from organic ingredients, there’s a good chance that it doesn’t contain any preservatives or chemicals that can irritate your skin. In fact, most organic ingredients have properties that can help address your scalp acne.

Tea tree, for example, has antibacterial properties that can help get rid of the bacteria on your scalp. Other great natural ingredients for scalp acne are aloe vera and green tea.

Sulfate-free

Sulfate is typically added to shampoos and soaps to increase these products’ foaming properties.

Although it helps them lather up well, it’s actually a nasty ingredient. It can cause irritation, dryness and stinging when it comes in contact with your eyes.

Sulfate can also aggravate any existing scalp condition you may have.

Silicone Free

Recognizing silicone ingredients in your shampoo can be a bit difficult, particularly if you’re not familiar with them. As a basic rule, you should look out for ingredients that end with “-cone”- like cyclomethicone.

But, here’s the thing:

Not all silicone ingredients are bad for your skin. Those that aren’t water soluble tend to leave residues on your skin and scalp that can contribute to scalp acne.

In short, you have to stick with silicones that are water soluble so that when you rinse off your shampoo, there won’t be any product left to clog your pores or irritate your scalp.

One good tip is to look for silicones that start with PEG. Hydroxypropyl Polysiloxane and Lauryl Methicone Copolyol are good, too.

How To Prevent Scalp Acne

Aside from choosing the best shampoo for acne prone scalp, here are some of the things you can do to prevent breakouts in your scalp:

  • Wash your hair every other day to preserve its natural oils.
  • If you have oily scalp or you use too much hair products, wash your hair every day.
  • Avoid wearing tight hair accessories.
  • Try to avoid scratching your scalp, especially with dirty fingers and nails.
  • Find a way to relieve stress and anxiety.
  • Use products containing salicylic acid or glycolic acid to provide mild exfoliation on your scalp.

Conclusion

There are a lot of factors that can cause scalp acne. Remember, it’s not just your shampoo.

However, if you want to avoid further breakouts, you should consider replacing your shampoo, particularly if it isn’t doing any good for your scalp. For this list, we’re considering Naked Bee Orange Blossom Honey Shampoo and Conditioner as the best shampoo for acne prone scalp.

It does a great job in cleansing scalp and preventing breakouts- all without drying your hair out.

 Recommendation by Doctor

5 Best Shampoos For Acne Prone Scalp That Actually Get The Job Done

Product Recommendation

 Acne rarely appears on the scalp. When you see a pimple-like lesion on the scalp, it is most likely to be folliculitis. Both involved hair follicle inflammation but have totally different causes.  Even the bacteria that are involved in each condition aren’t the same. But speaking of acne, if there is one shampoo that I would choose for individuals with acne prone skin, it would be Neutrogena T/Sal Shampoo. It has 3% salicylic acid that we all know is a medication for acne. Salicylic acid can strip off excess sebum from the skin and unclog pores or remove white- and blackheads. It is also a keratolytic thus prevents scalp flaking, making this product also great for scalp psoriasis and dandruff. This product is meant to be applied on the scalp at least twice a week or as instructed by your trusted dermatologist. To avoid hair dryness, use a conditioner.

Image credits: Amazon.com

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Dr Kathleen May Eusebio-Alpapara

A board-certified dermatologist who practices both medical and cosmetic dermatology

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