Can dandruff shampoo cure acne: The myth explained by beauty experts

It turns out the world-wide-web was on to something when people started praising dandruff shampoo as a skin treatment remedy. The dermatologist-authorized trick specifically targets fungal acne breakouts and can help clear up the indicators of yeast-derived breakouts.

To obtain out if it is suitable for you, we spoke to dermatologists about what precisely fungal acne is, how dandruff shampoo can assist and what goods to consider.

If you’ve found stubborn and itchy bumps below the skin that don’t appear to be to go away with classic pimples goods, it could possibly be fungal pimples. Brought on by malassezia yeast, this is also recognised as pityrosporum folliculitis and it differs from acne vulgaris, or the typical variety of pimples we normally consider of when we see blemishes.

“Fungal pimples is a popular misnomer as the affliction is not definitely acne,” points out Dr. Ramya Garlapati, a Los Angeles-dependent board-accredited dermatologist and co-founder of Skin Medicinals. “It’s really a folliculitis, or an infection of the hair follicles, owing to an overgrowth of yeast and thus the affliction does not react to conventional acne remedies.”

As an alternative, fungal acne breakouts desires to be taken care of with antifungal brokers that can fight the proliferation of yeast in the hair follicles.

Procedure for fungal pimples can involve above-the-counter skin treatment products and oral medicine, as perfectly as the not-so-top secret life hack of making use of anti-dandruff shampoo. Both dermatologists we spoke to, as perfectly as a lot of others on social media, have verified its efficacy at managing the ailment.

“Using dandruff shampoos as a face or system cleanser to deal with fungal-connected skin conditions this sort of as fungal pimples or seborrheic dermatitis is basically a little something I suggest to my people,” suggests Garlapati. But just before making an attempt the viral craze, Garlapati reminds us that it is still “important to to start with have your skin problem assessed by a dermatologist to make sure it is a fungal-connected situation.”

Advantages of dandruff shampoo for fungal acne breakouts

Dandruff is brought on by the same malassezia yeast that is at the root of fungal acne, so anti-dandruff solutions and scalp care treatment plans can also be made use of to target the pores and skin problem.

“Anti-dandruff shampoos that have energetic elements that have antifungal qualities such as zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide and ketoconazole are most powerful at managing fungal acne,” Garlapati states. “You really do not will need to look for for a pores and skin treatment product or service that includes these components, as an anti-dandruff shampoo can also be utilized as a experience or human body cleanser.”

And even though there are above-the-counter and prescription-strength alternatives, the dandruff shampoo that you will obtain in the hair treatment aisle of your drugstore will do the trick. Board-accredited dermatologist Dr. Jenny Liu claims that widespread name manufacturers, this sort of as Nizoral (containing ketoconazole) and Head and Shoulders (that contains pyrithione zinc) are safe and sound to use on your encounter.

Facet effects of using dandruff shampoo on pores and skin

As with any pores and skin or hair treatment solution, there is a chance of discomfort, so often patch test on a little location absent from your confront, like your arm, ahead of utilizing dandruff shampoo as a experience clean. Nizoral also lists rash as a probable facet influence, and you must halt use if just one appears in the dealt with spot.

In addition, Liu notes that dandruff shampoos “can be drying, so I recommend restricting use to a handful of times weekly.”

How to use dandruff shampoo for fungal acne breakouts

Once you have grabbed your anti-dandruff shampoo of preference, you can use it as a experience clean or mask to address fungal pimples. “The essential when utilizing the product is to lather it up and let it to sit on the skin for a handful of minutes prior to rinsing it off,” Garlapati says. “The shampoo ought to not be right away washed off as the product requires to be in make contact with with the skin for a few minutes for the therapy to be powerful.” Liu recommends executing this in the shower as it’s simplest to include into your program.