How to choose
Active ingredient first: ketoconazole 2% has the best evidence for dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis — it's antifungal, so it treats the cause. Zinc pyrithione (ZPT) and selenium sulfide are milder alternatives; coal-tar suits scaly build-up. Combination shampoos (ketoconazole + ZPT, like Scalpe Plus) cover both. Second, the base: medicated shampoos can be drying, so a conditioning base matters if you wash often — or simply follow with a normal conditioner on the lengths, keeping the medicated lather on the scalp. Third, contact time is the real secret: lather, leave on the scalp for 5 minutes, then rinse. Used as a normal quick-rinse shampoo, even the right active underperforms. Twice a week for 4 weeks is the standard course; after that, once a week or fortnight keeps it away. If there's no improvement after 4 weeks of correct use, stop guessing — see a doctor or dermatologist.
Who really needs this
Anyone with persistent flaking, itching, or an oily-scalp build-up that returns after regular shampoos. Seborrhoeic dermatitis (flaking with red, greasy patches around the hairline, brows, or nose folds) responds to the same antifungals but deserves a doctor's confirmation. Not for: children (see a paediatrician first), scalp psoriasis (thick silvery plaques), or any scalp that's raw, weeping, or infected — those need a clinical review, not a stronger shampoo.




















