Psoriasis is a common issue that causes skin cells to multiply quicker than normal. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, psoriasis in some form affects more than 7 million Americans. This can result in scaly, itchy, dry patches on the skin.
When you are faced with dealing with this uncomfortable condition on your scalp you will do almost anything to get some type of relief. One way to find some great relief is to use a shampoo that is formulated to help ease the symptoms associated with scalp psoriasis.
There are many options when it comes to a psoriasis shampoo, and they can be a bit overwhelming. Don’t worry, we have done the work to find the best psoriasis shampoos out there and this guide will show you how we compared them so you can choose the psoriasis shampoo that is right for you.
| Budget |
|---|
 |
| Neutrogena T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo Original Formula for Psoriasis |
| 4.2/5.0 |
| Shampoo & Conditioner: No |
| Medicated: Yes |
| Natural/ Organic: No |
| Affordable and proven effective. |
| Check Amazon |
| Best Value |
|---|
 |
| Dermarest Psoriasis Medicated Shampoo Plus Conditioner |
| 4.3/5.0 |
| Shampoo & Conditioner: Yes |
| Medicated: Yes |
| Natural/ Organic: No |
| Great Value 2-pack, Dermatologist tested. |
| Check Amazon |
| Top Pick |
|---|
 |
| Home Health Psoriasis Medicated Scalp and Body Wash |
| 5.0/5.0 |
| Shampoo & Conditioner: No |
| Medicated: Yes |
| Natural/ Organic: No |
| Gentle formula can be used for all over psoriasis symptoms. |
| Check Amazon |
Buying Guide
Finding the right kind of regular shampoo can be hard enough, let alone if you’re looking for a shampoothat is specifically designed to treat the symptoms associated with psoriasis. This guide will provide you with information on some of the common things that you can find in psoriasis shampoos to help you decide which one is right for you.
Medicated vs. Natural
When looking for a psoriasis shampoo, there are lots of opinions on what works and what doesn’t. The biggest disagreement seems to surround the use of medicated or natural shampoos to treat scalp psoriasis.
Medicated Shampoos: Medicated shampoos are shampoos that contain specific ingredients specifically designed or shown to target psoriatic symptoms. You will likely find a similar ingredient in prescription shampoos. Medicated shampoos contain these ingredients at much lower levels than required for a prescription.
Natural Shampoos: Over time, many have tried to find all-natural and organic ingredients that can effectively treat the symptoms associated with psoriasis. These symptoms include itchy, dry scalp, excessive and large dandruff, as well as scaly patches skin similar to calluses.Some of the most common natural ingredients in psoriasis shampoos as this time are aloe vera, coconut oil, tea tree oil, vitamin E, and vitamin A. If you are searching for a natural psoriasis shampoo, look for these ingredients.
Ingredients
There has been enough research and simple trial and error to show some of the most common ingredients found in shampoo that can help alleviate the symptoms of scalp psoriasis. Here are a few of those ingredients:
Coal Tar: Coal tar is a powerful liquid that is often added to psoriasis shampoo because of its anti-itch properties. However, you should be careful of the level of coal tar in the shampoo that you use and keep it away from children. If your shampoo contains coal tar, it will likely have a strong odor. To combat this, you may consider using another shampoo following treatment to offset the odor.
Coal tar shampoo should never be used when the skin on the scalp is blistered or broken and should be kept away from your eyes. Additionally, you want to avoid direct sunlight follow use.
Coconut Oil: Coconut Oil is the miracle of nature that helps to combat many of the symptoms that psoriasis sufferers face such as itching, dryness, and inflammation. Coconut oil contains good fats that help to moisturize the skin. Coconut oil is gentle enough that it can be used every day.
Sulfur: Sulfur is used to help the scales that psoriasis causes fall off easier. However, sulfur is a common allergy that many people are unaware they have, and you should be cautious if you could be allergic.
Salicylic Acid: Salicylic Acid helps to soften the skin buildup associated with psoriasis. It is not uncommon for callous like patches to form from psoriasis, especially in individuals who do not wash their hair often.
Clobetasol propionate: This is a topical steroid found in prescription-strength psoriasis shampoos. Known to reduce all symptoms associated with psoriasis, it is very effective for scaling.
Ketoconazole: Ketoconazole is a common ingredient found in dandruff shampoos. However, it has been found to be highly effective at reducing many of the symptoms associated with scalp psoriasis, such as redness and inflammation. Additionally, ketoconazole can prevent infections.
Blue lagoon algae: Blue lagoon algae is a tiny seawater plant that has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects on the skin and scalp. This ingredient is typically only found in high-end shampoos due to the limited resources, it tends to be expensive compared to other similar ingredients.
Zinc pyrithione: This is another ingredient more commonly associated with dandruff shampoos. So it should come as no surprise that somewhere it was tried on psoriasis. Zinc pyrithione has actually been showing to significantly reduce the skin cell growth that results in scaly psoriatic patches. This has been a fairly new development, so there are few psoriasis shampoos with this ingredient at this point, but in the future, we are sure to see it more in products design specifically for psoriasis.
Top 10 Best Shampoos for Psoriasis Comparison Table
| Product Name | Shampoo AND Conditioner | Medicated | Natural/ Organic | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Health | No | Yes | No | Check Price |
| Selenium Natural Organic | No | No | Yes | Check Price |
| Honeydew Cedarwood | No | No | Yes | Check Price |
| PsoriaTrax | No | Yes | No | Check Price |
| Dermarest | Yes | Yes | No | Check Price |
| Sphagnum Botanicals | No | No | Yes | Check Price |
| DermaSolve | Yes | Yes | No | Check Price |
| MG217 | Yes | Yes | No | Check Price |
| Neutrogena T/Gel | No | Yes | No | Check Price |
| Wild Naturals | Yes | No | Yes | Check Price |
10 Best Psoriasis Shampoos: Detaild Review
1. Home Health Psoriasis Medicated Scalp and Body Wash (Top Pick)
Editor’s Rating: 5.0/5.0
Home Health brings a medicated scalp and all over body wash that contains no artificial preservatives or added colors. This cleanser helps fight the itch redness and irritation caused by psoriasis. This wash contains 2% Salicylic acid as well as several other natural extracts formulated after years of research. The moisturizing base makes it gentle enough to be used as a body wash making this a great option for psoriasis sufferers.
The shampoo is backed by years of research in delivering natural skin care products for the entire family. Additionally, the shampoo contains no preservatives, parabens, mineral oil, petroleum products, animal products or byproducts, artificial colors, or artificial fragrances.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 2 x 8 oz. |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Specially formulated to combat psoriasis |
| Free of preservatives, parabens, and other harmful ingredients |
| Packed with natural moisturizers |
| Gentle enough for daily use |
| The Cons |
|---|
| May cause hair to dry out or frizz |
| Need a conditioner |
2. Selenium Natural Organic Shampoo
Editor’s Rating: 4.7/5.0
If an organic shampoo is what you are looking for then you have definitely found the right one in Selenium’s natural organic shampoo. Their shampoo is made with only 100% biodegradable ingredients packed with the essential oils and formulated for all hair types. The shampoo is gentle enough to be used every day. Further, this shampoo is formulated to fight the itch associated with dandruff and psoriasis, as well as increase blood circulation to the scalp.
The exclusive formula is designed to work both on the scalp and under the scalp to fight dandruff and heal psoriasis from the inside out. The organic extracts found in Selenium’s shampoo has been found to have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects andreduce irritationwhilemoisturizing the scalp.
Additional ingredients include sapropel extract, which helps to infuse the hair with important vitamins and minerals, as well as protein, which restores the structure of the hair making it stronger and healthier.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 8.5 oz. |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Organic Ingredients |
| Gentle enough for daily use |
| Free of preservatives, parabens, and other harmful ingredients |
| Hypoallergenic |
| 100% Biodegradable |
| The Cons |
|---|
| The smell may bother some |
| Need a conditioner |
3. Honeydew Anti-Dandruff Shampoo with Cedarwood, Tea Tree Oil, & Rosemary
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
Honeydew offers this premium and color safe shampoo that is free of preservatives, parabens, and other harmful ingredients. This 100% natural shampoo contains cedarwood, tea tree oil, and rosemary.
Additionally, this shampoo is packed with rich amino acids and antioxidants such as vitamin E and vitamin A. Pure Jojoba oil and high-grade keratin helps to moisturize the scalp and is gentle enough to be used every day.
Though the shampoo was originally designed only to treat dandruff, the time has shown that it has worked remarkably well as a natural and safe method of treating psoriasis. Also, the ingredients in thisHoneydew shampoo are so gentle, you can easily use this as a daily shampoo as well as for treating psoriasis. It is also great for use on all hair types, colors, and textures.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 8 oz. |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Packed with amino acids and antioxidants like vitamin E and vitamin A |
| Organic Ingredients |
| Gentle enough for daily use |
| Free of preservatives, parabens, and other harmful ingredients |
| The Cons |
|---|
| The strong musky scent may be overwhelming |
| Does not reduce dandruff |
4. PsoriaTrax Coal Tar Psoriasis Shampoo
Editor’s Rating: 4.3/5.0
PsoriaTrax shampoo is the strongest Coal Tar shampoo available on the market. This steroid-free formula contains a 25% Coal Tar solution that equals 5% Coal Tar. Unlike other shampoos, this medicated shampoo is strong enough to go up to a week between treatments. This shampoo was created by a psoriasis sufferer for fellow sufferers.
Users should take caution when using this shampoo as it is a very strong formula. It is absolutely not to be used on other parts of the body, or for treating young children. Additionally, special attention should be paid to see if there are any negative reactions to the strong formula.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 12 oz. |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Powerful 25% Coal Tar solution |
| Clears plaque psoriasis quickly |
| The Cons |
|---|
| The strong solution may cause irritation |
| Strong Coal Tar odor |
| Need a conditioner |
5. Dermarest Psoriasis Medicated Shampoo Plus Conditioner (Best Value)
Editor’s Rating: 4.3/5.0
Dermarestoffers one of the only medicated psoriasis shampoos that has built-in conditioners to soften and soothethe scalp. This shampoo is fragrance-free and contains 3% Salicylic acid and zinc; ingredients proven to effectively treat psoriasis. Additionally, this shampoo is recognized by the National Psoriasis Foundation.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 2 x 8 oz. |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Contains 3% Salicylic acid |
| Dermatologist test |
| Recognized by the National Psoriasis Foundation |
| Gentle enough for daily use |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Takes time to see results |
6. Sphagnum BotanicalsNatural Eczema and Psoriasis Shampoo
Editor’s Rating: 4.2/5.0
Sphagnum Botanicals is a 100% natural and organic shampoo. This shampoo contains a blend of balneological peat and argan oil that hydrates and nourishes the scalp while providing a deep clean. This shampoo contains no Coal Tar, which the manufacturer claimsare carcinogenic.
Though the shampoo was originally designed only to treat dandruff, the time has shown that it has worked remarkably well as a natural and safe method of treating psoriasis. Also, the ingredients in thisSphagnum Botanicals shampoo are so gentle, you can easily use this as a daily shampoo as well as for treating psoriasis. It is also great for use on all hair types, colors, and textures.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 8.45 oz. |
| The Pros |
|---|
| 100% natural and organic ingredients |
| Balneological peat and argan oil |
| Hypoallergenic |
| Free of preservatives, parabens, and other harmful ingredients |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Not recommended for color treated hair |
| Need a conditioner |
7. DermaSolve Medicated Shampoo Plus Conditioner
Editor’s Rating: 4.2/5.0
DermaSolve Medicated shampoo plus conditioner is a doctor recommended psoriasis shampoo specifically formulated with 3% Salicylic acid to help eliminate scalp psoriasis symptoms, such as dandruff, dry scalp, and itchiness.
This shampoo is made with proprietary Ovasome Technology that provides numerous vitamins, minerals, and proteins to heal that body and leave hair soft, manageable, and conditioned. The steroid-free, fragrance-free formula is safe to use on color treated hair and gentle enough to use every day.
The convenient two- pack means that you won’t run out of shampoo and conditioner anytime soon.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 2 x 8 oz. |
| The Pros |
|---|
| 3% Salicylic acid shampoo |
| Steroid and Fragrance-free |
| Safe for color treated hair |
| Gentle enough for daily use |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Repeated use needed to see results |
8. MG217Therapeutic Shampoo + Conditioner
Editor’s Rating: 4.2/5.0
MG217 is a medicated shampoo with a built-in conditioner made with 3% Salicylic acid to soften psoriatic scaling on the scalp. This shampoo is designed to relieve itching, scaling, flaking, redness, and irritation associated with psoriasis. This powerful treatment has been recognized by the National Psoriasis Foundation and is designed to work in conjunction with other psoriasis products.
Additionally, this shampoo + conditioner is not meant to be used as a stand-alone treatment, but rather as part of an overall treatment plan designed to treat the different types of psoriasis on all area of the body.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 8 oz. |
| The Pros |
|---|
| 3% Salicylic acid shampoo |
| Recognized by the National Psoriasis Foundation |
| Rinse clean conditioning formula |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Designed as part of a treatment plan, not intended for the sole treatment |
9. Neutrogena T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo (Best Budget)
Editor’s Rating: 4.2/5.0
Neutrogena, a well-known name in skin care brings you their T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo. This was the first therapeutic shampoo on the market specifically designed to treat the itching and flaking associated with psoriasis. Recommended #1 by dermatologists, this shampoo contains0.5% Coal Tar. It is designed to treat acute psoriasis symptoms as well as maintain a healthy scalp.
Cannot be used in conjunction with ultraviolet light therapy. Users are cautioned against prolonged exposer to direct sunlight as well. This is a therapeutic shampoo only and is not intended to treat psoriasis on other parts of the body.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 16 oz. |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Recommended #1 by dermatologists |
| 0.5% Coal Tar |
| First therapeutic shampoo for psoriasis |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Must avoid direct sunlight |
| Cannot be used with ultraviolet light therapy |
| Need a conditioner |
10. Wild Naturals Eczema & Psoriasis Shampoo and Conditioner
Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0
Wild Naturals offers their psoriasis shampoo and separate conditioner as a non-medicated and natural alternative. This ultra-concentrated shampoo contains no water. The pH balanced at 5.5 formula contains Manuka honey from New Zealand, that has shown to assist with the body’s natural healing.
Other ingredients includeorganic aloe vera to soothe and moisturize, and cehami to quickly stop itching and redness. This shampoo is gentle enough to use on children and babies and can be used everyday.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 8 oz. + 8 oz. |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Non-medicated |
| All-natural condensed formula |
| pH balanced at 5.5, which matches hair and skin |
| Steroid and chemical-free |
| The Cons |
|---|
| The concentrated formula does not lather well |
Tips for Using Psoriasis Shampoo
Anyone who suffers from psoriasis understands the constant struggle to find products that not only work but offer reliable, repeatable results time after time. When it comes to using a psoriasis shampoo, there are a few differences in how you should use it compared to regular shampoos. These differences may vary depending on the severity of your psoriasis, but overall are good tips to follow.
Do Not Scrub: Your first instinct may be to scrub at the scaly patches of skin that psoriasis causes. Wrong! If you aggressively remove the scaly patches it can potentially cause the psoriatic symptoms to increase. To treat the scaly patches of skin, lean toward a shampoo that contains Salicylic acid. This will soften the scales and help them to fall away on their own without activating an increase in psoriatic symptoms.
Wait to Rinse: For most shampoos, it is best to lather your hair and then allow the shampoo to stay on your scalp for at least 2 minutes, but up to 10 minutes. The longer that you can let the shampoo do its job the better it will work. Additionally, it may be necessary to wash the hair a second time to help remove any access scaling or dandruff that is released from the first wash.
If your hair is especially dirty or has a build up of products, you may want to shampoo first with a regular shampoo to remove the debris before treating psoriasis. This will improve the success of the psoriasis shampoo.
Fight Odor: As mentioned above, Coal Tar is a common ingredient in medicated psoriasis shampoos. Coal Tar can have an overwhelming odor that may be hard to conceal or get rid of. One possible solution is to use a separate fragranced conditioner after using the psoriasis shampoo these fragrances will not negate the effects of the Coal Tar that has been shown to treat hair for up to 3 days after use.
Condition, Condition, Condition!
We cannot stress enough how important it will be to condition your hair after being treated with a psoriasis shampoo. Some of these shampoos can strip the hair of their natural oils in order to effectively treat psoriasis. You can help negate the effect byusing a high-quality conditioner. This will help to moisturize your hair and scalp can help you go longer between treatments.
Also, using a high-quality leave-in conditioner can help as well, especially for individuals with excessively dry hair.
Reduce Stress Levels
Psoriasis has a tendency to become more troublesome during times of increased stress. Therefore in addition to using a psoriasis shampoo, look for ways to easily reduce your stress load. This may help to decrease your psoriatic symptoms naturally.
Use Other Products: Many of the shampoos on this list are from companies that carry additional products designed to help with the symptoms associated with psoriasis, as part of a treatment system. Look for products such as scalp oil, medicated gels, and sprays, as well as multi-symptom ointments. Many of these products can be used on the skin as well as the scalp and are designed to work together.
Conclusion
Well, there you go!Now you know everything there is to know about choosing the right psoriasis shampoo, the ingredients that are commonly used, as well as natural and organic options to help combat the symptoms commonly associated with scalp psoriasis. Shampoos and conditioners designed to treat psoriasis have improved dramatically in recent years and will only get better. Good luck and I hope this information helps to give you some much-needed relief.
Contents
- Buying Guide
- Top 10 Best Shampoos for Psoriasis Comparison Table
- 10 Best Psoriasis Shampoos: Detaild Review
- 1. Home Health Psoriasis Medicated Scalp and Body Wash (Top Pick)
- 2. Selenium Natural Organic Shampoo
- 3. Honeydew Anti-Dandruff Shampoo with Cedarwood, Tea Tree Oil, & Rosemary
- 4. PsoriaTrax Coal Tar Psoriasis Shampoo
- 5. Dermarest Psoriasis Medicated Shampoo Plus Conditioner (Best Value)
- 6. Sphagnum BotanicalsNatural Eczema and Psoriasis Shampoo
- 7. DermaSolve Medicated Shampoo Plus Conditioner
- 8. MG217Therapeutic Shampoo + Conditioner
- 9. Neutrogena T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo (Best Budget)
- 10. Wild Naturals Eczema & Psoriasis Shampoo and Conditioner
- Tips for Using Psoriasis Shampoo
