For all those times when you want to scratch your freakin’ head off just to stop the itch (lol, just me?), trust me when I say you need this menthol-spiked eczema shampoo. Unlike other menthol-based formulas that just leave your scalp burning, this one relies on soothing ingredients (like aloe, white willow bark extract, and panthenol) to help cool down the sting without further irritating your skin. Dry hair and eczema are an annoying (yet very common) duo, which is why some of the best eczema shampoos are both gentle and moisturizing. This fragrance-free formula from Briogeo uses glycerin, aloe, oat bran, and panthenol to lightly hydrate and soothe itchy, irritated scalps, while meadowfoam oil will leave your dry hair feeling softer and more moisturized. So if your eczema shampoo often leaves your hair feeling like straw, you’ll get a touch of scalp relief plus some moisture from roots to ends. Our gentle skin cleansers and moisturizers hydrate and strengthen the skin barrier, making them the perfect first step of your daily routine whether you’re going barefaced or full glam.

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I’ll be honest: I used to think scalp eczema was just dandruff or your run-of-the-mill dry skin. Then I actually got eczema, which left my scalp covered in severely itchy, painful, flaky rough patches. That’s when I learned that although scalp eczema can look similar to dandruff and dry scalp, it differs in its intensity and can be triggered by a mix of factors (see: hormones, allergies, medications, health issues), making it difficult to treat with just one product. But a good starting point? Eczema shampoo, says board-certified dermatologist, Michele J. Farber, MD.

If you are someone who just loves the feel of a foaming shampoo but can’t handle sulfates with an active eczema flare-up, try this sulfate-free baby shampoo (approved by the National Eczema Association, nbd) that still gives you a sudsy clean, without any of the harsh detergents. Its rich lather comes from coconut-derived surfactants that are super mild (yet still effective at cleansing dirty hair), while the formula’s sunflower seed oil will leave your hair and scalp lightly moisturized. When the itch becomes truly unbearable, you can turn to this foaming, tingling shampoo that contains 1 percent selenium sulfide, an antifungal (often used to treat some forms of dandruff-like eczema) to reduce flakes and irritation with time. Massage this shampoo only through your roots once a week, then layer on a deep conditioner to offset any dryness (since the formula contains sulfates). If you’re not a fan of traditional medicated eczema shampoos (hi, clean beauty life), try this aloe-vera-based shampoo that uses a mix of natural ingredients, like aloe and manuka honey, to soothe and moisturize your itchy, scaly scalp. It even uses gentle, sulfate-free surfactants to rinse away dirt and oil from your scalp instead of harsh, stripping detergents that could potentially cause eczema flare-ups or make them worse.

12 Best Eczema Shampoos, According to Dermatologists

This gentle, fragrance-free shampoo from Seen can help keep irritation at bay when you’ve finally reached Eczema Maintenance Mode (welcome, it’s calm here). It’s free of sulfates, silicones, formaldehyde releasers, and pore-clogging oils, and instead filled with mild cleansers, glycerin for a bit of moisture, and bisabolol (the active ingredient in chamomile) to reduce inflammation before it starts. And, if you’re into ~that sorta thing~, this one also got the National Eczema Association’s seal of approval. Dare to wear any fabric, any time of year. With our dermatologist-recommended moisturizers, you can serve any style and own every season, even if you have sensitive skin.Eczema shampoos can help hydrate, exfoliate, and protect your scalp’s moisture barrier and should be free of common irritants, like artificial fragrance and sulfates. A good eczema shampoo can also contain active ingredients, like salicylic acid, to break down rough patches and excess oils during flare-ups or it can be filled with soothing ingredients, like aloe and colloidal oatmeal, to keep your scalp healthy when you’re not flaring, says Dr. Farber. Sound a little overwhelming? I know. That’s why I chatted with Dr. Farber to find the 12 best eczema shampoos for you. How often you wash your hair when you have scalp eczema will depend on how oil-prone your hair is. Generally speaking, Dr. Farber recommends washing one to three times a week if your hair is oily, or once a week if your hair is dry. “With eczema, it is more problematic to over-wash your hair than skip washes, as it can strip the natural oils on your scalp and disrupt your skin's moisture barrier,” says Dr. Farber. Yup, this shampoo is technically made for babies, but that’s why it’s so ideal for your sensitive, eczema-prone scalp. When your eczema is flaring and every product seems to amplify the burning and itching, reach for this fragrance-free shampoo that uses a mix of soothing ingredients, like aloe vera, colloidal oatmeal, chamomile, and calendula extract. Gentle enough for baby eczema = gentle enough for you.