CeraVe Hydrating Anti Dandruff Shampoo, 1% Pyrithione Zinc Dandruff Treatment With Ceramides, Niacinamide & Hyaluronic Acid, Helps Eliminate Flakes & Provides Itchy Scalp Relief, Sulfate Free, 12 Oz

It works well and helps reduce dandruff without drying my hair. My scalp feels cleaner and less itchy after using it. The formula is gentle and has no strong smell. I’m giving 4 stars because it takes a little time to see full results, but overall it’s a good shampoo.

I’ve been using this shampoo for a few weeks and I’m very happy with the results. It noticeably reduced dandruff and itching after just a few washes, while still being gentle on my scalp. Unlike many anti-dandruff shampoos, it doesn’t dry out my hair — my hair feels clean, soft, and hydrated. I also like that it’s fragrance-free and contains ingredients like ceramides and niacinamide, which help support the scalp barrier. It lathers well and rinses out easily. Overall, this is a great option if you’re looking for an effective anti-dandruff shampoo that’s gentle enough for regular use.

Great anti-dandruff shampoo for my son — fast results.I bought this anti-dandruff shampoo for my son because he had been dealing with persistent itching and flakes, and it has worked amazingly well. We noticed improvement within the first few days, and after a week of consistent use, his dandruff was almost completely gone. The shampoo has a pleasant scent, doesn’t irritate his scalp, and leaves his hair feeling soft and clean. My son also mentioned that the itching stopped, which is a huge relief. It lathers well, so a little goes a long way.

Works great but smells like glue you’d use in an elementary school classroom

I bought this CeraVe Hydrating Anti Dandruff Shampoo for my mother who has suddenly began getting white flakes in her hair, which were significantly more noticeable after washing. We had tried the more popular Head & Shoulders brand, but it didn't seem to have any effect on getting rid of the flakes. So, once the bottle was just about empty, I decided to search for a gentleman, yet (hopefully) effective different brand of anti-dandruff shampoo. That's when I came across the CeraVe brand. I've always had great results with their skincare products, the price was great, and it got really positive reviews. I also liked that it was paraben, phalate, and fragrance free. So, I helped her wash her hair a few days ago and those itchy flakes just disappeared like magic!! I'm pretty sure that both shampoos have the same active ingredient, however the H&D was full of fragrance and could have been contributing to the irritation of her scalp. This shampoo was creamy, easy to get into a nice sudsy (but not too sudsy) lather and it rinsed completely out of her hair. There was no flaking noticeable afterwards and her naturally soft, curls were beautiful. Thank you, CeraVe for an affordable and effective product to take care of a mild to moderate case of dandruff. Will definitely be repurchasing.

This shampoo works really well for dry scalp and dandruff. It’s gentle, doesn’t strip the hair, and leaves my scalp feeling clean and hydrated. After a few uses, I noticed less itching and flakes. It also has a nice, mild smell. Great if you want something effective but not harsh.

IMPORTANT: The main ingredient is zinc pyrithione (ZPT). It disrupts Malassezia’s cell membrane and energy production, making it hard for the yeast to grow and divide. This is not instant. You will only see results around week 4 or 5. Why does it take time? Unlike ketoconazole, which rinses away more completely, zinc pyrithione (ZPT) partially deposits on the scalp and hair shafts. This residue creates a reservoir effect, meaning antifungal activity continues between washes. Why consistency matters: Each wash leaves a bit more ZPT on the scalp surface. With regular daily use, the residue reaches a stable level after about 4 weeks. At that point, yeast levels are suppressed enough for flakes and itching to noticeably improve. MY EXPERIENCE: I’ve had dandruff for over 10 years and have tried many products (e.g., Head & Shoulders, Nizoral [ketoconazole], Selsun Blue, Neutrogena T/Gel). None of them really worked for me. Maybe I wasn’t using them properly, thoroughly, or consistently. I often gave up after just one week or didn’t leave the product on my scalp for at least 5 minutes before rinsing. What I’ve learned is that there’s a process to follow. If you give up too early, you won’t see results. WHAT I DID: I used the CeraVe 1% zinc pyrithione shampoo and the CeraVe anti-dandruff conditioner. Do not use a “2-in-1” product because it is not as effective as having a separate shampoo and conditioner. The anti-dandruff conditioner also contains zinc pyrithione, and letting the product stay on the hair and scalp gives the antifungal ingredient more time to work. I used the shampoo first, then the conditioner every day except Wednesday and Saturday, because on those days I used a ketoconazole 2% shampoo. Ketoconazole is more potent but drying. It is very effective for major flare-ups but not ideal for daily use. I followed this routine for 4 weeks. It is very important to stick with the process. This is how the product does its job, so you must stay consistent before the results show up. I also started using moisturizer in week 3, but only occasionally. I used “Minimalist 10% Vitamin B5 Face Moisturizer.” It is made for the face, but you can also use it on the scalp if you want. The important thing is that it does not contain any ingredients that feed Malassezia yeast, which is what causes dandruff. “Biossance 100% Squalane Oil” is also good, as it is sugarcane-derived squalane. Do not use squalane derived from olive oil, as it may worsen dandruff. If you want to add extra products, make sure it does not have any ingredient that feeds the Malassezia yeast. I also used artificial intelligence (AI) to help build a daily regimen and to check for the ingredients. Like how each ingredient affects my skin, does it worsen my condition etc.. I used ChatGPT.com, but other AI tools would work well too. They can provide more details, steps, and information. Results: Week 3: some small improvement Week 4: about 90% cleared Week 5: about 97% cleared, with only small patches (I treated these areas with a topical antifungal) Week 6: completely cleared Now I’m happy to say I have been dandruff-free for more than 1 month. For maintenance/ prevent it from coming back: I use the cerave zinc pyrithione anti dandruff shampoo 2x a week and then 1x a week a ketoconazole shampoo. Adjust accordingly, you can reduce to 1x a week if it works well for you. In the future, if you are having a stressful week, then use the shampoo more frequently for prevention. Stress hormones increase oil production When you’re stressed, your body releases cortisol and other stress hormones. These stimulate sebaceous glands in the scalp to produce more sebum (oil). Malassezia feeds on sebum, especially its fatty acids. This irritates the scalp and causes dandruff. Overall it did its job, I highly recommend it.

My scalp gets very dry and itchy in the winter which also causes it to get greasy very quickly. This not only soothed my scalp, but also cleans effectively and left my hair soft. I am very particular about hair care products and was reluctant to use this, but am so happy I did!