People are using anti-dandruff shampoo to clear acne – and doctor gives verdict

Brits are hailing Head & Shoulders as the new skincare holy grail - but should we really be shampooing our face?

If you've tried every spot cream, serum, and face mask under the sun and still struggle with acne - you've probably already seen the anti-dandruff shampoo hack that's taken the internet by storm. Swathes of users are lathering the hair product on their face and letting it 'sit' for a few minutes before washing off.

Many skincare enthusiasts have praised the hack for clearing their fungal acne up straight away - but NHS doctor and TikTok sensation Karan Raj warns it's not quite straight forward...

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"Different types of acne require different types of treatment," he said in a recent video. "Cystic acne might require retinoids [where] surface level blackheads might respond better to salicylic acid. But if if you have fungal acne, shampoo on your face might actually work."

Dr Karan explains that both dandruff on your scalp an fungal acne are caused by an 'overgrowth' of yeast malassezia - a type of fungi found on our skin. Many anti-dandruff shampoos contain ingredients such as zinc pyrithione and selenium sulphide which can kill the fungal cells and bacteria.

"The downside is in some cases, it could irritate and dry out the skin and result in a compromised skin barrier," he added. "And, it won't do much for common types of acne like bacterial acne." Instead, the expert recommended investing in spot-fighting products like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid and retinoids - or going to a skin specialist.

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Hundreds of viewers flocked to the comments section to share their thoughts - with many hailing the hack. "We use this, it works pretty good!' one person raved.

Another agreed, commenting: "It's also brilliant for chicken pox! Dries the spots out," while a third added: "I had some weird patches on my arms and anti dandruff shampoo cleared it right up." Others argued against the hack, claiming that products such as salicylic acid worked better in clearing their acne.

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