8 Ways to Remove Scalp Buildup, According to Dermatologists (2024)

By

Medically reviewed by

Board-Certified Dermatologist

• Dr. Julie Karen is a board-certified dermatologist and the co-founder of CompleteSkinMD in NYC.
• Dr. Iris Rubin is a Harvard-trained, board-certified dermatologist and the founder of SEEN Haircare.
• Dr. Azadeh Shiraziis a board-certified dermatologist based in La Jolla, CA and the founder of AziMD Skincare.
  

Wash More Frequently

All three of our experts say that regular cleansing is the best way to prevent scalp buildup. It's also the first step in removing it. "Scalp buildup is exactly what it sounds like: the accumulation of any kind of impurity like flakes—dead skin cells—or plaque on the scalp from natural or artificial sources, like haircare products," explains Karen. Luckily, she adds that both forms of buildup are very treatable—starting with more frequent cleansing.

If you’re noticing a lot of buildup, that could be your scalp’s way of telling you it’s gone too long without a cleanse, says Karen. "Depending on your hair type, your wash frequency will vary, but if you’re seeing buildup on a regular basis, it may be time to wash a bit more frequently," Karen shares.

Shirazi agrees and adds, "If you have an oilyscalp, it’s best to cleanse thescalpevery day or every other day. If you have dry, damaged, or colored hair, then once every three to five days works best." The way you're washing and even the products you're using (more on this later) can also impact the efficacy of your hair washing.

Physically Exfoliate the Scalp

Just like we exfoliate the skin on our face, introducing exfoliation to our scalp is an important tool in controlling and ridding the scalp of buildup, shares Karen. Using a scalp brush when shampooing will allow you to gently physically exfoliate the buildup away from the scalp so that the shampoo can then wash it out of your hair. If you are going to use a scalp brush, you should choose one with gentle bristles like the Jupiter Exfoliating Scalp Brush, which Karen recommends.

You can also use your fingers to massage the scalp with your shampoo to try and physically remove the buildup, but be sure to use your finger pads instead of your nails. While scratching the scalp with your nails may feel good, it can actually cause damage to the skin barrier of the scalp and lead to further problems.

Chemically Exfoliate the Scalp

Depending on your level of buildup, chemical exfoliation may be helpful as a complement to or in lieu of physical exfoliation. Shirazi recommends chemically exfoliating yourscalponce to twice weekly. "I recommend using a glycolic and salicylic acid spray to prevent or reducebuildup," she explains. Her AziMD Skincare The One Spray contains both, which she says can help reduce scalp breakouts in addition to buildup.

Karen also recommends a combination of physical and chemical exfoliation, but both she and Shirazi caution that it is important to avoid over-exfoliation as this too can contribute to flaking.

Use a Clarifying Shampoo

Many hair care products are designed to bind to your hair in order to give you the desired results, whether frizz reduction, strand-smoothing, or heat protection, explains Rubin. She shares that those same hair care products can also leave a residue on your skin, including yourscalp, in turn causingbuildup. When this happens, your normal shampoo may not be enough to clear the buildup—especially if you use a sulfate-free shampoo.

Both Rubin and Shirazi recommend using a clarifying shampoo to tackle buildup. There are many kinds of formulations, with certain ingredients being better for curly or damaged hair. No matter which one you select, Shirazi says to use clarifying shampoo on wet hair focusing on thescalp.She advises that you rinse hair with water before adding shampoo for a more effective lather that spreads more evenly with less product and that the water should be warm to help loosenupdirt and debris.

Evaluate Your Current Products

Some ingredients are bad build-up culprits. Take silicones for example. Silicones are found in a lot of hair styling products that are designed to treat frizz or protect from heat because they coat the hair. This coating has the potential to build up on the scalp and contribute to the hair looking and feeling dirty. Rubin explains that she took this into account when creating her brand SEEN, which is free of silicones. "All of SEEN’s productsare specifically formulated to care for your hair and your skin, since hair care products can cause breakouts and irritation," Rubin says. "SEEN products are clinically proven to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic."

Lay Off the Dry Shampoo

Another serious culprit of buildup? Dry shampoo. "A dry shampoo’s core purpose is to soak up oil to 'extend a wash.' In most cases, dry shampoos end up blocking the surface of the skin where your skin cells shed and sebaceous glands secrete oil. The dry shampoo functions as a blockade thereby prohibiting the natural and healthy skin turnover lifecycle," explains Karen. Dry shampoo is okay for occasional use (one to two times per week), but you need to thoroughly cleanse after, to ensure it has been fully removed from your scalp.

Get a Scalp Treatment

For those who may want to take a more relaxing approach to tackling their scalp buildup, there are plenty of in-office and spa treatments designed to treat this problem. Shirazi recommends the HydrafacialKeravive, saying it’s like a facial for yourscalp. "It'sa three-step, in-office treatment that uses a vacuum to extractbuildupand debris from pores, exfoliate thescalpskin, and hydrate it with a solution with nourishing ingredients," Shirazi explains.

Many spas and salons also offer scalp facials, scrubs, and even steam treatments to combat scalp buildup and leave the hair feeling super clean.

Use a Medicated Shampoo

If you have already tried addressing your buildup at home or start experiencing symptoms like burning or itching, it's time to consult a dermatologist to determine the cause. "If you have tried washing regularly, using a clarifying shampoo, and minimizing products that can causebuildup, and you still experiencebuildup, seeing a dermatologist can help," says Rubin. "If you have what feels like 'patches' ofbuildup, areas ofscalpredness, large 'flakes' or significant itching, it is best to see a dermatologist to rule out seborrheic dermatitis or another skin condition."

One source of buildup (and in turn itching, redness, or irritation) is the overgrowth of a common-occurring fungus on your scalp called malassezia furfur, explains Karen. "In a healthy scalp with normal skin, dead skin cells shed constantly as new ones grow," she says. "The sloughing off of dead skin cells usually goes unnoticed, the particles are tiny and the process doesn’t cause any visible flakes or irritation. The lifecycle of skin cells on the scalp is usually around a month. In people with dandruff, for example, this process happens at an accelerated rate and with more destructive results. An overgrowth of malassezia is commonly thought to be fueling this rapid skin growth cycle which in turn leads to buildup."

In these cases, a dermatologist will be able to determine the cause of your discomfort, and ultimately the appropriate treatment. A medicated shampoo may be the best course of treatment for conditions such as dandruff. Your dermatologist may prescribe a specific one, typically with zinc pyrithione. Karen recommends the Jupiter Balancing Shampoo, which uses zinc pyrithione to get at the root of flaking and ultimately control oil production on the scalp.

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