Is it lice or Dandruff? Here’s how to tell.
Prescription dandruff treatment is one online consultation away
No video calls necessary
$15 consult–no membership required
Medical review within 3 hours
Stubborn dandruff from seborrheic dermatitis can be itchy and inconvenient. Start an online medical consultation and get the right prescription dandruff treatment for you.
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How Dr. B treats dandruff
1
Health assessmentTell us about your condition with a $15 online consultation—no video call necessary.
2
Provider reviewA medical provider will review your information and prescribe treatment, if appropriate.
3
Get your medicationPick up and pay for the medication at the pharmacy of your choice. Or, get it delivered.
How much will it cost?
Dr. B offers online consultations for $15—which is less than most copays. If a dandruff prescription is appropriate, your out-of-pocket medication cost will depend on your insurance and where you decide to get your prescription filled. Dr. B offers a discount card when applicable to help get you the lowest prices for your medications.
* Prices shown for Ketoconazole 2 % Shampoo (120 mL bottle), a popular treatment for dandruff, using a drug discount card. Prices may be lower with insurance.
$15
Online visit with Dr. B
+
Starting at
$8.52
$14.06
$12.06
$11.95
$21.39
Medication*
Dandruff treatments at Dr. B
Dr. B offers several treatments for dandruff. We’ve highlighted a few of our most popular and affordable options below, but you can choose other both brand and generic medications if desired.
Ketoconazole Shampoo
Ketoconazole is a prescription antifungal shampoo that treats seborrheic dermatitis, a type of stubborn dandruff. It stops the underlying fungal infection, helping disrupt the reproduction of diseased cells.
Prescription length:
30 days, 2 refills
Application:
Shampoo applied 2x / week
Medication prices start at
$8.52
at Rite Aid, with a drug discount card.
Ciclopirox Shampoo
Ciclopirox is a hydroxypyridone antifungal shampoo with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help treat seborrheic dermatitis. It helps by stopping growth of the fungus associated with flakiness and itching of the scalp. Ciclopirox is the generic version of Loprox.
Prescription length:
30 days, 2 refills
Application:
Shampoo applied 3x / week
Medication prices start at
$11.75
at Costco, with a drug discount card. (No Costco membership required)Capex Shampoo
Capex shampoo is a brand version of Fluocinolone, an anti-inflammatory medicated shampoo used to treat seborrheic dermatitis. It contains a corticosteroid that helps treat scaly skin and scalp redness.
Prescription length:
30 days, 2 refills
Application:
Shampoo applied every day
Medication prices start at
$29.00
at Costco, with a drug discount card. (No Costco membership required)Ketoconazole Shampoo
Ketoconazole is a prescription antifungal shampoo that treats seborrheic dermatitis, a type of stubborn dandruff. It stops the underlying fungal infection, helping disrupt the reproduction of diseased cells.
Ciclopirox Shampoo
Ciclopirox is a hydroxypyridone antifungal shampoo with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help treat seborrheic dermatitis. It helps by stopping growth of the fungus associated with flakiness and itching of the scalp. Ciclopirox is the generic version of Loprox.
Capex Shampoo
Capex shampoo is a brand version of Fluocinolone, an anti-inflammatory medicated shampoo used to treat seborrheic dermatitis. It contains a corticosteroid that helps treat scaly skin and scalp redness.
Prescription length:
30 days, 2 refills
Prescription length:
30 days, 2 refills
Prescription length:
30 days, 2 refills
Application:
Shampoo applied 2x / week
Application:
Shampoo applied 3x / week
Application:
Shampoo applied every day
Medication prices start at
$8.52
at Rite Aid, with a drug discount card.
Medication prices start at
$11.75
at Costco, with a drug discount card. (No Costco membership required)Medication prices start at
$29.00
at Costco, with a drug discount card. (No Costco membership required)More Dandruff Prescription Treatments
Looking for a different medication? Here are some options.
Not sure which treatment may be best for you?
Complete a confidential virtual health assessment to learn more.
Meet our advisors
Guided by medical expertise
“I love direct contact with patients—it’s why I chose dermatology! With ample time together, I can use my eyes and mind to diagnose their condition, like a sleuth!”
Dandruff Questions
About Dandruff
What is dandruff?
Dandruff is a form of seborrheic dermatitis—an inflammatory skin condition and fungal infection on the skin’s surface. It mainly affects areas with many oil-producing sebaceous glands, like the scalp. Symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis in the hair and scalp area include flaking or scaly skin, rashes and itchiness. It can be irritating, but it's not contagious. It’s also sometimes called seborrheic eczema or seborrheic psoriasis.
What causes dandruff?
Dandruff is thought to stem from an overgrowth of the Malassezia yeast. Excess oil in the skin or a problem in the immune system may also trigger it.
How long does dandruff last?
Dandruff—a form of seborrheic dermatitis—is a lifelong condition. It often flares up occasionally but usually improves with the proper treatment.
Are seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff the same thing?
Seborrheic dermatitis is called dandruff when symptoms happen on the scalp. It can also appear on other areas of the body like the face, sides of the nose, eyebrows, ears, eyelids, chest and around the body folds.
Do I have dandruff or psoriasis?
Dandruff and psoriasis can both cause itchy, flaky patches of skin on the scalp. Unlike dandruff, psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that often affects areas like the elbows, back or knees in addition to the scalp. Psoriasis may appear as scaly patches and extend beyond the scalp area.
Does seborrheic dermatitis cause hair loss?
Researchers don’t believe seborrheic dermatitis hair loss is a condition within itself. But severe cases can instigate excessive scratching, damaging hair follicles and impeding their natural growth. Seborrheic dermatitis can also produce extra sebum, which can cause an overproduction of the fungus Malassezia and complicate new hair growth.
What dandruff prescription treatments are available?
Dandruff prescription medications are available as shampoos, foams, gels and scalp oils. (Dandruff pills are not available.) Common medications include antifungals like Ketoconazole (and brand versions like Ketodan, Extina and Xolegel) and Ciclopirox (and brand version Loprox). Anti-inflammatory corticosteroid treatments include Fluocinolone (and brand versions Capex and Derma-Smoothe).
How is a dandruff treatment applied?
Most of the time, you apply foam and gel products to the scalp a few hours before showering. You apply dandruff shampoos in the shower. And you massage scalp oil treatments into the scalp after showering. But follow your doctor or pharmacist’s specific instructions carefully.
What are common treatment side effects?
Common side effects of dandruff medicine include burning, redness, dryness and irritation. These symptoms are typically mild and may diminish over time. Call your doctor or other medical provider if symptoms continue or get worse over time.
How can I get a dandruff prescription online?
Dr. B can help you get Ciclopirox, Capex and Ketoconazole shampoo online. (Or another dandruff treatment of your choice.) Start an online health assessment, sharing your health history and current symptoms. A doctor or medical provider will review your assessment. If they determine that a prescription medication is right for you, they'll send the prescription to your preferred pharmacy.
How much does dandruff treatment cost?
Consultation: A virtual medical consultation for dandruff costs $15, which is lower than most doctor copays. Currently, we don’t submit medical consultation claims to insurance companies. But you can use insurance for any resulting prescription at your pharmacy.
Medication: Dr. B only charges for the medical consultation. When medications are prescribed, we let you choose the most affordable or convenient pharmacy to fill the prescription. Your medication prices will vary depending on your insurance coverage and whether the drug is a brand or generic.
Do you accept insurance?
Right now, we don’t submit medical consultation claims to health insurance companies. But you can use insurance for any resulting prescriptions at your pharmacy.
How do refills work?
We’ll send you a reminder for an online assessment when it’s time for your next refill.