The Best Shampoo for Rosacea
If you have rosacea, you know how important it is to find products with the most gentle ingredients for your skin. Moisturizers, sunscreens and makeup are the first products we think about changing to help soothe irritated skin. Finding the best shampoo for rosacea should be the next product to consider.
Even if you don’t suffer from rosacea on your scalp, it’s worth considering trying a rosacea shampoo, or a gentler shampoo, to lessen the chances of irritating your skin.
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Can Shampoo Make Rosacea Worse?
Shampoo is often packed full of all sorts of chemicals and residual substances. This is especially damaging to skin that is already extremely irritated. You can't help but wonder "Can shampoo make rosacea worse?"
There are plenty of problematic fragrances, colorings and additives for your skin. But two ingredients are particularly troublesome:
Sulfates
Arguably the most vilified shampoo ingredient, sulfates are known to so thoroughly strip the skin that they remove fatty acids and cholesterol. Sulfates tend to disrupt the skin’s natural barrier. This causes a significant amount of redness and swelling. According the American Academy of Dermatology, sulfates are on the list of ingredients for rosacea sufferers to avoid.
Silicone
An ingredient added to produce silkier, smoother locks, silicone is another culprit that aggravates rosacea’s symptoms. It traps irritants onto your skin, causing them to remain even after an intense rinsing. There are different types of silicones and some are actually quite helpful for the skin while others are detrimental. The trick is to always stay abreast of any reactions that you've experienced after being exposed to certain ingredients and take extreme caution.
Which Rosacea Shampoo Is Right For Me?

photo by tim mossholder
Completely Natural Shampoo for Rosacea
If you are looking for a shampoo for rosacea sufferers that is free of ingredients that make your condition worse, Puracy‘s Natural Shampoo will be a lifesaver. It's completely natural and biodegradable, making it a great option for the planet. It also helps reduce friction, giving your hair a noticeable lightness while providing a thorough cleanse.
Along with Puracy, there is a host of other such rosacea shampoos on the market today. Previously natural shampoos and other beauty products were considered a luxury item. They were expensive and difficult to come by. Nowadays, brands such as Jason, Nature’s Gate, and Honest Company make formulas devoid of GMOs, sulfates, artificial colors and parabens.
Deep Cleansing Shampoo for Rosacea
If you are not experiencing superior cleansing from a natural shampoo, you'll need a shampoo that gets a little deeper. If you are not sensitive to those pesky chemicals and additives, there's a conventional option that you might consider. Keep in mind that conventional dandruff shampoo is amazing at thoroughly cleansing the scalp,. However, it's also very harsh, especially if you have a skin sensitivity.
Rosacea suffers should especially reconsider using shampoos that are marketed to be an all-in-one solution because of the harsh nature of their formulas. These products are so jam-packed with ingredients that it's nearly impossible to tell what's going to happen to your skin upon exposure. According to WebMD, “The more ingredients in a product, the more likely it will irritate your skin.”
Selsun Blue Shampoo for Rosacea
As far as conventional, deep-cleansing shampoos go, Selsun Blue is the holy grail of dandruff shampoos. It's well documented to be extremely effective against itching and flakes. Additionally, it contains an anti-fungal property that's very effective against other skin conditions, including rosacea.
Some people even find relief from rosacea by washing their face directly with Selsun Blue. In theory, Selsun Blue's antibacterial properties completely halt the overgrowth of mites. Moreover, it prevents the substance that mites leave on your skin from causing further irritation.
Some rosacea sufferers swear by the "Selsun Blue shampoo for rosacea facial". However, take extreme caution before rubbing shampoo on your face. Although shampoo shares similar ingredients to some facial washes, you never know what is going to affect your skin. According to National Rosacea Society, sufferers should, “keep a diary of daily activities or events and relate them to any flare-ups they may experience.” Whenever beginning a new regimen, always take meticulous notes on your skin’s response.
Middle-ground Shampoos for Rosacea
If you find that Selsun Blue is too harsh for your skin, there's another category to look into, which is comprised of ingredients that provide a deeper cleanse while also remaining sulfate-free. These products are relatively new, but provide an ideal middle ground for people who need something more intense than a 100% botanical shampoo, but less intense than a standard dandruff shampoo.
L'Oreal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Shampoo is an example of a shampoo marketed as a sulfate-free product specifically for dandruff control. Some conventional shampoos now offer a sulfate-free version. Some examples of sulfate-free shampoos released by well-known brands are Aveeno’s Pure Renewals Shampoo and Nexxus’ Color Assure Shampoo for Color Treated Hair.
The Shampoo That Cures Rosacea?
If you’re constantly on the hunt for the shampoo that cures rosacea, you might be disappointed. While there's no possibility that any shampoo will cure your rosacea, some products are highly effective. A great rosacea shampoo that helps control your symptoms should certainly be seen as a treatment, but not a cure.

photo by bryan garces
Perhaps you, like so many others, have made inconvenient treks to the dermatologist and spent loads of money on the newest product that might offer you a bit of relief from the endless cycle of symptoms. But, rosacea is notoriously tricky to treat, and an endless parade of creams and ointments might cause you to go broke just trying to keep the discomfort at bay. If you’ve been trying topical treatments for your face, but still find your rosacea to be unmanageable, your dermatologist might be able to recommend a prescription shampoo for rosacea.
Conclusion
Everyone’s skin is going to react differently to different products. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for rosacea surfers, so you might find it difficult to come across any product that will help. But, don’t give up on finding something that works for you. Try these tips for finding the best shampoo for rosacea that eases your symptoms. You might just find the relief you’ve been waiting for.