Nizoral Shampoo in Ireland: How to Use It for Dandruff and Seborrhoeic Dermatitis

Nizoral shampoo contains ketoconazole 2%, an antifungal that treats dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis. In Ireland it is a pharmacy medicine, sold from behind the counter after a few quick questions. Used twice a week for two to four weeks, then once every one to two weeks, it treats the yeast behind the flaking and the itch. From the pharmacists at Laois Pharmacy in Portlaoise.

What Nizoral shampoo is and what it treats

The active ingredient is ketoconazole, an antifungal. Everyone has a yeast called Malassezia living on their skin. People with dandruff tend to have more of it, and that overgrowth irritates the scalp. Ketoconazole kills the yeast and stops it coming back. The leaflet also says the shampoo eases the inflammation that goes with dandruff, so redness and itching settle too.

The licensed uses are:

• Dandruff: white or grey flakes on the scalp and in the hair, often with a dry, itchy scalp.
• Seborrhoeic dermatitis: dry or greasy scaling of the scalp and other parts of the body, such as the eyebrows, the sides of the nose and the chest.
• Pityriasis versicolor: white to brown patches on the body that often show up after sun exposure.

The HSE lists four ingredients to look for in an anti-dandruff shampoo: salicylic acid, selenium sulphide, ketoconazole and coal tar. Ketoconazole is the antifungal option.

How to use Nizoral shampoo for dandruff

The contact time matters, so follow the leaflet:

1. Wet your hair thoroughly. If your hair is thick or long, wash it with your normal shampoo first and rinse.
2. Apply a small amount to the scalp and massage it into a lather. You are treating the skin, not the hair.
3. Leave the lather on for 3 to 5 minutes. This is the step that makes the difference.
4. Rinse thoroughly. If it gets in your eyes, bathe them gently with water.
5. Repeat every 3 or 4 days for 2 to 4 weeks, which works out at about twice a week.
6. Then drop to once every 1 to 2 weeks to keep the scalp clear. If you stop completely, the dandruff often returns.

Do not use it more often than the leaflet says. Between treatments, wash with your usual shampoo. If you forget a treatment, just use it the next time you wash your hair. For pityriasis versicolor on the body the dose is different: once a day for up to 5 days, and a pharmacist or GP should confirm the diagnosis first.

If you have been using a steroid lotion or cream on your scalp, such as betamethasone or hydrocortisone, the leaflet says to reduce it gradually over 2 to 3 weeks as you start Nizoral. Stopping it suddenly can cause a flare while the shampoo gets to work. Ask us if you are not sure how to do this.

How long it takes and what to expect

The NHS says ketoconazole shampoo usually takes 2 to 4 weeks to work for dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis. Flaking and itch should ease week by week. If your scalp has not cleared after 4 weeks, speak to a pharmacist or GP, because something other than dandruff may be going on.

Dandruff is a condition you manage rather than finish with. The maintenance dose of once every 1 to 2 weeks is what keeps it away, and the NHS notes that some people use ketoconazole shampoo this way for months or years.

Side effects

Used as directed, side effects are unlikely. The leaflet lists these as uncommon (fewer than 1 in 100 people): itching, irritation, blistering, redness, dryness or a burning feeling where the shampoo was applied, inflamed hair follicles, hair loss or a change in hair texture, watery eyes, rash and dry skin.

Stop using it and see a doctor if you get signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. The leaflet says Nizoral shampoo can be used if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, and it does not interact with other medicines because so little is absorbed. Ask us if you would like to double check anything.

When Nizoral is not the right product

• Children under 12. The leaflet limits the shampoo to adults and adolescents over 12. For younger children, ask us or your GP.
• Cradle cap in babies. This is not a job for an adult medicated shampoo. The NHS advice is to loosen the scales with an emollient or coconut oil, brush gently and wash with a baby shampoo. A pharmacist can suggest an unperfumed baby shampoo and an emollient.
• Scalp psoriasis. Thick, silvery scales on red, well-defined patches point to psoriasis rather than dandruff. Coal tar and salicylic acid shampoos such as Capasal are made for this, and a GP can prescribe stronger treatment if needed.
• Ringworm of the scalp. A red or silver rash with patchy hair loss, more common in children, needs a GP. Shampoo alone will not clear it.

What we stock for a flaky, itchy scalp

Nizoral 2% shampoo is a pharmacy medicine. Ask at the counter in Portlaoise or message us on WhatsApp and we will tell you which option suits your scalp. These are the products on our shelves right now.

Pharmacy medicine

Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo 2% 100ml

Ketoconazole 2% shampoo for dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis in adults and children over 12. Leave on for 3 to 5 minutes, twice a week for 2 to 4 weeks, then once every 1 to 2 weeks.

€14.45

View Nizoral 2% Shampoo

Sold after a few pharmacist questions. Always read the leaflet.

Leave-in care between washes

Nizoral Care Scalp Tonic 100ml

A light leave-in tonic that soothes and hydrates a dry, flaky scalp between washes. It is a scalp care product, not the medicated shampoo, and it is designed to sit alongside an anti-dandruff shampoo routine.

€9.95

View Nizoral Care Scalp Tonic

Coal tar and salicylic acid

Capasal Therapeutic Shampoo

Coal tar, salicylic acid and coconut oil for scalp psoriasis, seborrhoeic dermatitis, dandruff and cradle cap, as directed on the label. A good option when thick scale is the problem.

100ml €6.75 or 250ml €12.95

View Capasal 250ml   Capasal 100ml

Always read the label.

For everyday cosmetic care of a sensitive or oily flaky scalp, we also stock Vichy Dercos Sensitive Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo (€15.95) and La Roche-Posay Kerium Anti-Dandruff Gel Shampoo (€15.00). See the full Nizoral range and our hair and scalp care section. If eczema is part of the picture, our eczema guide explains emollients and steroid creams. Delivery is €6 anywhere in the Republic of Ireland, Monday to Saturday by DPD, or collect in Portlaoise.

Nizoral shampoo FAQs

This article is general information for people in Ireland. It is not a substitute for the leaflet in your pack or for personal advice from a pharmacist or GP.