Can I Use Acne Foaming Wash On My Scalp Acne?

When you get acne on your scalp, it tends to go unnoticed for much longer – particularly when the sufferer has a full head of hair. Due to its relatively rare nature, people tend not to go to their dermatologist about it, preferring to either put with it or use DIY treatments. That then raises the question – can you use acne foaming wash on your scalp?

The short answer to the question is, yes you can, as the same conditions that cause facial acne are responsible for breakouts on the top of your head. Dead skin, oil and bacteria clog the pores on the scalp in just the same way, so, if you want to avoid those painful pimples persistently appearing, a good acne product should yield results. 

That said, we wouldn’t recommend using benzoyl peroxide-based (BP) products if you have hair on your head, as it has a nasty habit of bleaching it! 

Other Ways to Keep On Top of Scalp Acne

Ok, so acne foaming wash is a good start, but you don’t want to be having to rely on it to keep your scalp clean and clear, so here are a few other things you can be doing to help. 

• Visit your doctor – it’s always worth talking to your dermatologist or doctor about your scalp acne at some point, particularly if other treatments haven’t worked. There may be extra prescription-based medication like antibiotics that will help and in severe cases, steroid injections can provide some relief.

Sure, these might seem a bit drastic, but if nothing else works, then it’s got to be worth a try, right?

• Avoid using styling products – while you absolutely should continue to shampoo your hair, someone with scalp acne should limit the number of products they use on it. That’s because they’re often greasy and can easily clog the pores.

So, when it comes to hairsprays, wax, gel or any other hair products that might block your pores, just hold back on using too much if you have a scalp breakout. 

• Use Salicylic Acid Acne Treatments – while benzoyl peroxide will likely bleach your hair when coming into contact, an acne medication that’s based on salicylic acid won’t. This will allow you to keep the bacteria on your scalp at bay and ensure that the conditions that lead to your pimples appearing never materialize.

Use Acne Foaming Wash On Your Scalp, But Not BP

So, there we have it – the definite answer to the use of acne foaming wash on scalp acne. You can use it, but definitely don’t use BP-based treatments or you might just end up with a blonde spot on your hair that you weren’t bargaining for!

Stick to the right products while being careful about what you put on your hair and scalp and you’ll go a long way to getting the problem under control. Avoiding gel, wax and hair spray for a while might make you look a little frizzy, but it’s got to be better than painful scalp spots.