In our Free & Clear Hair Shampoo review, we have found that while the shampoo is indeed fragrance-free (and free of most harmful substances), it lands in the “is just not very good” category. It’s decent, sure, but not great. Zinc pyrithione has a role in certain scalp conditions because it’s effective against Malassezia yeasts – important in the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis [3]. There is relatively little robust evidence for the use of the shampoos, but they have been available for a long time and are generally well tolerated, and so retained as a second-line therapy. 1. Seborrheic Dermatitis

Free & Clear’s lotion-like consistency allows good spreadability with a well-designed foaming action allowing for easy rinsing. Zoe Irwin, Creative Director at John Freida Salons, explains: 'They're chemicals that are used as cleansing agents. They're essentially the element that creates a lather to remove the oil and dirt.' In addition, we warn of the presence of any one of over 100 ingredients that can potentially itch, irritate and even cause dandruff. A significant number (~90%) of these chemicals have never been tested for their effect on human health. Many of these chemicals are known to have adverse effects on our skin and one of these adverse effects is dandruff.Free & Clear’s Medicated Anti-dandruff Shampoo is formulated using one ingredient that may irritate – however, there should be none of that ingredient present in the shampoo post-saponification. That ingredient is Sodium Hydroxide aka caustic soda. Soap is made by combining caustic soda and a fat of some sort. There should be none present in the final formula. You read that right, there are zero recognized allergens, zero irritants, and zero sensitizers in this formulation post-saponification. But, cautions Masa Ohta, lead therapist at natural haircare brand Leonor Greyl, a sulphate-free shampoo is only as good as the other ingredients it contains. “When choosing the right shampoo for your hair, you want to consider the other ingredients a product might contain, like plant extracts, vegetable oils, essential oils, conditioners, preservatives, parabens… It is the combination or exclusion of these ingredients that decides whether a final product is “good” or not.” Does sulphate-free shampoo help hair growth? zinc pyrithione has comparable anti-fungal activity against Malassezia yeast as 1% selenium sulfide formulas. However, zinc pyrithione is not matched to ketoconazole formulas. Free & Clear is best for mild to moderate cases of seb derm and dandruff. Shampoos with 1% concentrations were not noted to cause more adverse reactions than those without the ingredient

Free and Clear, on the other hand, recommend that you, “Use at least twice a week or as directed by a doctor”. But provide no guidance on how to wash. Taking a well-portioned dollop of formula, Free & Clear’s Medicated Anti-Dandruff Shampoo is considerably easier to use than other popular zinc-based shampoos. Carson CF, Hammer KA, Riley TV. Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) oil: a review of antimicrobial and other medicinal properties. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2006;19(1):50-62. doi:10.1128/CMR.19.1.50-62.2006 zinc pyrithione shampoos used twice weekly for 4 weeks are very effective in reducing dandruff. Free & Clear Medicated Anti-dandruff Shampoo contains 2%.Perhaps more noteworthy, In 2001, it was found that Seborrheic Dermatitis sufferers have an altered skin structure that is improved significantly withzinc pyrithione treatment. [10] This isn’t always as straightforward as it sounds. For example, Dead Sea Spa provides no guidance on frequency but instead recommends that you, “Apply to wet hair, massaging into scalp and hair. Rinse well. For best results follow with Spa Magik Hair Magic serum or Conditioning Scalp Mud.”