FACT OR FLAKE?

TikTok has people using anti-dandruff shampoo on their faces, but does it work?

- Elaine Obran

TikTok and beauty go together like a Coldplay song and a divorce scandal – no matter how much we want to run for cover, we just can’t look away.

Case in point: the latest TikTok trend that has viewers reaching for anti-dandruff shampoo as a surprising remedy for acne.

While unconventional, users claim that the treatment’s ingredient list – mainly the zinc pyrithione – can help reduce stubborn acne by targeting inflammation and excess oil production.

On the hunt for real-world answers, we chat with Gabrielle Singh, the founder and CEO of GC Skin Boutique and Iyvos Skincare, who sheds light on the science behind this viral beauty hack.

TREND TEMPTATIONS

While applying anti-dandruff shampoo to your face might not have been on anyone’s 2025 beauty bingo card, Singh sympathises with those dealing with stubborn breakouts who feel like conventional treatments just aren’t cutting it.

“It’s usually people who feel like they’ve tried everything – cleansers, serums, scrubs, even prescription treatments – and nothing seems to help,” Singh says.

“They are tired, confused and just want something to work.”