Medicated and Anti-Dandruff Shampoo in Pakistan
Choose an anti-dandruff shampoo by its active ingredient, not its brand: the NHS suggests a shampoo with ketoconazole, coal tar or salicylic acid. The medicated shampoo we sell is Genketo, ketoconazole 2%, registered with DRAP. If your scalp is red or swollen, or you have scars or bald patches, see a doctor rather than trying another shampoo.
Medicated shampoo in stock
Genketo Shampoo 2%
Ketoconazole 20 mg per gram (2% w/w) · DRAP registration 123030
Caution: For external use only (pack).
60 ml bottle
In stock
Delivery across Pakistan
Rs 250
Order on WhatsApp
We have not found a Pakistani document that states a condition of sale for Genketo; we sell it without asking for a prescription.
Which active ingredient?
What each ingredient is for, and which ones you can buy here.
| Ingredient | What it’s for | In Pakistan |
|---|---|---|
| Ketoconazole 2% | What it’s for: An antifungal for infections in which the yeast Malassezia is likely to be involved, such as dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis, and for tinea (pityriasis) versicolor (DRAP’s approved Nizoral information) | In Pakistan: Genketo, on our shelf, is registered with DRAP as a ketoconazole 2% shampoo. |
| Zinc pyrithione | What it’s for: Control of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis, in the US rules for over-the-counter dandruff products (21 CFR 358.710) | In Pakistan: We found it only in shampoos that print no strength and are not on DRAP’s drug registry. |
| Selenium sulfide | What it’s for: Control of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis (21 CFR 358.710) | In Pakistan: DRAP registers Abbott’s Selsun Suspension, selenium sulphide 2.5% (registration 000051). We don’t stock it. |
| Coal tar | What it’s for: Control of dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis (21 CFR 358.710) | In Pakistan: We have not found a coal tar shampoo to stock. |
| Salicylic acid | What it’s for: Control of dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis (21 CFR 358.710) | In Pakistan: We found it only in shampoos that print no strength and are not on DRAP’s drug registry. |
The American Academy of Dermatology lists zinc pyrithione, salicylic acid, sulfur, selenium sulfide, ketoconazole and coal tar, and says that if one shampoo doesn’t work, you can try alternating between shampoos with different active ingredients. The NHS says you might need to try more than 1 type to find a shampoo that works for you.
When to see a doctor
The NHS advises seeing a GP if:
- You still have dandruff after using an anti-dandruff shampoo for at least 4 weeks.
- Your dandruff is bad or your scalp is very itchy.
- Warning: Your scalp is red or swollen.
- You have flaky, itchy patches on your face or other parts of your body.
- Warning: You think you have ringworm on your scalp, which the NHS says may cause patchy hair loss and usually needs prescription antifungal tablets and shampoo.
From the NHS pages on dandruff and ringworm. We also advise seeing a doctor, not buying a shampoo, if your scalp has scars, bald patches or open sores. The AAD says a dermatologist knows whether your dandruff is a sign of a medical condition, such as seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, fungal infections of the scalp or eczema.
Medicated or cosmetic?
“Anti-dandruff” on a label doesn’t make a shampoo a registered drug.
- The US Food and Drug Administration says an antidandruff shampoo is a cosmetic because it cleanses the hair, and also a drug because it is meant to treat dandruff (FDA).
- On this page we call a shampoo medicated only if DRAP registers it as a drug with a stated strength. Genketo is registered with DRAP (registration 123030, Tabros Pharma) with ketoconazole 20 mg in each gram.
- Several anti-dandruff shampoos sold in Pakistan name zinc pyrithione, climbazole or ketoconazole on the label without a strength, and we did not find them on DRAP’s drug registry. We don’t list them as medicated.
Ketoconazole shampoo: cautions
Follow the directions on the pack; we don’t give a schedule here.
- Age: the NHS says most adults and children aged 12 years or over can use ketoconazole shampoos; the UK leaflet for Nizoral 2% shampoo says it is not for children aged under 12.
- Warning: Allergy: the NHS says to tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have ever had an allergic reaction to ketoconazole or any other medicine. The UK leaflet says to stop and talk to your doctor if you get a severe allergic reaction, including swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat.
- Steroid lotions: DRAP’s approved Nizoral information says that if you have been on prolonged treatment with a steroid applied to the skin, the steroid should be gradually withdrawn over 2 to 3 weeks while using ketoconazole 2%, to prevent a rebound effect.
- Eyes: the NHS says to try not to get the shampoo into your eyes or mouth, and to rinse them with water if it does.
- Overuse: the NHS says using ketoconazole shampoo more often than you need to may make your skin irritated or red.
- Coal tar: the AAD says shampoos containing coal tar can make your scalp more sensitive to the sun’s UV rays.
From the NHS pages on how to use ketoconazole and who can use it, DRAP’s approved product information for Nizoral 2%, the UK leaflet for Nizoral 2% shampoo and the AAD.
On request: ask us on WhatsApp
Not medicated shampoos, or not confirmed, so we don’t list a price.
| Product | Why it isn’t on this shelf |
|---|---|
| Cetonax Scalp Lotion (60 ml) | A ketoconazole 2% scalp lotion, not a shampoo: DRAP registers it as a lotion (registration 101148). |
| Seboderm Anti-Dandruff Shampoo (100 ml) | Its carton names zinc pyrithione and climbazole but prints no strengths, and we did not find it on DRAP’s drug registry. |
| ProScalp Dandruff Shampoo | The active ingredients are not legible on the pack images we have seen, and we did not find it on DRAP’s drug registry. |
| Meclay London Anti Dandruff Shampoo | Its labels print no strengths, the ingredient list differs between bottle sizes, and we did not find it on DRAP’s drug registry. |
Registration in Pakistan
Medicated shampoos are now therapeutic goods under DRAP.
Under S.R.O. 1688(I)/2026 of 6 October 2026, DRAP notified medicated shampoos as therapeutic goods under the DRAP Act, 2012. When we searched DRAP’s drug registry on 5 November 2026, Genketo was listed as a registered shampoo; DRAP’s Health & OTC product index was unavailable when we tried to check.
Frequently asked questions
Is dandruff a liver problem?
Neither the NHS nor the American Academy of Dermatology lists the liver as a cause of dandruff. The NHS says dandruff may be caused by different things, including a type of yeast that naturally lives on your skin, and skin conditions such as eczema, and that it is not caused by poor hygiene. The AAD says a dermatologist can tell whether dandruff is a sign of a medical condition, such as seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, fungal infections of the scalp or eczema.
Which anti-dandruff shampoo ingredient works best?
No single ingredient is named as the best. The NHS suggests a shampoo with 1 or more of ketoconazole, coal tar or salicylic acid, and says you might need to try more than 1 type to find one that works for you. The AAD adds zinc pyrithione, sulfur and selenium sulfide to that list, and says that if one shampoo doesn’t work, you can try alternating between shampoos with different active ingredients.
How long does ketoconazole shampoo take to work?
The NHS’s common questions about ketoconazole say ketoconazole shampoo usually takes 2 to 4 weeks to work for dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis, and to talk to your pharmacist or doctor if your symptoms are no better after 4 weeks, or speak to your doctor if they get worse at any time.
Can I use ketoconazole shampoo in pregnancy?
The NHS page on ketoconazole in pregnancy says you can use ketoconazole shampoo if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. DRAP’s approved product information for Nizoral 2% shampoo says there are no known risks associated with ketoconazole 2% in pregnancy or lactation.
Can children use ketoconazole shampoo?
Not under the age of 12. The NHS says most adults and children aged 12 years or over can use ketoconazole shampoos, and DRAP’s approved product information for Nizoral 2% shampoo says it is for use in adolescents and adults. Ask a doctor about a child’s scalp: the NHS says ringworm on the scalp usually needs prescription antifungal tablets and shampoo.
Written by the ePharmacyy pharmacy team.
Last checked against the sources below on