The active ingredient in As I Am Dry & Itchy Scalp Care Oil Treatment is piroctone olamine, not zinc pyrithione and not tea tree oil. Tea tree sits eighth on the ingredient list, behind four plant oils, caprylic acid and piroctone. If your itch comes from mild dandruff, the formula makes sense; if it comes from something else, it will not fix it.
This is the ingredient list on the brand’s own page, read in order.
What is inside the oil treatment
The page on asiamnaturally.com lists 21 ingredients. The first four are castor, coconut, soybean and sunflower seed oils, so most of the bottle is plain carrier oil.
Caprylic acid is fifth and piroctone olamine sixth. Olive oil is seventh and tea tree leaf oil eighth, followed by aloe extract, three ceramides, oregano leaf extract, menthol and peppermint oil. Limonene and linalool, both fragrance allergens, close the list.
Video: Dr. Daniel Sugai
Does piroctone olamine treat dandruff
The brand page says piroctone olamine “fights dandruff, soothes itchiness, reduces redness, and restores scalp balance”. It is a known antidandruff ingredient in shampoos sold outside the US.
In the US it is not on the FDA’s OTC dandruff monograph, which lists coal tar, pyrithione zinc, salicylic acid, selenium sulfide and sulfur. That does not make it ineffective. It means this product is sold as a cosmetic, not as an FDA-recognized dandruff drug.
Ingredient position against the brand’s claims
| Ingredient | Position of 21 | Brand page claim | On FDA OTC dandruff list |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piroctone olamine | 6 | Fights dandruff, soothes itchiness | No |
| Tea tree leaf oil | 8 | Treats dandruff, fights scalp infections | No |
| Olive fruit oil | 7 | Moisturizes, smooths hair | No |
| Peppermint oil and menthol | 17 and 16 | Refreshing, soothing | No |
| Pyrithione zinc | Not in formula | Not claimed | Yes, 0.1 to 0.25 percent leave-on |
Sources: asiamnaturally.com product page and FDA OTC monograph M032, October 2026. The page also lists moisture percentages but gives no test method.
One note on sources. A YouTube description for this product mentions salicylic acid, but the brand’s current ingredient list does not include it.
Who it suits and who should see a dermatologist
It suits you if your scalp feels tight and flaky from dryness or product use, and you already tolerate plant oils. The brand suggests a leave-in every other day, or a hot oil treatment for 15 to 20 minutes before shampooing, once or twice a month.
A leave-in made mostly of oil is a bet if your flaking is oily dandruff. Compare your symptoms with our list of signs of an unhealthy scalp.
Menthol, peppermint, limonene and linalool can sting broken skin, so patch test first. If you want a plant oil with its own scalp reputation, see neem oil for scalp health.
Build-up can mimic dryness, so try a reset first with our guide to detoxing your scalp from product buildup.
See a dermatologist if you have thick scale, red patches, sores, spreading hair loss or itch that persists after a few weeks of treatment.
Questions readers ask
What is the active ingredient in As I Am Dry and Itchy Scalp Care Oil Treatment?
The ingredient list on the brand's page names piroctone olamine, an antidandruff ingredient, in sixth position. Tea tree leaf oil is eighth and olive fruit oil seventh.
Does As I Am Dry and Itchy Scalp oil contain tea tree oil?
Yes. Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil is eighth of 21 ingredients, after four carrier oils, caprylic acid, piroctone olamine and olive oil. The brand also lists peppermint oil and menthol.
How do you use As I Am Dry and Itchy Scalp Care Oil Treatment?
The brand suggests a leave-in every other day or as needed, or a hot oil treatment left on for 15 to 20 minutes before shampooing, once or twice a month. Patch test first.
