ZINC PCA

EU max concentration: 1% (as zinc)

📊 Comedogenicity

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Zinc PCA (the zinc salt of L-pyrrolidone carboxylate) is a skin-conditioning ingredient that has been studied as part of multi-ingredient topical formulas for seborrheic dermatitis—a chronic, recurrent inflammatory skin condition that causes redness, flaking, and itching, especially in areas with more oil glands. #1: For facial seborrheic dermatitis, zinc PCA appears in non-steroidal cream formulas alongside other active ingredients like piroctone olamine (an antifungal) and stearyl glycyrrhetinate (an anti-inflammatory). In a 60-day clinical trial published in Clinical & Cosmetic Investigative Dermatology (2019), a cream containing zinc PCA showed statistically significant improvements in scaling, redness, and itching by day 15, with further improvement by day 60; 90% of patients showed overall improvement, with 53% experiencing excellent response (>80% improvement).

A separate case series in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology (2020) of 11 patients with mild-to-moderate facial seborrheic dermatitis using an 8-week treatment with a non-steroidal cream containing zinc PCA reported that all patients improved, with 81.8% showing excellent response and 18.1% showing good response. #2: In HIV-positive patients with mild-to-moderate facial seborrheic dermatitis, a 12-week study published in Clinical & Cosmetic Investigative Dermatology (2022) found that a topical cream containing zinc PCA (applied twice daily) produced clinical improvement in all 20 patients, with no adverse effects and no need for rescue corticosteroid therapy. #3: For scalp seborrheic dermatitis, zinc PCA was studied as part of a combination treatment in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (2025).

A 4-week intensive phase using a pre-application gel containing zinc PCA plus a cleansing lotion, followed by 12 weeks of maintenance with the cleansing lotion, showed significant reductions in dandruff scores, itchiness, redness, and greasiness by week 4. After 16 weeks, 12 patients with severe scalp seborrheic dermatitis improved to mild, and six with moderate improved to mild, for an overall clinical improvement rate of 80%. Across all studies, products containing zinc PCA were well-tolerated with no significant adverse effects reported. However, it’s important to note that zinc PCA was not tested in isolation—it was always combined with other active ingredients, so its individual contribution to efficacy cannot be separated from the other components in these formulas.

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

🧴 Products Containing ZINC PCA

• shampoo
• DM alverde Active Nature Shampoo
• Lavera Deo Roll-on Invisible 24h
• Aroma zone Sérum Niacinamide 10%, cuivre & zinc
• Чистая линия фитотерапия Идеальная кожа
• Ivatherm Ivapur
• Reinigungsschaum
• lea nature bb creme peau parfaite
• Biorepair, Coswell Colluttorio ad alta densità
• biorepair oral care advanced
• biorepair oral care advanced
• Le Petit Marseillais Shampooing Purifiant aux extraits d’Ortie et de Citron
• Istituto Elvetico Sanders Alodermin pre shampoo
• Istituto elvetico Sanders Enoxyl tonic
• Istituto Elvetico Sanders Rigenexyl plus
• Le Petit Marseillais Shampooing Purifiant Douceur à l’Argile Blanche & à l’Aloe Vera
• Le petit Marseillais Shampooing gel purifiant Feuille d’ortie et Citron bio
• Rogé Cavaillès Nutrissance Crème mains Nourrissante
• NaturVital Champú anticaída Refrescante
• Pilexil,Lacer Pilexil

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Dall’Oglio F et al. (2019). Clinical and instrumental evaluation of a new topical non-corticosteroid antifungal/anti-inflammatory/antiseborrheic combination cream for the treatment of mild-to-moderate facial seborrheic dermatitis. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol.
• Ge L et al. (2025). A Cohort Clinical Study on the Efficacy of Topical Salicylic Acid/Piroctone Olamine Dandruff Pre-Gel and Cleanser in Improving Symptoms of Moderate to Severe Seborrheic Dermatitis of the Scalp. J Cosmet Dermatol.
• Keshavarzi A et al. (2019). Ecological risk assessment and source apportionment of heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils of Northeastern Iran. Int J Environ Health Res.
• Piquero-Casals J et al. (2020). Non-Steroidal Topical Therapy for Facial Seborrheic Dermatitis. J Drugs Dermatol.
• Cortés-Correa C et al. (2022). Facial Seborrheic Dermatitis in HIV-Seropositive Patients: Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of a Non-Steroidal Cream Containing Piroctone Olamine, Biosaccharide Gum-2 and Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate – A Case Series. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol.