ZINC PYRITHIONE

📋 Quick facts

Description: ZINC PYRITHIONE — antimicrobial agent (mainly anti-dandruff use, also functions as preservative).

All Functions: antimicrobial agent (mainly anti-dandruff use, also functions as preservative)

Quick Facts:

• Category: preservative
• Regulatory Note: Prohibited in the EU

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Zinc pyrithione is an antifungal ingredient used for over 50 years, most commonly in dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis shampoos
• It works against Malassezia yeast, the primary microorganism involved in dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis
• The ingredient has a broad antimicrobial spectrum, affecting fungi, gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria
• It’s delivered as tiny particles that stick to the scalp and slowly release active material for extended effects
• Research shows it can also be used as a preservative in alcohol-based skin antisepsis products

⚗️ Chemical Overview

Zinc pyrithione is a fine beige granules. (NTP, 1992) Pyrithione Zinc is a coordination complex of the zinc ion and pyrithione, a derivative of the naturally occurring antibiotic aspergillic acid with antimicrobial, antifungal and anti-seborrheic effects. Although the exact mechanism of action remains to be fully elucidated, pyrithione zinc appears to interfere with the membrane transport of ions and metabolites, ultimately leading to a loss of metabolic control. In addition, this agent causes an influx of copper, leading to a reduction in the activity of iron-sulphur proteins resulting in growth inhibition. Zinc pyrithione is a chemical compound of zinc. It is used as an antifungal and antibacterial agent. Zinc is a metallic element with the atomic number 30. It is found in nature most often as the mineral sphalerite. Though excess zinc in harmful, in smaller amounts it is an essential element for life, as it is a cofactor for over 300 enzymes and is found in just as many transcription factors. (L48, L49, L76)

Source(s): NCI Thesaurus (NCIt), Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB), CAMEO Chemicals, via PubChem

📊 Comedogenicity

🛡️ Safety rating

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Zinc pyrithione (ZnPT) is a rationally designed molecule modeled after aspergillic acid, a naturally occurring antimicrobial compound (J Drugs Dermatol, 2016). Here’s how it works: #1: It targets dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis, which are driven by microbial imbalance involving Malassezia yeast species (Int J Mol Sci, 2021). The ingredient shows anti-fungal activity with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 10-15 ppm against the most common scalp yeasts—Malassezia globosa and Malassezia restricta (Int J Mol Sci, 2021). In human studies, zinc pyrithione treatment decreased M. restricta on the scalp, validating its antifungal efficacy (Med Mycol, 2021). #2: Its effectiveness comes from two key attributes: broad antimicrobial spectrum (affecting fungi and bacteria) and very low solubility, which means it’s formulated as particles rather than dissolved molecules (J Drugs Dermatol, 2016).

These particles deposit and remain on skin surfaces—even in rinse-off products like shampoos—and act as slow-release reservoirs, gradually releasing active molecules to control microbial populations and provide sustained benefits (J Drugs Dermatol, 2016). #3: For this particle-based delivery to work optimally, the formulation must achieve uniform distribution across the scalp surface and into hair follicles, maintain physical stability, and keep the zinc pyrithione chemically active (J Drugs Dermatol, 2016). This explains why products with identical zinc pyrithione concentrations can perform differently. #4: Beyond scalp use, zinc pyrithione functions as a preservative in alcohol-based skin antisepsis products, extending antimicrobial effects beyond what alcohol alone provides (Am J Infect Control, 2005).

According to that source, zinc pyrithione-preserved alcohol formulations can exceed the antimicrobial efficacy of iodine and chlorhexidine gluconate. Research has also demonstrated methods to visualize and measure zinc pyrithione distribution on the scalp using advanced imaging techniques (Photochem Photobiol, 2019), supporting ongoing investigation into formulation optimization.

📄 Related Research

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

• Mangion SE et al. (2021). Targeted Delivery of Zinc Pyrithione to Skin Epithelia. Int J Mol Sci.
• Sandiford L et al. (2019). Optical Characterization of Zinc Pyrithione. Photochem Photobiol.
• Schwartz JR (2016). Zinc Pyrithione: A Topical Antimicrobial With Complex Pharmaceutics. J Drugs Dermatol.
• Guthery E et al. (2005). Zinc pyrithione in alcohol-based products for skin antisepsis: persistence of antimicrobial effects. Am J Infect Control.
• Leong C et al. (2021). Effect of zinc pyrithione shampoo treatment on skin commensal Malassezia. Med Mycol.

🧴 Products Containing ZINC PYRITHIONE

• Head & shoulders 2 in 1 Classic
• Head & Shoulders Shampooing antipelliculaire + après-shampooing 2 in 1 anti-chute
• Head & Shoulders Shampooing antipelliculaire + après-shampooing 2 in 1 Sensitive
• Head & Shoulders Shampooing antipelliculaire Instant Relief Apaisement
• Head & Shoulders Shampooing antipelliculaire Instant Apaisement
• Head & Shoulders Shampooing antipelliculaire Lisse & Soyeux (maxi pack)
• Head & Shoulders Shampooing antipelliculaire anti-démangeaisons eucalyptus (maxi pack)
• h
• Head & Shoulders Shampooing antipelliculaire Citrus Fresh
• Head & Shoulders Shampooing antipelliculaire Sensitive
• Pantene, Procter & Gamble srl Pantene Pro-V 3 in 1 Shampoo + Balsamo + trattamento
• clear nen
• Head & Shoulders Men ultra anti-chute
• Head & Shoulders, Procter & Gamble Shampooing anti-pelliculaire soin anti-démangeaisons à l’extrait d’eucalyptus
• Head & Shoulders 2 en 1 suave y manejable
• Sedal,Unilever Aloe Vera & Menta
• Head & Shoulders Shampooing antipelliculaire + après-shampooing 2 in 1 Menthol Fresh
• PROCTER & GAMBLE NORGE AS Head & Shoulder Balsam Supreme Moisture 220ml
• PROCTER & GAMBLE NORGE AS Head & Shoulder Balsam Supreme Repair 220ml
• Carrefour Shampooing antipelliculaire intensif Cheveux gras
• Les Cosmétiques Design Paris, Men’Activ Science Shampooing antipelliculaire intensif Intense Clean
• Eugène Perma, Pétrole Hahn Shampooing stop pellicules classique, cheveux normaux
• Auchan Shampoing extra doux Cèdre & Eucalyptus antipelliculaire
• Colomer, Revlon Formule ZP11 Cheveux Normaux
• Colomer, Revlon Formule ZP 11 Cheveux Gras
• Unilever, Axe Zero pellicule – shampooing zinc & eau de glacier
• Pétrole Hahn Shampooing Special Pellicules (format économique)
• Petrole Hahn Shampooing Stop Pellicules Classique Gras
• Eugène Perma, Pétrole Hahn Shampooing anti pelliculaire classique, cheveux normaux
• Eugène Perma, Pétrole Hahn Shampooing Stop Pellicules + anti-démangeaisons
• Pétrole Hahn Shampooing expert anti pelliculaire Pureté
• Pétrole Hahn Shampooing expert anti pelliculaire Citrus
• Pétrole Hahn Shampooing expert anti pelliculaire anti démangeaisons
• Pétrole Hahn Shampooing expert anti pelliculaire Fresh
• Head & Shoukders 2 in 1 Shampoo
• Carrefour Shampooing antipelliculaire intensif
• Marque Repère, Carré Homme Shanpooing Antipelliculaire
• L’Oréal, L’Oreal Consumer products, Garnier, Fructis Fructis Shampooing antipelliculaire Classic
• l-oreal, l-oreal-consumer-products, garnier, Fructis Fructis Anti-Pelliculaire
• L’Oréal, L’Oreal Consumer products, Garnier, Fructis Fructis Shampooing fortifiant anti pelliculaire