Name Ingredients:
Zinc pyrithione is a coordination complex of zinc. Due to its anti-fungal properties, it is a common ingredient used in shampoos targeted towards seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff. One study has also examined its efficacy in treating mild-to-moderate dandruff and telogen effluvium related to androgenic alopecia.
Key insights:
- The in vitro data suggests that zinc pyrithione can improve levels of natural moisturizing factors in skin with dandruff, close to the levels of skin without dandruff. Furthermore, it restores levels of sebum back to non-dandruff skin.
- The clinical evidence suggested that zinc pyrithione could decrease hair shedding by 10.1% (ketoconazole shampoo = 17.3%, and piroctone olamine = 16.5% decrease) and increase the number of anagen hairs by 6.8% (ketoconazole shampoo = 4.9%, and piroctone olamine = 7.9% increase) in men aged 18-65 years presenting with mild-to-moderate dandruff, telogen effluvium related to androgenic alopecia. However, none of the shampoos evaluated increased hair density overall.
- Our experience tracking members: by itself, zinc pyrithione is not enough to improve hair loss outcomes.
Additional links: