Zinc Pyrithione for Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis)

The active in classic anti-dandruff and anti-Malassezia formulas. RCTs show it clears severe dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis on par with ketoconazole 2%; also useful in fungal acne and scalp folliculitis. The reason your medicated body wash actually works.

Why it works for Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis)

Kills the yeast (Malassezia) behind fungal acne. It floods the yeast cells with copper to toxic levels and shuts down the parts they need to breathe. It is an FDA-approved over-the-counter dandruff ingredient, and people use it off-label as a 1-2% face or body wash (lather, leave on 3-5 minutes, then rinse). For the related condition dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis), trials show it works about as well as 2% ketoconazole.

How Zinc Pyrithione works

Zinc-chelated pyrithione that disrupts fungal membrane transport (notably Malassezia spp.) and inhibits bacterial growth; depolarises microbial cell membranes by increasing intracellular copper to toxic levels. FDA-approved OTC antidandruff active.

Evidence

4 citations from our ingredient database. Full citation list on the Zinc Pyrithione ingredient page.

journal2013

Turner GA, Matheson JR, Li GZ, Fei XQ, Zhu D, Baines FL. Enhanced efficacy and sensory properties of an anti-dandruff shampoo containing zinc pyrithione and climbazole. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2013;35(1):78-83. — clinical evaluation of the zinc pyrithione dual-active shampoo demonstrated superior anti-dandruff efficacy that was retained during a regression phase.

journal2011

Reeder NL, Xu J, Youngquist RS, Schwartz JR, Rust RC, Saunders CW. The antifungal mechanism of action of zinc pyrithione. Br J Dermatol. 2011;165 Suppl 2:9-12.

journal2003

Berger RS, Fu JL, Smiles KA, Turner CB, Schnell BM, Werchowski KM, Lammers KM. The effects of minoxidil, 1% pyrithione zinc and a combination of both on hair density: a randomized controlled trial. Br J Dermatol. 2003;149(2):354-362. — 1% pyrithione zinc shampoo produced a modest, sustained improvement in hair count over the 26-week treatment period.

journal2002

Pierard-Franchimont C, Goffin V, Decroix J, Pierard GE. A multicenter randomized trial of ketoconazole 2% and zinc pyrithione 1% shampoos in severe dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. Skin Pharmacol Appl Skin Physiol. 2002;15(6):434-441.

Full Zinc Pyrithione guide →Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) overview →