Zinc Pyrithione
Zinc 2-mercaptopyridine-1-oxide / Pyrithione zinc
Effective antifungal/antibacterial against Malassezia; EU Annex V preservative; US OTC monograph antidandruff drug at 0.3-1% (drug product in US); environmental concern, aquatic toxicity (TCS should flag in Layer 5C); drug/cosmetic boundary critical in India and US claim assessment
Function & Common Use
Active (antidandruff) / Preservative
Preservative
Antidandruff shampoos scalp treatments body wash (seborrheic dermatitis)
Synthetic
Concentration Limits
1% max
EU Annex V: 1% rinse-off hair and body wash; 0.5% other rinse-off; not in aerosol/spray
Format restriction: Rinse-off
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zinc Pyrithione safe to use in skincare?
Zinc Pyrithione has a Medium concern rating. Effective antifungal/antibacterial against Malassezia; EU Annex V preservative; US OTC monograph antidandruff drug at 0.3-1% (drug product in US); environmental concern, aquatic toxicity (TCS should flag in Layer 5C); drug/cosmetic boundary critical in India and US claim assessment
Is Zinc Pyrithione allowed in India?
Zinc Pyrithione is currently classified as "Permitted as OTC in some markets" under Indian cosmetics regulations. The maximum permitted concentration is 1% max.
What is Zinc Pyrithione used for in cosmetics?
Zinc Pyrithione functions as: Active (antidandruff) / Preservative. It is commonly found in: Antidandruff shampoos scalp treatments body wash (seborrheic dermatitis).
Regulatory Status
EU Annex: Annex V
Identifiers
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