Zinc Pyrithione Powder: Benefits And Uses In Hair Care Products

Mar 20, 2026

what is Zinc Pyrithione Powder?

 

Zinc Pyrithione powder is a coordination compound formed by zinc ions and pyrithione. Its characteristics include:

 

  • Physical Properties: At room temperature, it appears as a white to yellow crystalline powder with a faint, characteristic odor; it has a density of approximately 1.782 g/cm³ and a melting point of approximately 240°C.
  • Solubility: It is insoluble in water and slightly soluble in organic solvents such as ethanol and DMSO.
  • Stability: It is sensitive to light and oxidizing agents; it decomposes readily in acidic or alkaline environments at high temperatures and may become inactivated when combined with EDTA or non-ionic surfactants.

 

zinc pyrithione benefits:

 

1. Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties

  • Disruption of Membrane Transport: By blocking proton pumps, it interferes with the transport of ions and metabolites within microorganisms, leading to uncontrolled metabolic dysfunction.
  • Copper Ion Carrier Activity: Acting as a carrier for copper ions, it facilitates the uptake of copper into cells, thereby inhibiting the activity of iron-sulfur proteins and suppressing pathogen growth.
  • Broad-Spectrum Efficacy: Zinc pyrithione ZPT powder exhibits potent bactericidal and fungicidal activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as fungi.

 

2. Scalp Care

  • Anti-dandruff Mechanism: Inhibits dandruff-causing fungi and reduces the rate of keratinocyte shedding, thereby fundamentally minimizing dandruff formation.
  • Persistence: Due to its insolubility within surfactant systems, a portion of the ingredients remains adsorbed onto the scalp surface after washing, thereby prolonging the anti-dandruff effect.

 

3. Safety
Concentration Limit: The maximum permissible concentration in cosmetic products is 0.5%, restricted exclusively to rinse-off products.

 

zinc pyrithione uses:

 

1. Anti dandruff shampoo containing zinc pyrithione

As a key active ingredient, it addresses dandruff issues by inhibiting scalp fungi.

 

2. Skincare Products

It is incorporated into lotions, gels, and powders, acting as a preservative or an anti-seborrheic agent to help control acne and skin infections.

 

3. Paints and Plastics

Used as a biocide to prevent microbial growth and extend product shelf life.

 

4. Marine Anti-Fouling

Functions as a broad-spectrum biocide in marine coatings to minimize biofouling on ship hulls.

 

5. Medical and Scientific Research

  • Anti-Tumor Research: Induces copper ion overload in tumor cells, thereby disrupting mitochondrial function and activating immunogenicity.
  • Antimicrobial Agent Development: Used in the formulation of topical antifungal medications or as a surface coating material for medical devices.

 

About us:

 

Fruiterco is an export company that mainly produces plant extracts, health product raw materials, and cosmetic raw materials. The company has a 20+ professional service after-sales team.

 

Our products are sold to North America, Europe, Australia, South America and Asia. Our products have passed quality inspection and also support customer re-inspection. If you would like to buy zinc pyrithione powder, please contact us: Email: info@fruiterco.com.

 

References:

 

1. A multicenter randomized trial of ketoconazole 2% and zinc pyrithione 1% shampoos in severe dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis.

2. Dandruff/seborrhoeic dermatitis is characterized by an inflammatory genomic signature and possible immune dysfunction: transcriptional analysis of the condition and treatment effects of zinc pyrithione.

3. Schwartz J. R. Zinc Pyrithione: A Topical Antimicrobial With Complex Pharmaceutics. Journal of drugs in dermatology. (2016).

4. Mangion SE, Holmes AM, Roberts MS. Targeted Delivery of Zinc Pyrithione to Skin Epithelia. Int J Mol Sci. (2021, September 8).

5. https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-education/medications/adult/pyrithione-zinc

6. https://main.shapiromd.com/blogs/does-pyrithione-zinc-cause-cancer

7. Saint-Leger D. Dandruff (pityriasis capitis simplex): Of yeasts and men. In: Bouillon C., Wilkinson J., editors. The Science of Haircare. CRC Press; Boca Raton, FL, USA: 2005. pp. 609–631.

 

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