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Zinc pyrithione

Ingredient · In our Post-Breakout Acne Cream

Zinc pyrithione

Zinc pyrithione is the antifungal you may know from dandruff shampoo. It helps keep Malassezia, a yeast that lives on skin, in check.1,2

Abstract silver folded foil, illustrative ingredient artwork
Zinc pyrithione

Photos are illustrations, not the medicine. Zinc pyrithione is made in a lab.

OTC ingredient, little acne data

Zinc pyrithione is allowed in over-the-counter products for dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis.1 Using it in an acne cream is off-label, and there's little direct research for that use. Our creams are compounded by a licensed pharmacy, and compounded versions are not FDA-approved.3

FDA-approved for this useWell studied, used off-labelEarly evidenceLittle or no human data

The studies below used FDA-approved products or other forms. Our compounded version hasn't been studied in trials, and results may differ.

What it is

Zinc pyrithione is an antifungal. Seborrheic dermatitis, which causes flaking, redness and itching, is driven largely by Malassezia yeast.2

Why it's in this product

Zinc pyrithione is a supporting ingredient that helps keep yeast on the skin in check, while the other ingredients focus on acne and dark marks.

Post-Breakout Acne Cream

What the studies in people show

  • ReviewOne of the most widely used dandruff ingredientsA review describes zinc pyrithione as one of the most widely used ingredients worldwide for dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis, balancing effectiveness with safety.2

What we don't know yet

Almost all the research is on dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. We haven't found good trials of zinc pyrithione for acne or dark marks, so treat it as a supporting ingredient.

Safety, in plain English

Zinc pyrithione has a long track record in over-the-counter products, and researchers describe it as balancing effectiveness with safety.2 Stop and tell your clinician if you notice irritation.

A licensed clinician reviews your health history and decides whether this cream is appropriate for you. Exploring it here never means you'll get a prescription.

Curious about zinc pyrithione?

Start with a free assessment. A licensed clinician reviews your health history and decides whether treatment is appropriate. No pressure, and no prescription unless it makes sense for you.

See Post-Breakout Acne CreamHow care works

Sources

  1. U.S. Code of Federal Regulations. 21 CFR 358.710: Active ingredients for the control of dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, or psoriasis. eCFR
  2. Mangion SE, et al. Targeted delivery of zinc pyrithione to skin epithelia. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22. PubMed 34575891
  3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Compounding and the FDA: Questions and Answers. FDA

Sources checked November 8, 2026. This page is general education, not medical advice, and it doesn't mean any treatment is right for you. Photos: Unsplash (Robert Stump).