Zinc pyrithione is a zinc complex compound, which consists of three sulfur atoms and two oxygen atoms. This solid, colorless substance has been used in dermatology since the 1930s. It has pronounced fungicidal and antibacterial properties.
Zinc pyrithione is widely used in the treatment of seborrhea and psoriasis, including on hairy areas of the skin. It was first used in North America specifically for the treatment of dandruff. It was included in various medicated shampoos and was sold without a prescription. It became known about its ability to help with psoriasis quite by accident: it turned out that people suffering from this disease have been using products containing zinc pyrithione for a long time, and it helps them. Dermatologists have become interested in this effect, and in the course of clinical studies, many interesting facts have been revealed. For example, it turned out that the use of this substance allows you to get rid of psoriatic plaques in just a few days. Moreover, the studies involved patients in whom traditional treatment had nono effect. Scientists also found that after 2 days of using the drug, apoptosis phenomena are observed in the plaque.
The mechanism of action of this compound is not yet fully understood. According to one theory, zinc pyrithione blocks the proton pump in the cell membrane, as a result of which the transportation of substances necessary for vital activity is disrupted in it, and the cell dies. Today, this tool is most often used for
treatment of psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, eczema, shingles and dandruff. With various forms of dermatitis in children, Pyrithione Zinc is also used. The cream or aerosol is applied to the affected areas several times a day until complete recovery. It is also active against streptococci and staphylococci.
Zinc pyrithione is found in many anti-dandruff shampoos, as well as in medications of various forms. These can be aerosols, creams, ointments and shampoos. The latter are used to treat psoriasis on the head. One of the main advantages of the drug is that, unlike steroid hormones, which are most often used in the treatment of psoriasis, it is not addictive.
Today in any pharmacy you can buy the drug "Pyrithione zinc". The price for it, as a rule, depends on the manufacturer. Original drugs will cost an order of magnitude more than their counterparts.
The drug is well tolerated, in rare cases there are local allergic reactions, such as irritation ordry skin. Contraindication to use may be hypersensitivity to the active components of the drug. If the product gets into the eyes, they should be immediately rinsed with plenty of water, if the substance is swallowed inside, a gastric lavage should be carried out. Preparations containing zinc pyrithione are not recommended for use in combination with topical glucocorticosteroids.
