Shampoo With Zinc

Some shampoos contain zinc pyrithione to help with dandruff.

Shampoos with zinc are essentially dandruff shampoos. The chemical ingredient is zinc pyrithione, and three popular brand names on the market are Head & Shoulders, Denorex, and Dermazinc. Dandruff is seborrhea of the scalp. Seborrhea is an extremely common skin condition that can occur anywhere on the body where high concentrations of oil, or sebum, exist. Nearly 5 percent of the population has the condition, says MedicineNet.com. An itchy red rash can appear with seborrhea, and it's more common in men than women.

Significance

Commonly targeted areas where seborrhea can occur are any folds of skin--as those under the breasts, along with the face, ears, chest, and, of course, scalp. No one really knows how seborrhea arises. According to MedicineNet.com, Malassezia furfur is a skin yeast that is suspected of playing a part.

Features

Dandruff, that all-too frequently advertised social stigma, is a seborrhea infection. More scientifically known as seborrhea of the scalp, dandruff is seen as thick, scaly patches on the head. But when seborrhea occurs on the face, look for brownish, dry or greasy scaling around the nose, behind the ears and over the eyebrows. Be aware that seborrheic skin has a tendency toward dryness, but applying moisturizer, or conditioner in the case of the scalp, will worsen the redness and itching.

Effects

An antiseborrheic, zinc shampoo acts directly on the skin cells, retarding their growth and development, and thereby easing flaking of the skin. Besides zinc shampoo, other dandruff shampoo treatment options are preparations that have ketoconazole, salicylic acid, selenium sulfide, and tar.

Considerations

Know that zinc shampoo and other shampoo preparations are effective at treating dandruff, but do not offer a cure. Even shampoos that require a prescription can't claim to keep the the seborrhea permanently at bay. In most cases, dandruff is an occasional problem that requires treatment only now and then.

Function

Zinc pyrithione is known for its antibacterial and antifungal properties, explains Drugs.com. The mineral compound kills a range of bacterial agents, including both staphylococcus and streptococcus. It is used to treat fungus-related medical conditions other than dandruff, such as athletes foot, eczema, ringworm, tinea, and vitiligo, among others. In addition to shampoos, zinc pyrithione is used in soap and lotions.

References

• American Academy of Family Physicians: Seborrhea: What It Is and How to Treat It
• MedicineNet: Dandruff (Seborrhea)
• Drugs: Pyrithione Zinc Shampoo