Clinical Efficacy for 1% Zinc Pyrithione Shampoo for the Treatment of Dandruff

Park, Juhee; Kim, Beom Joon; Kim, Myeung Nam; Hong, Yeon Pyo; Ju, Jung Hun; Lee, Jung Pyo; Sohn, Kyung Hee; Park, Kui Lea; Lee, Eun Chang; Chun, Young Jin

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Dandruff is a common complaint, and is suffered by up to 50% of the population at some time. Malassezia yeasts, which comprise part of the normal skin flora, might be a critical factor in this disease, as they have been found in higher proportions in patients with seborrheic dermatitis or dandruff, its milder form.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of 4 weeks of treatment with 1% zinc pyrithione (ZP) shampoo.
METHODS
A randomized, double-blind, 4-week treatment period was preceded by a 1-week run-in period. A total of 30 patients were enrolled in this study. Assessments included the patient's subjective score (PSS) and the investigator's assessment score (IAS), images of the affected scalp area, the severity of sebum production, and the erythema and moisturizing effect of the shampoo.
RESULTS
1% ZP shampoo significantly reduced the extent and severity of scaling, as measured by folliscope imaging on visit 2 (p=0.0391) and visit 3 (p=0.0381), as well as pruritus related to the disease as measured by the grading systems, PSS (p=0.0352) and IAS (p=0.0142). Additionally, the results of this study show that a treatment regimen with 1% ZP shampoo significantly reduced scalp sebum production as measured by a sebumeter. Erythema measured by the chromameter was not as meaningful. The corneometric values were slightly increased in the group treated with 1% ZP shampoo but not in the group treated with ZP-free shampoo. Side effects of the ZP shampoo were quite mild and tolerable, and were observed only in a small group of patients.
CONCLUSION
1% ZP shampoo appears to be both effective and well-tolerated when used for the treatment of dandruff.