Piroctone olamine
Anti-dandruff ingredient now common in UK supermarket shampoos Also on labels as: Octopirox, piroctone ethanolamine
Reviewed on
What it does
Piroctone olamine is an anti-dandruff ingredient (and preservative) used in cosmetic shampoos. Since zinc pyrithione was banned from cosmetics in Great Britain, it has become a common active in supermarket anti-dandruff ranges — Head & Shoulders' UK ingredients page, for example, now lists piroctone olamine as its anti-dandruff ingredient.
It belongs to a chemical family (hydroxypyridones) that acts against fungi, and it's used to reduce the Malassezia yeast linked to dandruff. We haven't found a published explanation of its exact mechanism that we'd rely on.
Cautions
- As with any shampoo, stop if it irritates your scalp, and keep it out of your eyes.
- It's a cosmetic, not a medicine: if flaking is severe, or hasn't improved after about 4 weeks, see a pharmacist or GP.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence: Limited
Small or early studies only — promising at best.
Several small trials — most run or funded by manufacturers — found shampoos containing piroctone olamine reduced dandruff, and in one 6-month study of 150 men, 1% piroctone olamine, 1% ketoconazole and 1% zinc pyrithione shampoos all cleared itching and flaking quickly. We found no systematic review of piroctone olamine on its own, so we rate the evidence as limited.
UK rules and availability
Allowed in cosmetics in Great Britain as a preservative, at up to 1% in rinse-off products and 0.5% in other products.
Products on this site that list it
- Head & Shoulders Classic Clean Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
- Philip Kingsley Flaky/Itchy Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
- Philip Kingsley Flaky/Itchy Anti-Dandruff Scalp Toner
- Philip Kingsley Flaky/Itchy Scalp Mask (2 x 20ml)
Not medical advice. This guide is general information from the sources listed, not a diagnosis or a substitute for a pharmacist, GP or dermatologist. If you are worried, or symptoms are severe or not improving, get advice. Read our health information policy.
Sources
- legislation.gov.uk – Cosmetics Regulation Annex V (preservatives) legislation.gov.uk
- Head & Shoulders UK – Ingredients headandshoulders.co.uk
- Piérard-Franchimont C et al. Int J Cosmet Sci 2002 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Lodén M, Wessman C. Int J Cosmet Sci 2000 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Schmidt-Rose T et al. Int J Cosmet Sci 2011 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov