CosmeticBet
Anti-dandruff actives

Climbazole

INCI: CLIMBAZOLE

An azole antifungal for dandruff shampoos.

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C15H17ClN2O2292.76 g/mol
chlorineoxygennitrogencarbonhydrogen
3D shape from PubChem 37907

How common

All products0.11%
In shampoos0.60%

17 of 14,784 products with a full ingredient list in Open Beauty Facts; No. 1245 of all the names found on their labels.

What it is

  • An imidazole compound: azoles are among the antifungal agents that work against dandruff.

    2 sourcesHide
    1-(4-Chlorophenoxy)- 1-(imidazol-1-yl)-3,3- dimethylbutan-2-one[1] EU law · 2026 · open source
    such as azoles, hydroxypyridones, allylamines, selenium and zinc, the sole common mechanism of action is antifungal activity[2] Study · 2015 · open source

Why it is in products

  • Against dandruff, usually paired with another active.

    2 sourcesHide
    Rinse-off anti-dandruff shampoo ( 29 ) 2,0 % ( 29 )[1] EU law · 2026 · open source
    shampoo containing the dual active system of ZPT/Climbazole[3] Study · 2013 · open source

What it does

  • Studied mostly in pairs, by companies that sell them: one trial reported superior results for a zinc pyrithione and climbazole pair; another found an improved zinc pyrithione shampoo beat such a pair.

    Some evidencescalp2 sourcesHide
    Clinical evaluation of the dual active shampoo demonstrated superior efficacy[3] Study · 2013 · open source
    A 4-week treatment with the Potentiated ZPT formula resulted in superior clinical efficacy compared with the Dual Active product[4] Study · 2013 · open source

Where it works

SurfaceOuter layer(stratum corneum)Living layer(epidermis)Dermis

On the scalp, against the yeasts linked to dandruff.

Some evidenceSourceHide
the sole common mechanism of action is antifungal activity[2] Study · 2015 · open source

Rules

European Union

  • Up to 2.0% in rinse-off anti-dandruff shampoos (Annex III, entry 310); as a preservative, up to 0.5% in rinse-off shampoos (Annex V, entry 32).

    3 sourcesHide
    Rinse-off anti-dandruff shampoo ( 29 ) 2,0 % ( 29 )[1] EU law · 2026 · open source
    (d) Rinse-off shampoo ( 21 )[1] EU law · 2026 · open source
    (d) 0,5 % ( 21 )[1] EU law · 2026 · open source

United States

  • Not one of the US over-the-counter dandruff drug ingredients.

    How we checkedHide
    We searched the FDA’s list of prohibited and restricted cosmetic ingredients: no entry.open the list

Sources

  1. Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products, consolidated text of 18 May 2026 Publications Office of the European Union (EUR-Lex/Cellar), 2026EU law
  2. Seborrheic Dermatitis and Dandruff: A Comprehensive Review Journal of clinical and investigative dermatology, 2015Study
  3. Enhanced efficacy and sensory properties of an anti-dandruff shampoo containing zinc pyrithione and climbazole Turner GA et al., International journal of cosmetic science, 2013StudyAuthors include staff of Unilever
  4. Therapeutic efficacy of anti-dandruff shampoos: a randomized clinical trial comparing products based on potentiated zinc pyrithione and zinc pyrithione/climbazole Schwartz JR et al., International journal of cosmetic science, 2013StudyAuthors include staff of Procter & Gamble

Checked against these sources on 4 November 2026. Spot a mistake? Tell us.