CosmeticBet
Anti-dandruff actives

Piroctone olamine

INCI: PIROCTONE OLAMINE

Europe’s common anti-dandruff ingredient.

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C16H30N2O3298.42 g/mol
oxygennitrogencarbon
2D drawing from PubChem 50258 (hydrogens hidden)

How common

All products1.1%
In shampoos5.5%
In face moisturisers1.4%
In conditioners1.3%

162 of 14,784 products with a full ingredient list in Open Beauty Facts; No. 237 of all the names found on their labels.

What it is

  • The ethanolamine salt of a hydroxypyridone (1-hydroxy-2-pyridone). Hydroxypyridones are among the antifungal agents that work against dandruff.

    2 sourcesHide
    1-Hydroxy-4-methyl-6-(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) 2-pyridon and its monoethanolamine salt[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; the EU lists it among the allowed preservatives.

    2 sourcesHide
    Efficacy of a piroctone olamine/climbazol shampoo in comparison with a zinc pyrithione shampoo in subjects with moderate to severe dandruff.[3] Study · 2011 · open source
    Piroctone Olamine 50650-76-5, 68890-66-4 272-574-2 Rinse-off products 1,0 % Other products 0,5 %[1] EU law · 2026 · open source

What it does

  • In two company-run trials, shampoos with it (combined with climbazole, or with salicylic acid) reduced dandruff about as well as a 1% zinc pyrithione shampoo.

    Some evidencescalp3 sourcesHide
    In an in vivo split head design study, shampoo 1 was shown to be equally effective in reducing the amount of dandruff on the scalp compared with shampoo 2.[3] Study · 2011 · open source
    the efficacy of a shampoo containing 0.5% piroctone olamine and 0.45% climbazole (shampoo 1) was compared with a widely available commercial shampoo containing 1% zinc pyrithione (shampoo 2)[3] Study · 2011 · open source
    Both shampoos were highly effective in reducing the dandruff.[4] Study · 2000 · 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

  • Allowed up to 1.0% in rinse-off products and 0.5% in others (preservative list, Annex V, entry 35).

    SourceHide
    Piroctone Olamine 50650-76-5, 68890-66-4 272-574-2 Rinse-off products 1,0 % Other products 0,5 %[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. Efficacy of a piroctone olamine/climbazol shampoo in comparison with a zinc pyrithione shampoo in subjects with moderate to severe dandruff Schmidt-Rose T et al., International journal of cosmetic science, 2011StudyAuthors include staff of Beiersdorf
  4. The antidandruff efficacy of a shampoo containing piroctone olamine and salicylic acid in comparison to that of a zinc pyrithione shampoo Lodén M et al., International journal of cosmetic science, 2000StudyAuthors include staff of ACO Hud

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