Zinc pyrithion

Pyrithione zinc has a number of qualities that may be helpful in alleviating psoriasis symptoms. It is an antiseborrheic, which means that it helps to prevent or relieve excessive secretions of the sebaceous glands. These glands lie beneath the skin and are usually connected with hair follicles. Their function is to soften and lubricate the skin and DermaHarmony Skin-Plaquehair. When sebaceous glands become overactive, an inflammatory skin rash known as seborrheic dermatitis can result. Pyrithione zinc also has both antifungal and antibacterial properties, which may help reduce inflammation on the skin and provide added relief for psoriasis sufferers. Topical zinc pyrithione is generally recognized as a safe and effective treatment for reduction in scale, erythema, and pruritus and can be applied and left on the skin or scalp for the control of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis.
The effectiveness of pyrithione zinc is well-established, but as with many modern medicines that have evolved from time-tested remedies, the way the drug actually works is less clear. Many scientists believe that pyrithione zinc slows down mitosis (cell division) and reduces the turnover of skin cells. Pyrithione zinc also slows down the growth of bacteria and fungi on the skin, but researchers have not yet determined whether this contributes to the antiseborrheic effects of the drug.