Zinc Pyrithione although the exact mechanism of action of the "activated" zinc pyrithione preparation is unknown it may be speculated that the possible anti-proliferative mechanism of action of zinc pyrithione may involve the regulation of DNA transcription factors containing "zinc finger" binding domains.(9,10) It is also well recognized that many enzymes require the binding of metal ions for activation. Perhaps one of these (zinc requiring) enzymes or transcription factors plays a key role in the regulation of cellular proliferation. It is also well known that a deficiency of zinc produces a disease state (acrodermatitis enteropathica) that includes psoriasiform lesions (11,12). Perhaps the vehicle or the activated form of zinc pyrithione permits a physiologic level of zinc to be reached in the target cells, either epidermal and/or lymphocytic. The combination of zinc pyrithione with the other vehicle including isopropyl myristate may also have significant additional influence on clinical effectiveness..
Zinc pyrithione is also used extensively in adhesive coatings for floorings and for fungal protection of carpet backing. It is registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as zinc OMADINE® fungicide by Arch for applications such as dry-film preservation of architectural and industrial paints and coatings, as well as adhesives, sealants and grouts. Zinc OMADINE® fungicide is available in standard and fine-particle, 48% aqueous-dispersion form with a negligible VOC content.

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Zinc pyrithione is also known as zinc 2-pyridinethiol-n-oxide. It has a water solubility of 8 ppm at neutral pH. This low solubility makes the zinc pyrithione suitable for use in outdoor products that require protection against microorganisms, because it will not easily leach out of a paint film.

Zinc Pyrithione though still relatively new to the industry, has been well-received by the industry as both a fungicide and algaecide. During the last 10 years, the industry has not had many choices of new dry-film preservatives. However, zinc pyrithione actually is not a new fungicide -- it has been used for more than 30 years as the fungicide in anti dandruff shampoos and similar personal care products.

UV degradation of zinc pyrithione in a paint film is gradual, and therefore, efficacy in direct sunlight can be expected for years. Its stability at high temperatures is also very good -- zinc pyrithione can withstand temperatures of 100°C for at least 120 hours, with a decomposition temperature of 240°C. Another concern for fungicides in latex paints is alkaline stability.

The stability of zinc pyrithione is presently being studied at up to pH 11.0. After nine months at pH 11.0, a 0.5 % zinc pyrithione dispersion is still stable, and the study will continue.

Because pyrithione is an excellent chelating agent, zinc pyrithione cannot be used in paints that relies on metal carboxalates for film cure. The metal, particularly cobalt will transchelate with the zinc and lose the ability to catalyze the film curing. Also, in latex paints, if the water supply contains high concentrations of soluble iron, a sequestering agent should be used to preferentially chelate with the iron.

Since zinc pyrithione shows little tendency to yellow in paint films and does not cause acceleration of chalking or fading, the same fungicide can be used for both whites and colors. This reduces inventory and helps formulators avoid the inadvertent addition of the wrong fungicide to a batch of paint. Photo below illustrates the negligible effect zinc pyrithione has on the fading of a blue tint, acrylic latex paint when compared to a commonly used fungicide.

We present here a report of a case using a novel topical preparation of zinc pyrithione for the treatment of psoriasis. Topical zinc pyrithione appears to be a safe and effective treatment for psoriasis.

This report describes the use of a preparation containing zinc pyrithione (0.25%) in a vehicle containing isopropyl myristate to treat a case of psoriasis.

We have recently become aware of a new anti-psoriatic treatment containing zinc pyrithione (which is also recognized as the active ingredient in a major anti-dandruff shampoo). The effectiveness of zinc pyrithione to treat seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis has been well documented (4,5,6,7,8,13). Since some believe that seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis may lie on different ends of the same spectrum, it seemed reasonable to try a topical preparation of zinc pyrithione to treat psoriasis. The mechanism of action of zinc pyrithione on psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis has been reported to be anti-proliferative via "DNA interactions", anti-yeast, antiseptic, and keratinolytic mechanisms.(4,5,6,8)

We report here the clinical results of a psoriatic patient treated with a topical spray containing zinc pyrithione.

A 39 year old man with a 14 year history of moderate plaque psoriasis was instructed to spray the topical zinc pyrithione preparation, twice per day, to the left elbow. The right elbow was to be used as a control and received no treatment of any kind during the trial. The treatment preparation contains zinc pyrithione (0.25%) in a vehicle containing isopropyl myristate.

zinc pyrithione preparation to the left elbow only. At the end of the 3 week treatment period the left (treated) elbow was essentially clear. The right (control) elbow remained virtually unchanged, if not slightly worse. The patient also reported a complete disappearance of pruritus approximately 3 days into treatment, on the zinc pyrithione preparation treated plaque only, that was sustained throughout the treatment period.

In this preliminary report, an aerosol preparation of zinc pyrithione (0.25%) in a vehicle containing isopropyl myristate appears to be a safe and effective treatment for psoriasis. Each ml of the liquid preparation will cover an area the size of a palm, approximately 6-8 times.

Because of the promising results in this case report and a plethora of anecdotal reports, we are initiating a 60 patient, double-blind, vehicle- controlled clinical study evaluating the use of topical zinc pyrithione for the treatment of psoriasis. If additional controlled research confirms these encouraging results, topical zinc pyrithione may represent one of the major advances n the treatment of psoriasis.