Often prescribed to treat fungal infections of the skin or nails, ciclopirox olamine is also an effective ally for scalps prone to dandruff or inflammation. How does it act to rebalance the scalp? Read on to learn more about the hair benefits of ciclopirox olamine.
What are the benefits of ciclopirox olamine for hair?
Published on July 22, 2025, by Pauline, Chemical Engineer — 7 min of reading
Themes:
How does ciclopirox olamine care for the scalp?
The ciclopirox olamine is a synthetic derivative of ciclopirox, an antifungal agent. When combined with ethanolamine, it exhibits greater water solubility and improved bioavailability. It is among the few broad-spectrum antifungals capable of acting against dermatophytes, yeasts including Candida and Malassezia, and certain moulds. Its chemical structure, derived from hydroxypyridone, gives it a particular affinity for metal ions, notably iron, which it chelates, thereby disrupting microbial metabolism. In addition to its antifungal properties, ciclopirox olamine also exhibits antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity, making its use particularly relevant for managing dermatoses where microbial proliferation and inflammation coexist, such as seborrhoeic dermatitis.
From a hair-care standpoint, ciclopirox olamine is particularly effective in combating dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis.
As a reminder, dandruff are primarily associated with the proliferation of yeasts of the genus Malassezia. Their proliferation on the scalp results in the breakdown of sebum lipids into irritating fatty acids, which are responsible for local inflammation, occasionally accompanied by itching, and also accelerates epidermal desquamation. Dandruff represents a mild, localized form of seborrhoeic dermatitis, a more widespread inflammatory skin condition with an identical pathogenesis.
Ciclopirox olamine acts at multiple levels to target dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis. As mentioned above, this active ingredient exerts a direct antifungal activity against yeasts Malassezia by disrupting their cellular metabolism. Ciclopirox olamine works by chelating iron, a metal essential for the activity of numerous fungal enzymes—such as cytochromes, catalases and peroxidases—involved in mitochondrial respiration and oxidative stress management. By inhibiting these metal-dependent enzymes, ciclopirox induces an intracellular iron deficiency in the fungi, compromising their viability.
In parallel, ciclopirox olamine possesses anti-inflammatory activity that complements its antifungal action. It blocks certain inflammatory pathways, notably those derived from arachidonic acid, by inhibiting cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase. This action of ciclopirox olamine enables it to reduce the production of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins and leukotrienes, the molecules responsible for the redness, itching and irritation associated with dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis. Moreover, studies have shown that it decreases the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, enhancing its soothing effect on the scalp while minimising the risk of recurrence.
The effects of ciclopirox olamine on dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis have been investigated in numerous trials. The table below presents some of the results obtained.
| Study | Participants | Protocol | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| … GOODE & al. (1998) | 163 individuals with dandruff or seborrhoeic dermatitis. | Apply a 1.5% ciclopirox olamine shampoo or a 2% ketoconazole shampoo three times per week for four weeks. | A 78% reduction in the dandruff severity score was achieved with ciclopirox olamine shampoo compared with 90% with ketoconazole shampoo. |
| `…` ` tags—such as `BOORMAN & al. (1999) | 274 individuals with dandruff or seborrhoeic dermatitis. | Apply a shampoo containing 1% ciclopirox olamine and 4% coal extract, or a shampoo containing 2% ketoconazole, twice weekly for 4 weeks. | A 78% reduction in the dandruff severity score was achieved with the ciclopirox olamine and charcoal extract shampoo, compared with 79% for the ketoconazole shampoo. |
| ` tags and leaving `ROSENMAN & al. (2000) | 82 individuals with seborrhoeic dermatitis. | Application twice weekly for four weeks of a shampoo containing 1% ciclopirox olamine or a placebo. | Resolution or significant improvement was observed in 93% of participants in the control group compared with 41% in the placebo group. |
| `…` GOODE & al. (2002) | 154 individuals with dandruff, of whom 70 had seborrhoeic dermatitis. | Apply a shampoo containing 1.5% ciclopirox olamine and 3% salicylic acid, or a shampoo containing 2% ketoconazole, three times a week for four weeks. | A 22% reduction in dandruff and a 62.5% reduction in the area of seborrhoeic dermatitis with the ciclopirox olamine and salicylic acid shampoo, compared with a 26% reduction in dandruff and an 80.5% reduction in the seborrhoeic dermatitis area with the ketoconazole shampoo. |
| CHO & al. (2003) | 57 subjects with dandruff. | Apply a 1.5% ciclopirox olamine shampoo or a 2% ketoconazole shampoo three times per week for four weeks. | An 87.5% decrease in dandruff was observed with ciclopirox olamine shampoo, compared with 88.9% with ketoconazole shampoo. |
The effects of ciclopirox olamine on dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis.
Ciclopirox olamine is an active ingredient that soothes and rebalances the scalp. However, it provides no specific benefit to hair lengths.
Sources
GOODE K. & al. Comparative clinical efficacy of shampoos containing ciclopirox olamine (1.5%) or ketoconazole (2%; Nizoral) for the control of dandruff/seborrhoeic dermatitis. Journal of Dermatological Treatment (1998).
BOORMAN G. & al. Comparative efficacy of shampoos containing coal tar (4.0% w/w; Tarmed), coal tar (4.0% w/w) plus ciclopirox olamine (1.0% w/w; Tarmed AF) and ketoconazole (2.0% w/w; Nizoral) for the treatment of dandruff/seborrhoeic dermatitis. Journal of Dermatological Treatment (1999).
ROSENMAN D. & al. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a ciclopirox olamine 1% shampoo for the treatment of scalp seborrheic dermatitis. Journal of Dermatological Treatment (2000).
GOODE K. & al. A randomised, single-blind, single-centre clinical trial to evaluate comparative clinical efficacy of shampoos containing ciclopirox olamine (1.5%) and salicylic acid (3%), or ketoconazole (2%, Nizoral ) for the treatment of dandruff/seborrhoeic dermatitis. Journal of Dermatological Treatment (2002).
CHO K. H. & al. Successful treatment of dandruff with 1.5% ciclopirox olamine shampoo in Korea. Journal of Dermatological Treatment (2003).
PLOTT T. & al. Ciclopirox: A broad-spectrum antifungal with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. International Journal of Dermatology (2004).
BUDZISZ E. & al. Ciclopirox and ciclopirox olamine: Antifungal agents in dermatology with expanding therapeutic potential. Applied Sciences (2024).
