Encyclopedia · anti dandruff
Climbazole
A cosmetic azole antifungal used mostly as a booster next to zinc pyrithione or piroctone olamine, with thin evidence on its own.
What it is
Climbazole is an imidazole antifungal used as a cosmetic anti-dandruff ingredient in many countries. It is widely used in Asia and is not one of the active ingredients of the US over-the-counter dandruff category.
How it works
It blocks fungal ergosterol synthesis like ketoconazole. In cell work it also raised the expression of skin-barrier proteins in keratinocytes, hinting at a barrier effect (Pople 2014). In a vehicle-controlled study it boosted retinoid activity in skin, but that was face skin, not scalp (Adamus 2017).
What the studies show
- A Unilever lab-plus-clinical study found a zinc pyrithione, climbazole and silicone shampoo had superior efficacy and kept it during a regression phase, and it deposited silicone on hair (Turner 2013).
- A Procter & Gamble trial found a potentiated zinc pyrithione shampoo outperformed a zinc pyrithione plus climbazole dual-active shampoo (Schwartz 2013).
- A split-head trial found piroctone olamine 0.5% plus climbazole 0.45% comparable to zinc pyrithione 1% for dandruff (Schmidt-Rose 2011).
Two rival manufacturers reached opposite conclusions about zinc pyrithione plus climbazole, which shows how much the results depend on the formula and the sponsor. Evidence for climbazole itself is limited.
How it's used in studies
Shampoos contained 0.45-1% climbazole, usually paired with another active, used two to three times a week for 4 weeks.
Side effects and safety
Mild irritation is possible. We found no detailed human safety data beyond the trials above.
Bottom line
Climbazole is fine as part of a combination formula, but do not choose a shampoo mainly for climbazole. For proven results see zinc pyrithione or ketoconazole.
Studies 5
Turner GA et al. Enhanced efficacy and sensory properties of an anti-dandruff shampoo containing zinc pyrithione and climbazole. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2013
Tested: zinc pyrithione plus climbazole plus silicone shampoo
Result: Silicone deposited smoothly on virgin and damaged hair and the shampoo kept its anti-dandruff effect when users reverted. Unilever study; also notes dandruff may affect up to half of people after puberty.
Read the study ↗Schwartz JR et al. Therapeutic efficacy of anti-dandruff shampoos: a randomized clinical trial comparing products based on potentiated zinc pyrithione and zinc pyrithione/climbazole. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2013
Tested: potentiated zinc pyrithione versus zinc pyrithione plus climbazole shampoo
Result: The zinc pyrithione formulation with higher bioavailability beat the dual-active product on flaking. Procter & Gamble study.
Read the study ↗Schmidt-Rose T et al. Efficacy of a piroctone olamine/climbazol shampoo in comparison with a zinc pyrithione shampoo in subjects with moderate to severe dandruff. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2011
Tested: piroctone olamine 0.5% plus climbazole 0.45% versus zinc pyrithione 1% (split-head)
Result: Comparable dandruff reduction and anti-fungal effect; 90% approved of the itch reduction with the piroctone olamine and climbazole shampoo.
Read the study ↗Pople JE et al. Climbazole increases expression of cornified envelope proteins in primary keratinocytes. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2014
Result: Climbazole increased expression of cornified envelope proteins in skin cells, hinting at a barrier effect.
Read the study ↗Adamus J et al. Climbazole boosts activity of retinoids in skin. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2017
Result: In a vehicle-controlled study climbazole boosted retinoid activity in skin (face, not scalp).
Read the study ↗Related
- Zinc pyrithioneThe most widely used anti-dandruff shampoo ingredient, proven in large trials to cut flaking, though most of those trials were run by the companies that sell it.
- Piroctone olamineA gentle anti-dandruff ingredient common in European shampoos, with trial results roughly equal to zinc pyrithione but mostly from manufacturers.
- KetoconazoleAn antifungal shampoo ingredient that is among the best-proven treatments for dandruff and, with much weaker evidence, a possible add-on for pattern hair loss.
- DandruffDandruff is a common, chronic flaking of the scalp driven by yeast, skin oil and your skin's sensitivity, and an antifungal shampoo controls it well as long as you keep using it.