[8] Its other medical applications include treatments of psoriasis, eczema, ringworm, fungus, athletes foot, dry skin, atopic dermatitis, tinea versicolor,[9][8] and vitiligo.

[medical citation needed] Because of its low solubility in water (8 ppm at neutral pH), zinc pyrithione is suitable for use in outdoor paints and other products that protect against mildew and algae.

[14] Zinc pyrithione is known to exhibit antibacterial activity by disrupting cell membrane integrity and essential metabolic functions in bacteria.

[16] A study from 2011 showed that antifungal effects of Zinc pyrithione work by copper toxicity mechanism that targets critical iron–sulphur proteins.

[17] Zinc pyrithione is approved for over-the-counter topical use in the United States as a treatment for dandruff and is the active ingredient in several anti-dandruff shampoos and body wash gels.

Alternatively, up to 0.25 percent when formulated to be left on the skin or scalp [20] A large Swedish study shows that it is broken down in wastewater plants and does not release into waterways.