Moderate Cosmetic Ingredient Sensitization Data

Sodium Pyrithione

INCI: SODIUM PYRITHIONE

CAS Number
3811-73-2
Function
Antimicrobial, anti-dandruff agent, preservative
Safety Rating
MODERATE

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status prohibited
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes Permitted in the US — available in OTC anti-dandruff products (regulated as drug); not banned by FDA for cosmetic use

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
adequate
Dermal Absorption
moderate
Sensitization
moderate

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Sensitization Profile

Contact sensitization data for Sodium Pyrithione based on clinical patch test studies and IFRA standards.

Sensitization Rate
low
Allergen Class
preservative
EU Allergen Listed
no
Patch Test Positive Rate
0.2%
Cross-reactivity Group
none
Reaction Type
contact-dermatitis

Source: IVDK; SCCS

Expert Verdict

🚫 DO NOT USE for any EU-market cosmetic product; banned under Annex II since March 2022 ; zinc pyrithione (related salt) also banned in EU; Canada also prohibits this ingredient ; US formulators should limit to rinse-off OTC drug products only

⚠️
Concern Level: High

Regulatory Flags

preservative eu_banned_cosmetics eu_cosing_listed

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sodium Pyrithione safe in cosmetics?

🚫 DO NOT USE for any EU-market cosmetic product; banned under Annex II since March 2022 ; zinc pyrithione (related salt) also banned in EU; Canada also prohibits this ingredient ; US formulators should limit to rinse-off OTC drug products only The EU classifies Sodium Pyrithione as "prohibited". Safety rating: MODERATE.

Is Sodium Pyrithione allowed in the EU?

Sodium Pyrithione EU regulatory status: prohibited. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Sodium Pyrithione do in cosmetics?

Sodium Pyrithione functions as: Antimicrobial, anti-dandruff agent, preservative. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 3811-73-2.

What is the Margin of Safety for Sodium Pyrithione?

adequate The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.

Compliance Tools

Check Sodium Pyrithione compliance across multiple jurisdictions:

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Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
 🧪
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across 55 jurisdictions
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MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
 ⚗️
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions

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