What is ketoconazole and zinc pyrithione shampoo?
A ketoconazole and zinc pyrithione shampoo is a medicated anti-dandruff shampoo that carries two active ingredients instead of one. Ketosev contains Ketoconazole IP 2% w/v and Zinc Pyrithione 1% w/v in a conditioning shampoo base, in a 100 ml bottle. It is used on the scalp for dandruff with flaking, itching and scaling. It is a drug, not a cosmetic shampoo, and the carton carries a prescription warning.
Ketoconazole IP
Zinc Pyrithione
Roughly 8 weeks of use
For the first 4 weeks
Why Ketosev uses two actives instead of one
Most anti-dandruff shampoos on a supermarket shelf carry one active. Ketosev carries two, and they work in different ways. That is the whole point of the formula.
What ketoconazole 2% does
Ketoconazole is an antifungal. Dandruff is not simply dry skin. It is linked to a yeast called Malassezia, older texts call it Pityrosporum ovale, which lives on almost everyone’s scalp and feeds on scalp oil. In some people it multiplies faster than the skin can cope with, and the scalp responds by shedding flakes and itching.
Ketoconazole works on that yeast directly. It is the active that addresses the cause rather than the flakes. At 2% w/v, Ketosev sits at the higher of the two strengths used in India.
What zinc pyrithione 1% adds
Zinc pyrithione is antifungal as well, but it is also antibacterial, and it slows down the rate at which scalp skin cells turn over. Rapid cell turnover is what produces visible flakes. So zinc pyrithione works on the symptom while ketoconazole works on the organism.
The two are also active for different lengths of time. Ketoconazole binds to keratin and stays on the scalp between washes. Zinc pyrithione leaves a deposit on the skin surface. Together they cover more of the week than either would alone, which matters when you are only washing twice a week.
| Active | Type | Acts on | What you notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ketoconazole IP 2% w/v | Antifungal | Malassezia yeast on the scalp | Fewer flakes returning after a wash |
| Zinc Pyrithione 1% w/v | Antifungal and antibacterial | Skin cell turnover, surface bacteria | Less visible flaking and scaling |
| Conditioning shampoo base | Cosmetic | Hair shaft | Hair is easier to comb after a medicated wash |
The conditioning base is worth a line of its own. Medicated shampoos have a reputation for leaving hair rough and squeaky. Ketosev is built with a conditioner in the base so you are less likely to abandon the course halfway through, which is the most common reason anti-dandruff treatment fails.
Who this medicated anti-dandruff shampoo is for
Dandruff that comes back after a normal shampoo
If flakes return within two or three days of washing with a regular shampoo, a cosmetic anti-dandruff product is washing the flakes away without touching what is producing them.
An itchy, flaking or scaling scalp
The Ketosev carton names three symptoms: flaking, itching and scaling. Scaling means larger, sheet-like pieces rather than fine powder, and it usually sits with redness and oiliness along the hairline and behind the ears.
Seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp
Seborrheic dermatitis is the more persistent end of the same spectrum. It is a medical condition and should be diagnosed by a doctor. If you have been told you have it, this is the category of shampoo usually recommended, but the dosing schedule should come from your physician.
How to use ketoconazole shampoo correctly
These are the directions printed on the Ketosev carton. Contact time is the step most people get wrong, and it is the step that decides whether the shampoo works.
The second application is not padding. The first lather clears oil and product build-up so the actives can reach the skin. The second is the one that does the work.
| Phase | How often | For how long |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment | Twice a week | 4 weeks |
| Maintenance | Once a week | As directed by your physician |
Do not use it every day. More frequent use does not clear dandruff faster and it will dry the scalp out.
Ketoconazole 1% vs 2%: which strength do you need
Both strengths are sold in India and they are not interchangeable. This is the question most buyers get stuck on.
| Point | Ketoconazole 1% | Ketoconazole 2% (Ketosev) |
|---|---|---|
| Usually used for | Mild, occasional flaking | Persistent dandruff, scaling, seborrheic scalp |
| Typical schedule | Two to three times a week | Twice a week for 4 weeks, then weekly |
| Sold as | Often on open shelves | Prescription medicine in India |
| Combined with ZPTO | Less common | Yes, Ketosev adds Zinc Pyrithione 1% w/v |
If a 1% shampoo has already failed you, moving to 2% with a second active is the logical next step. If you have never used a medicated shampoo before, ask a doctor before starting at 2%.
Side effects and precautions
- For external use only. Scalp and hair. Do not swallow.
- Keep it out of the eyes. If it gets in, rinse with plenty of water.
- Dryness, mild scalp irritation or a change in hair texture can happen, particularly in the first two weeks.
- Do not use it on broken, raw or actively inflamed skin.
- Stop and speak to a doctor if irritation, burning or increased shedding develops.
- Patch test behind the ear first if your skin reacts easily.
- Store below 25°C, away from direct sunlight and moisture. Keep out of reach of children.
- If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or treating a child’s scalp, use it only on a doctor’s advice.
Prescription status in India
Ketoconazole is a Schedule H drug under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. The Ketosev carton carries the statutory warning: to be sold by retail on the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner only. We state this openly because it is printed on the pack. Please buy and use it on your doctor’s advice.
Ketosev product details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Product name | Ketosev Shampoo |
| Composition | Ketoconazole IP 2% w/v, Zinc Pyrithione 1% w/v, shampoo base q.s. |
| Pack size | 100 ml |
| Form | Medicated shampoo with hair conditioner |
| Used for | Dandruff with flaking, itching and scaling |
| Route | For external use only |
| M.R.P. | Rs 200 inclusive of all taxes |
| Manufactured by | Hanisan Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., Derabassi, S.A.S Nagar, Punjab 140507 |
| Mfg. Licence No. | 2011-OSP & 2102-B |
| Marketed by | Sevam Health Care, a division of Ultra Healthcare, Saketri, Panchkula, Haryana 134109 |
| Storage | Below 25°C, protected from sunlight and moisture |
Using Ketosev alongside the rest of your hair care
A medicated shampoo treats the scalp. It does not condition length, and it does not do anything for hair fall. Those are separate jobs.
An Ayurvedic hair and scalp oil handles dryness along the length without interfering with the treatment.
Bhringraj powder is the traditional scalp application people move to for routine care.
Read what causes sudden hair fall before you change shampoos again.
Some people also add pure tea tree essential oil or rosemary oil to their routine, well diluted. Neither replaces a medicated shampoo, and neither should be applied on the same day you use one.
Frequently asked questions
Ketosev is a ketoconazole and zinc pyrithione shampoo made for scalps where ordinary anti-dandruff shampoo has stopped being enough. Two actives, a conditioning base, a four-week schedule printed on the pack, and a prescription warning we have not hidden. Marketed by Sevam Health Care, a division of Ultra Healthcare, Panchkula.
Disclaimer: Ketosev Shampoo is a drug for external use only. The information on this page is taken from the product label and is for general information. It is not medical advice and does not replace consultation with a Registered Medical Practitioner. This product is to be sold by retail only on the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner. Individual results vary. Keep out of reach of children.
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