In case of any discomfort after the use of product or worsening of condition seek immediate opinion from your doctor There are other anti-fungal conditions that selenium sulfide is used for. Pityriasis Versicolor, for example, is caused by an imbalance of yeast normally found on the skin. Selenium shampoos are recommended to treat this condition by specialist dermatology groups. Studies have found both ketoconazole and selenium sulfide are more effective than placebo [6]. In addition, Tinea capitis (ringworm) is a common fungal infection. Due to an absence of high-quality evidence, treatment guidelines have been agreed by UK and EU specialist groups (BAD, HPA, and ESPD), based on experience and available clinical trials [7]. Naldi, L., & Rebora, A. (2009). Seborrheic dermatitis. New England Journal of Medicine, 360(4), 387-396. Bereston, E. S. (1954). Use of selenium sulfide shampoo in seborrheic dermatitis. Journal of the American Medical Association, 156(13), 1246-1247. Selenium sulfide is a complex molecule, forming rings of various sizes comprised of selenium and sulfur atoms. It’s not clear how the ingredient exerts an antifungal effect but is known to be effective against the yeasts and fungus commonly associated with scalp conditions (e.g. Malassezia, P. Ovale). A possible mechanism is selenium accumulation, leading to apoptosis (cell death) [4]. How effective are Selenium Sulfide shampoos?

Dr. Ben Barankin, a Toronto based board-certified dermatologist at the Toronto Dermatology Centre, recommends it’s usage when he told us, “For mild-moderate dandruff, my preferred over the counter dandruff ingredients include: zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide, ketoconazole, tar and salicylic acid“. A brief history of Selenium SulfideTo use a dandruff shampoo, or any shampoo for that matter, shampoo, you should always follow the instructions on the label. And if it doesn’t work, board-certified dermatologist Adam J. Friedman, MD, FAAD, assistant professor of dermatology and director of dermatologic research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine explains via the AAD, “For most people, dandruff does not require medical attention. However, sometimes the flaking and itching that appears like dandruff is actually a medical condition, such as seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, fungal infections of the scalp, or eczema. If you continue to have symptoms after using a dandruff shampoo, consult a board-certified dermatologist.”

Tapiero, H., Townsend, D. M., & Tew, K. D. (2003). The antioxidant role of selenium and seleno-compounds. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 57(3), 134-144. It targets fungi causing dandruff, controls flaking, clears away build- up of flakes and relieves from itching and irritationThis is a follow up from an earlier study which found “Both ketoconazole 2% shampoo and selenium sulfide 2.5% shampoo are effective in the treatment of moderate to severe dandruff; however, ketoconazole 2% shampoo appears to be better tolerated.” [9] As its name implies, Selsun Blue is a blue. Very very blue. Even the foam that it creates is blue. The blue coloring is achieved via a food coloring additive. You might want to take care when using this shampoo since the colorant turned my shower basin blue. In this article, we’ll also look at what selenium sulfide is, how it works and what the major side effects are. In the USA and UK, selenium sulfide shampoos are a first-line alternative to ketoconazole. This recommendation is based on a pivotal systematic review published in 2010, which evaluated the efficacy of ketoconazole and selenium sulfide for seborrheic dermatitis. The study reviewed six high-quality trials, ranging from 20-350 participants, and found that both ingredients were associated with an improvement in scaling, itching, redness, and dandruff [5].