Common anti-dandruff and anti-seborrheic shampoos include those with ingredients such as zinc pyrithione, ciclopirox, ketoconazole and selenium sulphide. Selenium sulphide is a yellow colored salt and sometimes leaves a residue of yellow color on the scalp. Absorption does not occur through intact skin but does occur through open skin. Some older literature dating back to 1956 had described the possibility of diffuse hair loss in some long term users of keratostatic antidandruff shampoos like selenium sulphide. Grover in 1952 described six patients with seborrheic dermatitis who had hair shedding with use of selenium sulphide. The shedding stopped in all cases when the shampoo was stopped. In 1969, Plewig and Kligman reported that selenium sulphide reduced cell division in the epidermis and also in the hair follicle as well. This confirmed it's antimitotic effect. While generally viewed as safe and effective, long term studies with antidandruff shampoos are lacking. References Grover. Diffuse hair loss associated with selenium (selsun) sulfide shampoo. JAMA. 1956; 160:1397-8 Plewig and Kligman. The effect of selenium sulphide on epidermal turnover of normal snd dandruff scalps. J Soc Cosmetic Chemists; 20:767-76. 1995 #alopecia #seborrheicdermatitis #seleniumsulfide #dandruff #seborrhea
