Dandruff is a benign but often embarrassing condition that causes noticeable flakes of skin in your hair and on your shoulders--you may experience some itching too, says Mayo Clinic experts. You can get dandruff under control with the right medicated shampoo. There are many dandruff-fighting shampoos, and each will rely on an active ingredient that has curative properties. Selenium sulfide is one active agent found in many dandruff shampoos.
What Selenium Sulfide Does
The active ingredients in dandruff shampoos all work a little bit differently, says the Mayo Clinic. Some, like zinc pyrithione, act as antibacterials and anti-fungals that reduce the number of fungi (malassezia) on the scalp that may cause dandruff. Others, such as salicylic acid, are good scalp scrubs used to remove scaling. Selenium sulfide slows down the rate of skin cell turnover, but it can also reduce the number of malassezia on the scalp.
Where to Find It
Selenium sulfide is the active ingredient in certain over-the-counter dandruff shampoos, such as Selsun Blue or Exsel. The concentration of selenium sulfide found in dandruff-fighting shampoos and treatments ranges from 1 to 2.5 percent, although treatments containing 2.5 percent selenium sulfide requires a doctor's prescription.
How to Use It
To use a dandruff shampoo that contains selenium sulfide, dampen your scalp and hair with lukewarm water. Use between 1 and 2 tsp. or enough to make your hair lather. Let the shampoo remain in your hair for 2 to 3 minutes before rinsing well. Repeat the shampoo-and-rinse process a second time. After you're through, wash your hands well. The Mayo Clinic states that you may need to shampoo your hair daily until dandruff begins to resolve, at which point you can use dandruff shampoo two or three times a week.
Is Selenium Sulfide Best?
One active ingredient may prove to be more beneficial to combat dandruff than another, but selenium sulfide is mentioned as one that should be tried first before moving on to others. Dr. Jim Mitterando, a doctor at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, Massachusetts, advises first using a selenium sulfide-based shampoo; if this treatment doesn't reduce dandruff, try a shampoo that contains pyritione zinc or salicyclic acid. The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology advises using a dandruff shampoo that contains either selenium sulfide, zinc pyrithione or ketoconazole.
Cautions
There are precautions you should take when using a selenium sulfide dandruff shampoo. If you have white, gray, blond or bleached hair, selenium sulfide may give it a yellow tinge, so make sure to rinse very well--for at least 5 minutes--after using to avoid discoloration. Common side effects may include hair that is either unusually dry or excessively oily. Less common or rare complications that can result from selenium sulfide use include an increase in normal hair loss and irritation of the skin.
