Selenium disulfide

Selenium disulfide, also known as selenium sulfide, is a medication used to treat pityriasis versicolor, seborrhoeic dermatitis, and dandruff.[1] It is applied to the affected area as a lotion or shampoo.[2] Dandruff frequently returns if treatment is stopped.[3]

Selenium disulfide
Clinical data
Trade namesSelseb, Selsun Blue, others
Other namesSelenium sulfide
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
Pregnancy
category
  • US: C (Risk not ruled out)
    Routes of
    administration
    Topical
    ATC code
    Legal status
    Legal status
    Identifiers
    CAS Number
    PubChem CID
    ChEMBL
    ECHA InfoCard100.028.458
    Chemical and physical data
    FormulaS2Se
    Molar mass143.09 g·mol−1
    Density3 g/cm3
    Melting point111 °C (232 °F)
    Boiling point118 to 119 °C (244 to 246 °F) (decomposes)
    Solubility in waternegligible mg/mL (20 °C)

    Side effects include hair loss, irritation of the skin, weakness, and feeling tired.[1] Use is not recommended in children less than 2–5 years old.[1][3] Use in pregnancy or breastfeeding has not been studied.[4] Selenium disulfide is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula SeS2.[5]

    Selenium disulfide was approved for medical use in the United States at least as early as 1951.[3] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system.[6] Selenium disulfide is available as a generic medication and over the counter.[2] In the United States a month of treatment costs less than 25 USD.[2] In the United Kingdom 100 ml of 2.5% shampoo costs the NHS about 1.96 pounds.[7]

    Medical uses

    Selenium disulfide is sold as an antifungal agent in shampoos for the treatment of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis associated in the scalp with fungi of genus Malassezia.[8][9][10] In the United States, a 1% strength is available over-the-counter, and a 2.5% strength is also available with a prescription. In Canada, the 2.5% strength is available over-the-counter. At the 2.5% strength, selenium disulfide is also used on the body to treat Tinea versicolor, a type of fungal skin infection caused by a different species of Malassezia. It has been suggested to be effective as a treatment for hyperkeratosis.[11]

    Side effects

    Selenium disulfide can cause discoloration of the hair and alter the color of hair dyes. It may also discolor metallic jewellery.

    Chemical composition

    Structure of 1,2,3-Se3S5, illustrative of selenium sulfide.

    Selenium disulfide has a composition that approximates to SeS2 and is sometimes called selenium sulfide. However, as used in proprietary formulations, it is not a pure chemical compound but a mixture where the overall Se:S ratio is 1:2. The compounds are Se–S rings containing a variable number of S and Se atoms, SenS8n.[12]

    Many selenium sulfides are known as indicated by 77Se-NMR spectroscopy.[13]

    History

    Selenium monosulfide, along with elemental selenium and sulfur, has been used in medicinal preparations in the past,[14] causing confusion and contradiction[15] as to exactly what form selenium is in any given topical preparation.

    See also

    References

    1. WHO Model Formulary 2008 (PDF). World Health Organization. 2009. p. 297. ISBN 9789241547659. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 December 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
    2. Hamilton, Richart (2015). Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia 2015 Deluxe Lab-Coat Edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 194. ISBN 9781284057560.
    3. "Selenium Sulfide". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
    4. "Selenium sulfide topical Use During Pregnancy | Drugs.com". www.drugs.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
    5. Mitchell, Stephen C. (2003). Biological Interactions Of Sulfur Compounds. CRC Press. p. 174. ISBN 9780203362525. Archived from the original on 2017-01-16.
    6. "WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (19th List)" (PDF). World Health Organization. April 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 December 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
    7. British national formulary : BNF 69 (69 ed.). British Medical Association. 2015. p. 829. ISBN 9780857111562.
    8. Selenium(IV) sulfide - pharmacy codes search engine Archived 2008-04-01 at the Wayback Machine
    9. Chemicals of Selenium .Se Archived 2008-04-03 at the Wayback Machine
    10. Accessed Dec. 24, 2007 Archived 2008-12-26 at the Wayback Machine
    11. Cohen PR, Anderson CA (December 2018). "Topical Selenium Sulfide for the Treatment of Hyperkeratosis". Dermatology and therapy. 8 (4): 639–46. doi:10.1007/s13555-018-0259-9. PMC 6261123. PMID 30203232.
    12. Cyclic selenium sulfides R. Steudel, R. Laitinen, Topics in Current Chemistry, (1982), 102, 177-197
    13. Pekonen, Pentti.; Hiltunen, Yrjō; Laitinen, Risto S.; Pakkanen, Tapani A. (1991). "Chalcogen ring interconversion pathways. 77Se NMR spectroscopic study of the decomposition of 1,2,3,4,5-Se5S2 to 1,2,3,4,5,6-Se6S2 and 1,2,3,4-Se4S2". Inorganic Chemistry. 30 (19): 3679. doi:10.1021/ic00019a022.
    14. "Definition: selenium sulfide from Online Medical Dictionary".
    15. "DrugBank: DB00971 (Selenium Sulfide)". Archived from the original on 2007-04-27.

    Further reading

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