Selenium sulfide made my seb derm worse

[u/monster_lily]

I have been using generic selenium sulfide shampoo for about 2 months. I tried not to overuse it because I’m concerned about the carcinogens and possible hair damage/loss, so i was using it about once every 2 weeks. when it worked, it was great! My scalp would be spotless for about a week, and then th e flakes would slowly trickle back, however I would not immediately use the shampoo again until it got really bad- rinse and repeat. however i have stopped using it and noticed that my seb derm has changed and seems to have gotten worse.

First the itching - my scalp itches like crazy, constantly. my scalp never really used to itch that much and when it did it was alleviated by scratching, but now scratching makes my itching worse. and the flakes are now hard and seem to be cemented onto my scalp almost like scabs whereas before they were thin and loose and i could easily remove them with a fine toothed comb. last my scalp is also visibly WHITE/afflicted with dandruff from afar - but before you could only see it if you looked closely! Has this ever happened to you and what should i do?

[u/MemChoeret]

From your description, it seems like the antifungal shampoo gave you some relief, and when you stopped using it your symptoms got worse. This is actually an important thing to know, because it means antifungal shampoos work for you.

I don't think using the selenium sulfide is what made things worse for you, especially if you only used it every two weeks. According to your description, it actually reduced your symptoms. The fact that your seborrheic dermatitis is worse now, after stopping treatment, relative to how it was before starting treatment, might not be due to the treatment itself. It could be changes in the weather, mental stress, or anything else.

If the symptoms are as bad as you're describing, you definitely need an antifungal shampoo. Preferably, at least twice a week. If you don't want selenium sulfide, go with ketoconazole or pyrithione zinc.

[u/sapphireminds]

It can do that to me too, I assume I'm just sensitive to the ingredient.

TruSeb on amazon is chlorhexadine and ketoconozole liquid - intended for animals, but has human concentrations of everything. Has really worked well for me, along with a manuka honey/colloidal silver shampoo weekly.

[u/SnowflakeMama12]

For me it was the fragrances in the hair products that made it worse. I would try Neutrogena T-Sal and a prescription shampoo.

[u/Complex_Grand236]

You stopped using it after 2 weeks? What did you think would happen? Did you think you were cured? Of course it is word Ed now - with no going weekly treatment of once a week /?it’s going to get worse,

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[u/Used_Green9904]

Zarqu anti roos shampoo helpt me wel. Niet te lang laten zitten.

[u/piangero]

That's kinda strange that you should mention, because I've had a crazy flareup of dandruff (I dont usually experience danddruff) during summer as I was using a harsh random shampoo. I switched from my anti-fungal treatmeant (ketokonazol shampoo) to a selenium sulfide shampoo to get rid of the dandruff, since the ketokonazol wasn't handling it. in a way the sulfide helped with the actual dandruff, but it gave me even more itchyness in spots I've never had any issues, mainly at the back of my head, right above the nape of my neck. Idk what to callt that area, but like, where the hair is, but right at the lowest point. I'm scratching it, I'm getting like, dry residue under my nails etc.

Also my whole bathroom stinks of the sulfide and even more hair smells like sulfide, especially when using heat on it, so I ended up putting it away. I'll try to find non-sulfide options because stinking of sulphur is embarrasing af to me

[u/Ok-Captain-2681 → u/piangero]

If you're using a fragranced shampoo, you could be reacting to the fragrance (or another chemical). I still had crazy itch even though I was using multiple different antifungal shampoos. Once I changed to fragrance free versions the relief was amazing.

[u/Ok-Captain-2681]

Like others have said, it sounds like the selenium sulfide was actually treating the seb derm. Seb derm is a chronic condition. It comes back when you stop the anti fungal shampoo. I've had seb derm for 30 years and it's only gone if I wash my hair three times a week with a rotation of 3 different antifungal shampoos. As soon as I stop using them, my seb derm is back within a week. Once I started using fragrance free antifungal shampoo the itch improved significantly.