Selsun Blue

Selsun Blue is an over-the-counter brand of dandruff shampoo now owned by Sanofi. First made by Abbott Laboratories, the brand was bought by Chattem in 2002. Chattem was acquired by Sanofi in 2010. Selsun Blue has been marketed as a more effective alternative to brand leader Head & Shoulders due to its superior performance in randomized trials.[1]

Formulations

Over the counter Selsun Blue contains 1% selenium sulfide as its active ingredient in its most popular version[2] (the word "Selsun" is a portmanteau of selenium sulfide + n). Chattem announced that on November 1, 2005, they would introduce a new line of shampoos under the brand name Selsun Salon. These contained a different active ingredient than Selsun Blue, pyrithione zinc 1%, and are oriented toward the higher-end shampoo market. Other active ingredients such as salicylic acid and botanicals are in other versions of Selsun Blue brand dandruff shampoo.

In 2011, the Selsun Blue brand consisted of 15 products spread across two brand segments, Naturals and Base. The Naturals line of products contains the active ingredient salicylic acid in addition to 8 moisturizers & botanicals plus vitamins B5 & E. Salicylic acid is a keratolytic agent that assists with cell shedding or flaking.[3] The base brand consists of six types including Medicated with menthol, 2-in-1, Normal to Oily, Moisturizing, Itchy Dry Scalp, and Deep Cleansing with micro beads.[4] The first four types contain the active ingredient selenium sulfide which has been shown to have anti-fungal properties. More specifically, selenium sulfide, an anti-infective agent, relieves itching and flaking of the scalp and removes the dry, scaly particles commonly referred to as dandruff or seborrhea. Selenium sulfide is also used to treat tinea versicolor, a fungal infection of the skin.[5]

Deep Cleansing was launched by Chattem in January 2011. In addition to the active ingredient salicylic acid, the product contains scrubbing micro beads.

Availability

Like Chattem’s other products, Selsun Blue is sold through mass merchandisers, drug and food retailers.

References

  1. ↑ Rapaport M (1981). "A randomized, controlled clinical trial of four anti-dandruff shampoos". J. Int. Med. Res. 9 (2): 152–6. PMID 7014286.
  2. ↑ Moore, Shelley. "Active Ingredients in Selsun Blue". Livestrong.com. Demand Media, Inc. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  3. ↑ Sanfilippo, Angela; Joseph C. English III (July 2006). "An Overview of Medicated Shampoos Used in Dandruff Treatment" (PDF). P&T. 31 (7): 396–400. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  4. ↑ "Selsun Blue". Chattem, Inc. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  5. ↑ "Selenium Sulfide". PubMed Health. National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
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