Effectiveness and tolerance of medicated shampoo containing selenium sulfide and salicylic acid in patients with seborrheic dermatitis

This study assessed the effectiveness and tolerance of a medicated shampoo containing selenium sulfide and salicylic acid in seborrheic dermatitis patients, examining gender-based efficacy differences. In this cross-sectional study, 560 seborrheic dermatitis patients from Chinese hospitals used the medicated shampoo for approximately 21 days. Patients self-rated scalp and hair conditions before and after treatment, with scores ≥4 defined as good effectiveness/tolerance. Among participants (median age 30, 41.6% male), significant improvements occurred in dandruff, scalp redness, itching, and greasiness (all p < .001). Females demonstrated lower rates of good effectiveness (87.5% vs. 93.6%) and tolerance (93.9% vs. 99.6%; p = .018) than males. After adjustment, females had higher odds of poorer effectiveness (OR: 0.447, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.230-0.835; p = .009) and tolerance (OR: 0.066, 95% CI: 0.004-0.326; p = .009). Females also showed less improvement in oily hair, hair quality, and hair loss compared to males. The medicated shampoo effectively reduced seborrheic dermatitis symptoms, with better outcomes in males, suggesting gender may influence treatment response.