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Q. I am so pleased I read about using Selsun Blue for rosacea. I’d been on two rounds of antibiotics plus Metrogel, and I still I got redness and pimples on my nose.
I started a regimen of washing my face with Selsun Blue every few days, and my nose has been pimple-free for more than two months.
A. Rosacea is an inflammatory skin condition that causes redness of the cheeks, nose and forehead. It may also lead to pimple-like blemishes. Doctors often prescribe oral antibiotics or topical metronidazole (Metrogel) or azelaic acid (Finacea). Not all patients find these helpful, however. Some readers report that dandruff shampoo containing selenium sulfide (Selsun Blue) can ease their symptoms. Here is one such story:
“I have been on all medications and tried a bunch of creams. I was left with a red, irritated face and a bunch of expensive creams. I saw an article about using Selsun Blue shampoo on your face to clear the rosacea.
“I thought, it’s only five bucks; why not try it? Within three days there was a huge difference in my face. I use the original Selsun Blue. I put it on in the shower in the morning and leave it on for a couple of minutes. I am very surprised that this simple drugstore purchase works on such a terrible problem.”
Another reader, Edna, offered this:
“I used Metrogel for my rosacea for a few years and my co-payments kept going up. Then a friend told me about Selsun Blue. I have been using it for about 4 years and it is wonderful…..also much cheaper.”
You’ll find several other remedies for rosacea in our book, The People’s Pharmacy Quick & Handy Home Remedies, available at libraries, bookstores and online.
George
Shawnee, kansas
I washed with Selsun Blue with selenium, fantastic results. I have tried cremes soap, spent not effective as washing face with Selsun Blue.
bubble
England
I was diagnosed with Rosacea approximately four years ago. What started as a bit of red and occasional bumps has become progressively worse since the intervention of DM and doctors. They have literally gone around in circles with their prescriptive meds, but topical and oral which include doxycycline and metronidazole gel which in my opinion made my condition even worse.
My life has felt on hold for the last couple of years and has left me so self-conscious it’s been unbearable and nearly destroyed my relationship. Most importantly I read a few years ago about the different types of Rosacea and soon realized that I fit the bill of the dreaded Demodex mite because I wasn’t just flushed I had pustules and bumps on forehead around hairline, cheeks, nose and chin. My skin itched and burned especially at night to the point it would wake me up and I looked like someone had blow torched me in the face.
I thought my flare ups were due to my monthly cycle and then looked into the habits of the mites further. They basically reproduce every 3 weeks or so which is why I was having monthly flares and they become active over-night. They hate sunshine, which would explain why my skin was better on beach holidays and not worse as the DM warned. This coincided with low immune system approximately 4-5 years ago due to another problem (misdiagnosed) and when this occurs, apparently we can get become susceptible to an over infestation of this mite which we all have but not in such large quantities.
The rubbish they produce causes an allergic reaction and hence why my face looks like a battlefield of red bumps, pus and crusts, ewk! To cut a very long story short, my doctors and DM would not entertain my explanation and insisted I carry on with their prescriptions which have been completely ineffective, well maybe temporarily lessened but then symptoms came back with a vengeance.
I have since found out that the USA sells a product which is not licensed in the UK and the reason my doctors won’t entertain my understanding of it all, because they can’t prescribe something they aren’t licensed to, this is simple economics to them but soul destroying to me.
The active ingredient of these products are what is contained in Selsun. I have started using this daily for last 3 days and although it does cause me some reddening because I have sensitive skin anyway….I am seeing positive results and will keep you posted. I hope my detailed report helps because I know how debilitating this problem is and sometimes people’s reviews are just not detailed enough to relate.
Eileen W.
My doctor gave me an expensive face wash that contained sulfa in it for my rosacea. I only had to wash my face twice a day.. It works. But Selsun blue with the Selenium sulfide in it works just as well- just wash your face gently twice a day – no need to leave it on long.
amashmallow888
The thought of running dandruff shampoo on my face like soapy water is weird & unappealing. Do I rather put up with a red or dry face?
Teresapet
Try washing with just your fingers, rather than using the wash cloth. It should minimize the dryness by not being so hard on your skin.
dorothy o.
Can anyone tell me about selsun blue for rosacea. Do you just wash your face with it and then rinse it off or do you leave it on overnight?
msc
Does anybody know if these any of these things work for granuloma annulare? Or anything else I might try?
Larry
My seborrheic dermatitis appeared about five years ago.
I am now a 75 year old male. I had crustiness and small scabs on my scalp and a quarter sized patch of redness on my forehead just below, and in, my hairline. The crustiness later moved into my left eyebrow.
My first dermatologist looked at it and said, “It’ll keep coming back.” That was my last visit with him.
My PCP gave me a medicated shampoo with no results and my new dermatologist gave me MGP to “see if it helps”. It provided some relief.
I tried most of the suggestions from People’s Pharmacy respondents and a few others to boot – Lysterine, antiseptic liquid, astringents, etc., etc. I even tried an on line search for Baker’s Best (if anyone remembers that good stuff).
I saw one respondent’s experience with Milk of Magnesia and gave it a try. After applying once a day at night my problems have improved about 90%. I’m also using Selsun Blue and it seems to have some effect as well. I think different things work for different folks.
AC
I saw pretty much immediate results after a few days, definitely less than a week. It worked great for me.
AC
1% SELENIUM SULFIDE
SD
I tried this remedy starting about 5 days ago. I have incredibly painful and noticeable cyst-like pimples along my jawline. The shampoo has definitely helped me, but it is very drying (I purchased a drug-store generic to save money, selenium sulfide 1% is the active ingredient). I only apply once-a-day with a wash cloth and water to dilute the shampoo. Works so far, will keep you posted.
GG
The original Selsun Blue–it says ‘medicated’ at the top of the label. The active ingredient is Selenium sulfide 1%. Look carefully since there are other varieties, such as ‘sensitive’ where the active ingredient is something other than the selenium that seems to be what helps rosacea. I just bought it the other day and had to puzzle over the different varieties available before remembering to check the active ingredient.
GS
Not sure which is the original Selsun Blue, what is the main ingredient?
Jan S.
I implore people with Rosacea to get off Metrogel! I took it for a year before realizing that was what caused Horrible cold sores that kept coming back that whole year and lasted at least two weeks! Then the side effects mentioned it and I went off. The cold sores continued, no matter what. I now have to take L-Lysine every single day or one will start again.
DB
Does the Selsun Blue make it worse before it makes it better? I tried this and my face became so inflamed it took a over a week for the inflammation to go away.