Selsun Blue Dandruff Shampoo Medicated || Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Reviews

SELSUN BLUE DANDRUFF SHAMPOO MEDICATED

last updated: 02/12/10 brand: Selsun Blue by Chattem

SCORE

high hazard (out of 10)

69%

data gap

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76% of dandruff/scalp treatments have lower concerns
74% of shampoos have lower concerns

COMPANY POLICIES

Compact for Safe Cosmetics
Non-signer: This company has not signed the Compact.

Animal Testing Policy
This company's animal testing policy is unknown.

Given the incomplete information made available by companies and the government, EWG provides additional information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature. The chart below indicates that research studies have found that exposure to one or more ingredients in this product -- not the product itself -- caused the indicated health effect(s) in the studies reviewed by Skin Deep researchers. Actual health risks, if any, will vary based on the level of exposure to the ingredient and individual susceptibility -- information not available in Skin Deep.

Ingredients in this product are linked to:
	Cancer
	Developmental/reproductive toxicity
	Violations, restrictions & warnings
	Allergies/immunotoxicity
	Other concerns for ingredients used in this product: Neurotoxicity, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Miscellaneous, Multiple, additive exposure sources, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns, Occupational hazards

Ingredients from packaging: Active Ingredient: Selenium Sulfide (1%). Inactive Ingredients: Water, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, TEA Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Fragrance, Menthol, Cocamide DEA, DMDM Hydantoin, Citric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, FD&C Blue 1, D&C Red 33, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Chloride.

Directions from packaging: Shake well. Shampoo, then rinse thoroughly, for best results, use at least twice a week or as directed by a doctor.

Warnings from packaging: For external use only. Ask a doctor before use if you have seborrheic dermatitis in areas other than the scalp. When using this product avoid contact with eyes. If contact occurs, rinse eyes thoroughly with water; for color-treated or permed hair, rinse thoroughly. Stop use and ask doctor if condition worsens or does not improve after regular use of this product as directed. Keep out of reach of children. If swallowed, get medical help or contact a poison control center right away.

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ingredients

	score	data gap	concerns
SELENIUM SULFIDE (Active Ingredient)	10	58%	Cancer, Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Violations, restrictions & warnings, Neurotoxicity, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Occupational hazards
DMDM HYDANTOIN	7	71%	Violations, restrictions & warnings, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Contamination concerns (FORMALDEHYDE)
FRAGRANCE	8	100%	Neurotoxicity, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Miscellaneous
COCAMIDE DEA	6	61%	Cancer, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Contamination concerns (NITROSAMINES)
COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE	5	63%	Allergies/immunotoxicity, Contamination concerns (NITROSAMINES)
MAGNESIUM ALUMINUM SILICATE	4	88%	Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
D&C RED 33	1	75%	none identified
AMMONIUM LAURETH SULFATE	3	87%	Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE, 1,4-DIOXANE)
MENTHOL	2	85%	Multiple, additive exposure sources
CITRIC ACID	2	72%	Violations, restrictions & warnings
FD&C BLUE 1	1	83%	none identified
TRIETHANOLAMINE LAURYL SULFATE TEA LAURYL SULFATE	2	72%	Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns (NITROSAMINES)
HYDROXYPROPYL METHYLCELLULOSE	1	88%	none identified
AMMONIUM LAURYL SULFATE	1	73%	Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
SODIUM CITRATE	0	94%	none identified
SODIUM CHLORIDE	0	0%	innocuous
WATER	0	0%	innocuous

Cancer*

*This table includes all possible cancer concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results		MENTHOL, SODIUM CHLORIDE
One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results		D&C RED 33
Cancer - limited evidence		COCAMIDE DEA
Cancer - not classifiable/not likely to be human carcinogen		FD&C BLUE 1
Possible human carcinogen		SELENIUM SULFIDE

Developmental/reproductive toxicity*

*This table includes all possible developmental/reproductive toxicity concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Human nervous system toxicant - moderate evidence		MAGNESIUM ALUMINUM SILICATE, SELENIUM SULFIDE

Violations, restrictions & warnings*

*This table includes all possible violations, restrictions & warnings concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications		COCAMIDE DEA, COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE, TRIETHANOLAMINE LAURYL SULFATE, AMMONIUM LAURYL SULFATE, D&C RED 33
Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Use is restricted in Canadian cosmetics		CITRIC ACID, SELENIUM SULFIDE, DMDM HYDANTOIN
Violation of government restrictions - Banned or found unsafe for use in cosmetics		SELENIUM SULFIDE
Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Japan - prohibited for use in some types of cosmetics		DMDM HYDANTOIN

Neurotoxicity*

*This table includes all possible neurotoxicity concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Strong evidence of human neurotoxicity		MAGNESIUM ALUMINUM SILICATE, SELENIUM SULFIDE
Moderate evidence of human neurotoxicity		FRAGRANCE
One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at moderate doses		MENTHOL
One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at high doses		FD&C BLUE 1

Allergies/immunotoxicity*

*This table includes all possible allergies/immunotoxicity concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Known human immune system toxicant		COCAMIDE DEA, COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE, DMDM HYDANTOIN, FRAGRANCE

Persistence and bioaccumulation*

*This table includes all possible persistence and bioaccumulation concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Persistent or bioaccumulative and moderate to high toxicity concern in humans		SELENIUM SULFIDE

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)*

*This table includes all possible organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful		TRIETHANOLAMINE LAURYL SULFATE, AMMONIUM LAURYL SULFATE
One or more animal studies show kidney or renal system effects at high doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient)		COCAMIDE DEA, HYDROXYPROPYL METHYLCELLULOSE
One or more animal studies show classified as toxic effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient)		FD&C BLUE 1
One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient)		MENTHOL, DMDM HYDANTOIN, CITRIC ACID
Limited evidence of any toxicity		MAGNESIUM ALUMINUM SILICATE
One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient)		AMMONIUM LAURETH SULFATE
Known human respiratory toxicant		SELENIUM SULFIDE

Miscellaneous*

*This table includes all possible miscellaneous concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Ingredient not fully labeled - identity unknown		FRAGRANCE

Multiple, additive exposure sources*

*This table includes all possible multiple, additive exposure sources concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food		SODIUM CITRATE, SODIUM CHLORIDE, COCAMIDE DEA, FD&C BLUE 1, MENTHOL, HYDROXYPROPYL METHYLCELLULOSE, CITRIC ACID
Used in food or as an additive with limited or no toxicity information available		MENTHOL

Ecotoxicology*

*This table includes all possible ecotoxicology concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Wildlife and environmental toxicity		SELENIUM SULFIDE

Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)*

*This table includes all possible irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more animal studies show skin irritation at moderate doses		SODIUM CHLORIDE
One or more animal studies show skin irritation at high doses		TRIETHANOLAMINE LAURYL SULFATE
One or more animal studies show skin irritation at moderate doses		MENTHOL
One or more animal studies show skin irritation at low doses		COCAMIDE DEA
One or more animal studies show skin irritation at moderate doses		CITRIC ACID
One or more animal studies show skin irritation at very low doses		AMMONIUM LAURYL SULFATE
Human any irritant - strong evidence	products for use around the eyes, on the skin, or may be aerosolized (airborne)	DMDM HYDANTOIN, AMMONIUM LAURETH SULFATE

Data gaps*

*This table includes all possible data gaps concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product		MAGNESIUM ALUMINUM SILICATE, HYDROXYPROPYL METHYLCELLULOSE, DMDM HYDANTOIN
Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel		SODIUM CITRATE
Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product		AMMONIUM LAURETH SULFATE
Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel		SELENIUM SULFIDE, MENTHOL, FRAGRANCE, CITRIC ACID

Occupational hazards*

*This table includes all possible occupational hazards concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Allowed workplace exposures restricted to very low doses		SELENIUM SULFIDE

Biochemical or cellular level changes*

*This table includes all possible biochemical or cellular level changes concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more animal studies show biochemical changes at high doses where the human health implications are not yet well understood		CITRIC ACID