The Effects of Zinc Pyrithione and Selenium Disulfide Shampoos on the Lesion-free Period After Treatment in Patients with Seborrheic Dermatitis.

BACKGROUND

There are studies in the literature on zinc pyrithione and selenium disulfide containing shampoos for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis, but we have not been able to find a study that clearly evaluates the duration of relapses.

OBJECTIVE

This retrospective chart review investigated disease relapse times in patients with seborrheic dermatitis who achieved remission with treatment and continued maintenance therapy using zinc pyrithione or selenium disulfide containing shampoo.

METHODS

Records from a total of 400 patients were reviewed, with 200 patients having used zinc pyrithione shampoo and 200 patients having used selenium disulfide shampoo.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference between the patients who relapsed in less than a month and patients that relapsed after more than a month in terms of product used in maintenance therapy (p=0.841).

DISCUSSION: In our study, we found that zinc pyrithione and selenium disulfide shampoos used in maintenance therapy did not have significantly different effects on relapse times in patients who achieved remission after appropriate treatment.