Antidandruff shampoo additives

Medicated Dandruff Shampoos. Dandruff is a scalp condition characterized by the production of excessive cellular material (18). A number of shampoos have been marketed which are designed to control and alleviate this condition, and many additives have been included in shampoo compositions to classify them as treatment products for dandruff. These additives include antimicrobial additives, eg, quaternary ammonium salts keratolytic agents, eg, salicyclic acid and sulfur heavy metals, eg, cadmium sulfide coal tar resorcinol and many others. More recent (ca 1993) systems use selenium sulfide [7488-56-4] or zinc pyrithione [13463-41 -7] as active antidandruff shampoo additives. Both of these additives are classified as drugs, but can be found in over-the-counter products. A stronger version, incorporating the use of higher levels of selenium sulfide in a shampoo, is available but requires a prescription for purchase. 

The crown structure of cpc/o-octasulfur, Sg, is only one member of an homologous series of S (n = 6-26) rings (Figure 4). Additionally, cyclic sulfur oxides such as SeO and S7O2 and mixed sulfur-selenium systems are known. These latter compounds are of some coimnercial significance, with applications as diverse as antidandruff shampoos, fireworks, and polymerization inhibitors. 

Domestic consumption of selenium in 1981 exceeded 453,000kg. About 50% was used in electronic and copier components, 22% in glass manufacturing, 20% in chemicals and pigments, and 8% miscellaneous. In 1987, world production of selenium was about 1.4 million kg. In 1986,46% of the global selenium produced was used in the semiconductor and photoelectric industries 27% in the glass industry to counter coloration impurities from iron 14% in pigments and 13% in medicine, in antidandruff shampoos, as catalysts in pharmaceutical preparations, in nutritional feed additives for poultry and livestock, and in pesticide formulations. 

Fungi and Pseudomonads are ten to twenty times more resistant to Piroctone olamine than other bacteria and yeasts. The main advantage of the microbicide is its low toxicity it is practically non-toxic. As it is additionally compatible with anionic, cationic and amphoteric compounds it serves mainly as an active ingredient in antidandruff hair tonics, and as a preservative in shampoos. The EEC Cosmetic Directive authorizes the application of Piroctone olamine as a preservative with a maximum concentration of 1% for products rinsed off and 0.5% for other products. 

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