Selenium sulfide in tinea versicolor: blood and urine levels.

The safety of topical selenium sulfide lotion in man has been demonstrated previously. Twenty male patients with a diagnosis of tinea versicolor were randomly assigned to two parallel groups who applied selenium sulfide lotion or the vehicle to the entire skin surface, excluding mucous membranes, for 10 minutes once daily for 7 consecutive days. Blood and urine selenium levels were determined before and after treatment and showed no significant differences between the active drug and vehicle groups on any study day. It would appear that no significant absorption of selenium took place as a result of this treatment regimen.