Treating Tinea Versicolor: How Long Should I Leave Selsun Blue on My Skin?

Tinea versicolor is a pesky skin rash that is caused by a fungus and characterized by discolored (light-reddish to brown) spots on the skin that may also be itchy. It is estimated that tinea versicolor affects up to 10% of the adult population in the United States. Many regular readers of my Associated Content articles already know that tinea versicolor can be treated with a variety of over-the-counter, antifungal agents. One of the most effective over-the-counter treatments for tinea versicolor is Selsun Blue dandruff shampoo (or any other shampoo containing selenium sulfide). Selsun Blue is widely available and much cheaper than prescription treatments for tinea versicolor, making it ideal for most people. 

Unfortunately, you need to know exactly how to apply Selsun Blue to your skin to treat tinea versicolor, and the instructions for this are not on the bottle since the product is marketed for use in the hair. Selsun Blue should be applied to dry skin to clear up the tinea versicolor rash. The shampoo is thick, sticky, and blue, so this can be a messy process. Most people find it convenient to apply Selsun Blue to their skin just before showering. Once you have covered the entire rash with a thin layer of Selsun Blue, you need to allow it to dry on your skin for 10 to 15 minutes. After this amount of time, you can take a shower and rinse the shampoo off of your skin. 

Many people are tempted to leave Selsun Blue on their skin for hours, or even overnight in an attempt to clear up their rash faster. Not only will this not help your skin return to normal any faster, you're likely to get a chemical burn in the process. Selsun Blue should be applied to the skin for 10-15 minutes per day, everyday for two weeks. Most people with tinea versicolor will find that their rash has disappeared within that time frame, but for some people it may take a little longer. If your rash hasn't completely cleared up within a month of Selsun Blue treatments, you should see a doctor because it may not be tinea versicolor after all. Once you have gotten rid of the rash, you can repeat the Selsun Blue treatments every week to keep the fungus from returning. By following these simple steps, you can treat your tinea versicolor at home without the need for an expensive doctor's visit or prescription.