SELENIUM

📋 Quick facts

Description: SELENIUM — SELENIUM. Formula: Se. MW: 78.97. IUPAC: selenium.

Quick Facts:

• Category: other

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Selenium is an essential trace element your body uses to make 25 different protective proteins called selenoproteins
• Your body gets selenium from both inorganic forms (selenite, selenate) and organic forms found in foods and plants
• Recommended daily intake is 40-55 micrograms; the safe upper limit is 300 micrograms per day
• Too much selenium can cause selenosis, affecting your liver, skin, nails, and hair
• Research shows mixed results: some studies suggest benefits, but others show selenium supplementation may not prevent disease or could potentially increase certain risks

⚗️ Chemical Overview

Hydrogen selenide is a colorless gas with an offensive odor. It is highly flammable and toxic. It may be irritating to eyes and mucous membranes. It is heavier than air. Long term exposure to low concentrations or short term exposure to high concentrations can result in adverse health effects from inhalation. If exposed to prolonged fire or intense heat the containers may violently rupture or rocket. Rate of onset: Immediate Persistence: Minutes – hours Odor threshold: 0.3 ppm Source/use/other hazard: Metals &semiconductor preparation; highly flammable/explosive; can cause burns/frostbite; decomposes rapidly to form elemental selenium Selane is a selenium hydride and a mononuclear parent hydride. It has a role as a mouse metabolite and an Escherichia coli metabolite. It is a conjugate base of a selenonium. It is a conjugate acid of a selanide. Hydrogen selenide is a metabolite found in or produced by Escherichia coli (strain K12, MG1655).

Source(s): CAMEO Chemicals, ChEBI, E. coli Metabolome Database (ECMDB), via PubChem

📊 Comedogenicity

🛡️ Safety rating

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Selenium works in your body primarily as part of selenoproteins—25 different proteins that contain selenium in a special form called selenocysteine (Novartis Found Symp, 2007). One key selenoprotein, called selenoprotein P, acts like a delivery truck, transporting selenium from your liver to other organs that need it. The main selenoproteins include glutathione peroxidases and thioredoxin reductases, which function as antioxidants—meaning they help neutralize harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species that can damage your cells (Aging Clin Exp Res, 2019). Research has explored selenium’s potential in several areas: #1: Skin conditions—Studies suggest selenium may help regulate immune responses and reduce inflammation in psoriasis by lowering levels of TNF-alpha, a molecule that triggers inflammation, and by protecting skin cells from oxidative stress caused by UV radiation (Biol Trace Elem Res, 2012).

#2: Hair loss—Animal studies using selenium nanozymes showed potential for reducing hair loss by managing inflammation, promoting blood vessel growth, and clearing reactive oxygen species in hair follicles, though this research is still experimental (J Control Release, 2025). #3: Aging—Some research proposes that selenium’s antioxidant role could help reduce inflammation, DNA damage, and support cellular aging processes, though researchers acknowledge the evidence remains controversial and that more study is needed (Aging Clin Exp Res, 2019). However, the story is complicated. #4: Cancer risk—Early observational studies suggested selenium reduced cancer risk, but large randomized controlled trials (the gold standard) found that selenium supplementation did not reduce cancer risk and may actually increase the risk of some cancers, including advanced prostate cancer and skin cancer, as well as increase diabetes risk (Adv Cancer Res, 2017).

Researchers emphasize that different selenium compounds behave differently in your body, and this variation makes it difficult to compare studies and draw firm conclusions (Novartis Found Symp, 2007; Adv Cancer Res, 2017). One important note: No specific selenium deficiency disease has been officially described in humans in developed countries, though low selenium combined with viral infection has been linked to Keshan disease, a heart condition (Novartis Found Symp, 2007). If you take selenium supplements, staying within the safe upper limit of 300 micrograms daily is important, since excess selenium can cause selenosis—toxicity affecting your liver, skin, nails, and hair.

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Alexander J (2007). Selenium. Novartis Found Symp.
• Nazıroğlu M et al. (2012). Selenium and psoriasis. Biol Trace Elem Res.
• Jing S et al. (2025). Microneedle-mediated hypoxic extracellular vesicle-encapsulated selenium nanoparticles delivery to treat androgenetic alopecia. J Control Release.
• Cai Z et al. (2019). Selenium, aging and aging-related diseases. Aging Clin Exp Res.
• Vinceti M et al. (2017). The Epidemiology of Selenium and Human Cancer. Adv Cancer Res.

🧴 Products Containing SELENIUM

• Numan Testosterone support
• davines Purifying Shampoo
• L’Oréal, L’Oreal Consumer products, L’Oréal Paris, Elseve, Elvive Elvive Anticaspa Selenium S Actif
• L’Oréal, L’Oreal Consumer products, L’Oréal Paris, Elseve Elseve Antipelliculaire Selenium S actif shampooing traitant