Selenium Disulfide Stabilizer for Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

 

With the consumers' increasing demand for scalp treatment, selenium disulfide is also one of the most common active ingredients in anti-dandruff shampoo. It can effectively control dandruff and relieve seborrheic dermatitis by reducing excessive epidermal cell turnover, regulating sebum production, and inhibiting the growth of scalp fungi.

 

Although selenium disulfide has excellent anti-dandruff efficacy, formulators face a common challenge, poor stability. This active ingredient is sensitive to oxidation and develops an unpleasant odor, or loses efficacy when exposed to heat, light, or air during manufacturing and storage.

 

To help formulators overcome these challenges, H&G developed Higmild®-ATA38, which is a specialized selenium disulfide stabilizing agent designed for anti-dandruff shampoo. This hair care ingredient protects selenium disulfide from oxidation while maintaining formulation long-term stability and product performance.

 

 

Selenium disulfide has long been recognized as one of the most effective anti-dandruff shampoo ingredients.

 

Its anti-dandruff mechanism includes:

 

Inhibiting excessive epidermal cell division and turnover

Promoting normal scalp cell keratinization

Reducing excessive sebum secretion

Inhibiting the growth of dandruff-causing fungi

Helping relieve symptoms associated with seborrheic dermatitis

 

Compared with traditional anti-dandruff ingredients, selenium disulfide provides excellent performance in controlling dandruff caused by fungal overgrowth.

 

However, its strong reducing property makes selenium disulfide chemically unstable. During production, transportation, or long-term storage, oxidation may cause:

 

Product discoloration

Odor changes

Reduced anti-dandruff efficiency

Low formulation stability

Shorter product shelf life

 

For selenium disulfide shampoo manufacturers, maintaining the stability of the active ingredient is the key to ensuring product quality stability.

 

 

Higmild®-ATA38 is specifically developed to improve selenium disulfide stability during production and shelf life.

 

COLLOIDAL SULFUR (AND) ZINC PCA (AND) STARCH HYDROXYPROPYLTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE (AND) DICHLOROBENZYL ALCOHOL (AND) WATER

 

Its multifunctional protective system combines colloidal sulfur, Zinc PCA, cationic starch, and dichlorobenzyl alcohol to effectively enhance oxidation resistance, suspension stability, and overall formulation performance.

 

 

This hair care ingredient has 3–5 μm ultra-fine colloidal sulfur and possesses a larger specific surface area.

 

Colloidal sulfur regulates the oxidation-reduction reactions of selenium disulfide, slowing oxidation during processing and storage while improving the dispersion and suspension stability of particles in shampoo formulations.

 

 

The combination of Zinc PCA and Starch Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride forms a stable protective network around selenium disulfide particles.

 

This synergistic system inhibits oxidative decomposition while enhancing formulation stability and maintaining consistent product performance.

 

 

Higmild®-ATA38 also has broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, working synergistically with selenium disulfide to maintain scalp hygiene and enhance the overall performance of anti-dandruff formulations.

 

 

This hair care ingredient exhibits excellent compatibility in formulations with pH below 6, making it suitable for mildly acidic shampoo systems commonly used in modern scalp care products.

 

 

Higmild®-ATA38 provides multiple advantages for anti-dandruff shampoo formulations:

 

Protect selenium disulfide against oxidation

Minimize discoloration during storage

Reduce odor changes

Maintain long-term anti-dandruff efficiency

Enhance suspension stability

Strengthen formulation consistency

Support longer product shelf life

Provide broad-spectrum antimicrobial performance

Be mild and easy to formulate

Be suitable for acidic shampoo systems (pH < 6)

 

Appearance	Light yellow paste
Odor	Characteristic odor
Solid content	≥38%
pH (1% aqueous dispersion)	3.5–6.5

 

 

Recommended dosage: 0.5–1.0%

 

Higmild®-ATA38 provides flexible processing options for different manufacturing processes.

 

 

Add this hair care ingredient at 80–85°C and follow with homogenization until completely dispersed.

 

 

For room-temperature processing, add Higmild®-ATA38 before fragrance and preservative incorporation and mix until evenly dispersed.

 

 

For optimal performance, grind Higmild®-ATA38 together with selenium disulfide using a colloid mill or three-roll mill before homogenization.

 

 

To maximize selenium disulfide formulation stability:

 

Avoid adding EDTA-2Na or other chelating agents, as they may disturb the protection system.

 

Minor particles are a normal characteristic and can be removed through filtration.

 

Slight separation after storage does not affect product performance; stir thoroughly before use.

 

Store at room temperature and avoid prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures.

 

If frozen, allow the product to thaw naturally at room temperature before stirring. Do not apply direct heat.

 

 

Higmild®-ATA38 is suitable for multiple scalp treatment formulations, including:

 

Selenium disulfide shampoo

Anti-dandruff shampoo

Seborrheic dermatitis shampoo

Medicated shampoo

Professional scalp treatment shampoo

Therapeutic scalp cleansing products

 

 

With the anti-dandruff formulation continuously developing for higher efficiency and better consumer experience, maintaining selenium disulfide stability is becoming increasingly important.

 

Higmild®-ATA38 provides a stability solution, helping protect selenium disulfide from oxidation, discoloration, odor changes, and performance loss during manufacturing, storage, and consumer use.

 

Higmild®-ATA38 combines ultra-fine colloidal sulfur, Zinc PCA, cationic starch, and a functional protective system, making it possible for formulators to provide more stable, reliable, and efficient anti-dandruff shampoo formulations for the global market.