Selenium is an essential mineral. The body builds it into antioxidant enzymes that protect cells from damage. [1] Selenium contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress, an approved EU health claim. [2] ClearDerm with Probiotics includes selenium as one part of a 22-ingredient formula. [3] Here is what the research shows.
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From Anirva, the maker of ClearDerm with Probiotics. This article is general information, not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
- People with acne tend to have lower selenium levels. A meta-analysis of skin studies found lower levels in acne than in people without it. [4]
- In a small placebo trial, selenium improved blood markers of oxidative stress and inflammation. Spots fell 37%, against 11% on placebo, but this drop was not significant. [5]
- ClearDerm provides 200 mcg of selenium (as sodium selenate). [3] This is under the US upper limit of 400 mcg. With average food intake, the total is above the European limit of 255 mcg. [1][6]
Facts at a glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ingredient | Selenium (as sodium selenate) [3] |
| Amount in ClearDerm | 200 mcg a day, in 2 capsules; 364% of the Daily Value [3] |
| US upper limit (adults) | 400 mcg a day [1] |
| European upper limit (adults) | 255 mcg a day, from food and supplements together [6] |
| Kinds of evidence | Blood-level studies in acne, one placebo-controlled trial, one older open trial, and safety reviews [1][4][5][6][7] |
| Last reviewed | [DATE] |
What is selenium?
Selenium is a mineral the body needs in small amounts. It is part of about 25 selenoproteins, which help protect cells from oxidative damage. [1]
One of them is glutathione peroxidase, an antioxidant enzyme. [5]
How selenium relates to acne-prone skin
A 2020 meta-analysis of 27 studies compared selenium levels in people with skin conditions and healthy people. Selenium was lower in people with acne. [4]
In a 1984 study, men with acne had lower glutathione peroxidase in their red blood cells than men without acne. Women with acne did not differ from women without it. [7]
Lower levels in acne do not prove that taking selenium helps acne. The research is still growing.
What the studies show
A placebo-controlled trial
In a 2012 trial in Iraq, 56 people aged 14 to 30 with inflamed acne took selenium, one of two other antioxidants, or placebo for 8 weeks. Groups were assigned at random, and the trial was single-blind, with 14 people per group. All groups also used a moisturizer and medicated cleansers. [5]
In the selenium group, inflamed spots on half the face fell from about 19 to 12, a 37% drop. On placebo, they fell about 11%. The paper reports this drop as not significant. [5]
Blood markers did change significantly compared with placebo. Glutathione, the body's own antioxidant, doubled. MDA, a marker of oxidized fats, fell 35%. IL-8, an inflammation signal, fell 71%. [5]
An older open trial
In the 1984 study, 29 people with acne took selenium together with vitamin E for 6 to 12 weeks, with no placebo group. The authors reported a good result, mainly in pustular acne and in people with low glutathione peroxidase. [7]
Because vitamin E was in the same treatment, the result belongs to the combination. [7]
How much selenium is in ClearDerm?
Two capsules provide 200 mcg of selenium, as sodium selenate. That is 364% of the Daily Value. [3]
The US upper limit for adults is 400 mcg a day, from food and supplements. [1] The European limit, set in 2023, is 255 mcg a day, from food and supplements together. [6]
Food already supplies selenium. In the US, adult women get about 94 mcg a day from food and drinks, and men about 132 mcg. [1] With ClearDerm, that is about 294 to 332 mcg: under the US limit and above the European limit (our calculation).
22 ingredients, including 200 mcg of selenium
ClearDerm with Probiotics is a daily two-capsule supplement that pairs selenium with zinc, milk thistle and other nutrients chosen to support clear skin. Every ingredient is listed on the label.
See ClearDermIs selenium safe?
The upper limits are set to avoid selenosis, the result of too much selenium over time. Its most common signs are hair loss and brittle or lost nails. [1]
Selenium is one part of ClearDerm
ClearDerm with Probiotics is a daily two-capsule skin supplement with 22 ingredients: vitamins, minerals, plant extracts, an enzyme and six probiotic strains. They were chosen to promote clear skin, support a clear complexion and support the gut–skin connection. [3]
ClearDerm has not been clinically tested as a finished product. When you take it, you are not relying on one ingredient alone.
ClearDerm is made in Phoenix, Arizona, in a cGMP-certified facility. Every ingredient is listed on the label, and the probiotic blend is given as one total. [3]
Brazil nuts are very high in selenium. One ounce, about 6 to 8 nuts, has about 544 mcg. [1] A few points help you use ClearDerm well: take it with food and water, as the directions say; [3] many supplements contain selenium, so count selenium from all your supplements and go easy on Brazil nuts; [1] and if you take any medicine, or are pregnant or nursing, ask your doctor or pharmacist before you start.
If you are deciding
Here is the case in brief. People with acne tend to have lower selenium levels. [4] In a small placebo-controlled trial, selenium lowered markers of oxidative stress and inflammation, and spots fell, though not significantly. [5] Selenium is one of 22 ingredients chosen to promote clear skin. [3]
The short version
Selenium is an essential mineral. [1] It contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress. [2] ClearDerm includes it as one part of a formula to help promote clear skin. [3]
Frequently asked questions
Does selenium help acne-prone skin?
How much selenium is in ClearDerm?
Two capsules provide 200 mcg, as sodium selenate. [3]
Is 200 mcg of selenium safe?
What happens with too much selenium?
Too much over time can cause selenosis, most often hair loss and brittle nails. [1]
References
- National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Selenium: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Updated September 4, 2025. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Selenium-HealthProfessional/ (accessed October 14, 2026).
- European Commission. Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 establishing a list of permitted health claims made on foods. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2012/432 (accessed October 5, 2026).
- Anirva. ClearDerm with Probiotics Supplement Facts label and product page. https://anirva.com/pages/clear-derm-with-probiotics (accessed October 14, 2026).
- Lv J, Ai P, Lei S, Zhou F, Chen S, Zhang Y. Selenium levels and skin diseases: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2020;62:126548. doi:10.1016/j.jtemb.2020.126548. PMID: 32497930.
- Sahib AS, Al-Anbari HH, Salih M, Abdullah F. Effects of oral antioxidants on lesion counts associated with oxidative stress and inflammation in patients with papulopustular acne. J Clin Exp Dermatol Res. 2012;3(5):163. doi:10.4172/2155-9554.1000163.
- EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens. Scientific opinion on the tolerable upper intake level for selenium. EFSA Journal. 2023;21(1):e07704. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7704. PMID: 36698500.
- Michaëlsson G, Edqvist LE. Erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity in acne vulgaris and the effect of selenium and vitamin E treatment. Acta Derm Venereol. 1984;64(1):9-14. PMID: 6203294.
