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Seborrheic Dermatitis

By

Thomas M. Ruenger

, MD, PhD, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Germany

Reviewed/Revised Jan 2023
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Topic Resources

Seborrheic dermatitis is chronic inflammation that causes yellow, greasy scales and dandruff to form on areas of the skin that have a high number of oil glands such as the scalp and face, along the hairline, around the ears, and occasionally on other areas.

The cause of seborrheic dermatitis is unknown, but the number of Malassezia yeasts, an organism normally present on the skin, and a person's reaction to them play some role.

Seborrheic dermatitis occurs most often in infants, usually within the first 3 months of life, and in adults 30 to 70 years old.

Symptoms of Seborrheic Dermatitis

In severe cases, yellowish to reddish scaly raised bumps appear along the hairline, behind the ears, on the eyebrows, in the folds of skin on the sides of the nose, and on the chest.

In infants younger than 1 month of age, seborrheic dermatitis may produce a thick, yellow, crusted scalp rash (cradle cap) and sometimes yellow scaling behind the ears and red pimples on the face. Frequently, a stubborn diaper rash accompanies the scalp rash.

Older children and adults may develop a thick, tenacious, scaly scalp rash with large flakes of skin.

Diagnosis of Seborrheic Dermatitis

  • The location and appearance of the affected skin

Doctors base the diagnosis of seborrheic dermatitis on the location and appearance of the affected skin.

Treatment of Seborrheic Dermatitis

  • Shampoos, antifungal creams, corticosteroid creams and solutions, and sometimes calcineurin inhibitors

Adults and older children

In adults and older children, the scalp can be treated with a shampoo containing the antifungal drug ketoconazole. Ketoconazole helps control Malassezia yeasts. A ketoconazole shampoo should be used twice a week until symptoms are controlled and then once a week thereafter. Shampoos containing pyrithione zinc, selenium sulfide, salicylic acid and sulfur, or tar are also effective in controlling dandruff and should be used daily or every other day until dandruff is controlled and two times a week thereafter.

If the shampoos do not relieve itching, people can apply a corticosteroid solution to the scalp. Seborrheic dermatitis in beard and eyebrow areas is treated similarly to seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp.

Corticosteroid products are also used on the head and other areas. In areas of the face, only mild corticosteroids, such as 1 to 2.5% hydrocortisone cream, should be used. Even mild corticosteroids must be used cautiously, because long-term use can thin the skin and cause other problems. Ketoconazole cream or another antifungal cream may be given for mild cases.

Calcineurin inhibitors (pimecrolimus and tacrolimus) are also used, particularly when long-term therapy is needed and when antifungals alone are not sufficiently effective.

Often, treatment must be continued for many weeks. If seborrheic dermatitis returns after the treatment is stopped, treatment can be restarted.

Infants and young children

In infants, the scalp can be shampooed daily with mild baby shampoo, and 1 to 2.5% hydrocortisone cream or fluocinolone oil can be rubbed into the scalp or face. Antifungal creams such as 2% ketoconazole or 1% econazole can be helpful in severe cases.

For young children who have a thick scaly rash on the scalp, mineral oil, olive oil, or a corticosteroid gel or oil can be rubbed gently into the affected area with a soft toothbrush at bedtime. The scalp is shampooed daily until the thick scale is gone.

Drugs Mentioned In This Article

Generic Name Select Brand Names
Extina, Ketodan, Kuric, Nizoral, Nizoral A-D, Xolegel
Anti-Dandruff, Dandrex, Exsel , Selenos, SelRx, Selseb, Selsun, Selsun Blue, Tersi Foam
Akurza , Aliclen, Bensal HP, Clear Away, Clear Away Liquid, Clear Away One Step, Clear Away Plantar, Clearasil Rapid Rescue Deep Treatment, Compound W, Compound W Total Care Wart & Skin, Corn/Callus Remover, Curad Mediplast, DermacinRx Atrix, DermacinRx Salicate, Dermarest Psoriasis Moisturizer, Dermarest Psoriasis Overnight Treatment, Dermarest Psoriasis Scalp Treatment, Dermarest Psoriasis Shampoo plus Conditioner, Dermarest Psoriasis Skin Treatment, Dr. Scholl's Callus Removers, Dr. Scholl's Corn Removers, Dr. Scholl's Extra Thick Callus Remover, Dr. Scholl's One Step Callus Remover, Dr. Scholl's One Step Corn Removers, Dr. Scholl's Ultra, Dr.Scholl's Dual Action FREEZE AWAY, Dr.Scholl's Duragel, DuoFilm Wart Remover, Freezone, Gold Bond Psoriasis Relief, Gordofilm , Hydrisalic, Ionil, Ionil Plus, Keralyt, Keralyt 5, Keralyt Scalp Complete, MOSCO Callus & Corn Remover, MOSCO One Step Corn Remover, Neutrogena Acne Wash, Neutrogena T/Sal Scalp, Occlusal-HP, P&S, RE SA , SalAC, Salactic Film , Salacyn, Salex, Salimez, Salimez Forte, Salisol , Salisol Forte , Salitech, Salitech Forte, Salitop , Salkera, Salvax, Salycim, Scalpicin 2 in 1 Anti-Dandruff, Selsun Blue, Thera-Sal , Trans-Ver-Sal, UltraSal-ER, VIRASAL, Wart-Off, XALIX
A-Hydrocort, Ala-Cort, Ala-Scalp, Alkindi, Anucort-HC, Anumed-HC, Anusol HC, Aquaphor Children's Itch Relief, Aquaphor Itch Relief, Balneol for Her, Caldecort , Cetacort, Colocort , Cortaid, Cortaid Advanced, Cortaid Intensive Therapy, Cortaid Sensitive Skin, CortAlo, Cortef, Cortenema, Corticaine, Corticool, Cortifoam, Cortizone-10, Cortizone-10 Cooling Relief, Cortizone-10 External Itch Relief, Cortizone-10 Intensive Healing, Cortizone-10 Plus, Cortizone-10 Quick Shot, Cortizone-5 , Dermarest Dricort, Dermarest Eczema, Dermarest Itch Relief, Encort, First - Hydrocortisone, Gly-Cort , GRx HiCort, Hemmorex-HC, Hemorrhoidal-HC, Hemril , Hycort, Hydro Skin, Hydrocortisone in Absorbase, Hydrocortone, Hydroskin , Hydroxym, Hytone, Instacort, Lacticare HC, Locoid, Locoid Lipocream, MiCort-HC , Monistat Complete Care Instant Itch Relief Cream, Neosporin Eczema, NuCort , Nutracort, NuZon, Pandel, Penecort, Preparation H Hydrocortisone, Proctocort, Proctocream-HC, Procto-Kit, Procto-Med HC , Procto-Pak, Proctosert HC , Proctosol-HC, Proctozone-HC, Rectacort HC, Rectasol-HC, Rederm, Sarnol-HC, Scalacort, Scalpicin Anti-Itch, Solu-Cortef, Texacort, Tucks HC, Vagisil Anti-Itch, Walgreens Intensive Healing, Westcort
Elidel
ASTAGRAF XL, ENVARSUS, HECORIA, Prograf, Protopic
Capex, Derma-Smoothe/FS, DermOtic Oil , Flac, Fluonid , FS Shampoo, Iluvien, Retisert, Synalar, YUTIQ
Ecoza, Spectazole, Zolpak
Fleet, Kondremul, Liqui-Doss, Muri-Lube
NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
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