Understanding Seborrheic Dermatitis: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

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Seborrheic Dermatitis

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

Additional names

This group contains additional names: - Seborrhoea - Seborrheic Infantile Dermatitis - Infantile eczema - Seborrhea Capitis - Scalp seborrheic dermatitis - Seborrheic dermatitis of scalp

General

Seborrheic dermatitis is a common inflammatory skin condition. It causes flaky, white to yellowish scales to form on oily areas such as the scalp, face, or inside the ear. It can occur with or without reddened skin. Cradle cap is the term used when seborrheic dermatitis affects the scalp of infants. The exact cause of seborrheic dermatitis is unknown. It may be due to a combination of factors such as genetics, oil gland activity, Yeasts on your skin and changes the function of your skin barrier.

295 people with Seborrheic Dermatitis

Learn from others who are experiencing Seborrheic Dermatitis.

Signs & symptoms

Seborrheic dermatitis can occur on different body areas. It often forms where the skin is oily or greasy. Common areas include the scalp, eyebrows, eyelids, creases of the nose, lips, behind the ears, in the outer ear, and middle of the chest. In general, affected skin areas will show lesions with scales and plaques. They tend to be itchy, red and greasy.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is based on appearance and location of the skin lesions. Further tests, such as skin biopsy, are rarely needed.

Treatment

Flaking and dryness can be treated with over-the-counter dandruff or medicated shampoos. These products containing ingredients such as salicylic acid, coal tar, zinc, resorcinol, ketoconazole, or selenium sulfide. Use the shampoo according to label instructions. For severe cases, your health care provider will likely prescribe a shampoo, cream, ointment, or lotion containing either a stronger dose of the above medicines or contain more aggressive ingredients to treat the problem. Phototherapy, a medical procedure in which your skin is carefully exposed to ultraviolet light, may be needed.

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike

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