Understanding Seborrheic dermatitis: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

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Seborrheic dermatitis

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

General

Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin condition that mainly affects your scalp. There is scaly skin, inflammation, and persistent dandruff as a result of it. In most cases, it affects oily areas of the body, such as the face, the sides of the nose, the eyebrows, the ears, the eyelids, and the chest. It can be irritating, but it is not contagious, nor does it cause permanent hair loss.

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Signs & symptoms

Signs and symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis include: Scalp, hair, eyebrows, beard, or mustache flaking Greasy patches of skin covered with white or yellow scales or crust on the scalp, face, eyebrows, ears, eyelids, chest, armpits, groin area or under the breasts Rash that may appear darker or lighter in people with brown or black skin and redder in people with white skin Petaloid seborrheic dermatitis manifests as a ring-shaped rash A feeling of itchiness Stress, fatigue, or a change in season can trigger seborrheic dermatitis symptoms

Diagnosis

Your dermatologist will likely ask you about your symptoms and examine your skin to diagnose seborrheic dermatitis. For laboratory study, a small piece of skin may need to be removed (biopsied). Other conditions can be ruled out by this test.

Treatment

The main treatment for seborrheic dermatitis in adolescents and adults is medicated shampoos, creams, and lotions. Doctors may suggest the following treatments if nonprescription products and self-care habits do not work: Alternate antifungal gels, creams, lotions, foams or shampoos with another medication. Inflammation-controlling creams, lotions, shampoos, or ointments. A pill-based antifungal medication.

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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