PERSONS COMMONLY AFFECTED

• Can occur at any age
• More common in the following:
  • Infants (0 to 3 months old)
  • Teenagers
  • Older persons (50 years old and older)
• Occurs slightly more often in men than in women

FEATURES

• Red, greasy, scaly areas on the skin
• Itching or burning may be felt in the affected areas
• Often occurs in areas that are oily
• Rashes may come and go
  • Affected areas may include one or more of the following:Scalp
  • Face (eyebrows, eyelids, nose creases, and/or forehead)
  • Outer ears
  • Skin behind ears
  • Chest
  • Armpits
  • Skin under the breasts
  • Skin between the buttocks
  • Groin
• In infants, scales may cover the scalp (“cradle cap”). The diaper area may also be affected

OTHER FACTORS

• Certain microorganisms such as the yeast Malasezzia furfur
• Nutritional deficieny: zinc, niacin, pyridoxine
• Stress
• Hormones
• Weak immune system
• Certain medical conditions such as Parkinson Disease and HIV/AIDS
• It is not due to poor hygiene or allergies

TREATMENT

• To soften scales: Baby oil / mineral oil or other plant oils. The scales may be brushed off gently afterwards
• To decrease redness, inflammation and itching: steroid creams, ointments or lotions for short periods of time
• Medicated shampoos with zinc, tar, salicylic acid, or other antifungals
• Combining medications may be necessary to achieve best results.
• Patients with severe symptoms may need to take oral medicine or undergo light therapy (phototherapy)
• Do not pick or pull the scales to avoid traumatizing your skin or causing an infection

PREVENTION

• No exact cure for this condition. Maintenance shampoos and creams may be prescribed by your doctor to prevent the reappearance of the condition.
• Seborrheic dermatitis may recur, even with treatment

WHY DO I NEED TO SEE A BOARD-CERTIFIED DERMATOLOGIST?

• The disease is chronic and has tendency to recur. Wrong or inadequate treatment may result in complications such as infection or hair loss.
• Appropriate treatment plan may require combining two or more medications for best results. Your dermatologist can create a plan tailored to your condition.
• More serious conditions such as psoriasis and some forms of cancer may look like or produce signs like seborrheic dermatitis. These conditions require a different treatment plan. A dermatologist may request certain tests to rule out other diseases or identify underlying medical conditions. A board certified dermatologist can correctly diagnose your condition and provide appropriate treatment