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Seborrheic dermatitis is the term for scaly skin rashes that tend to develop on oily areas of skin, like the scalp, face, or chest.

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Seborrheic dermatitis

What is seborrheic dermatitis?

Seborrheic dermatitis is an inflammatory skin condition that causes patches of scaly skin. These patches might be dry, scaly and greasy, or both.

Seborrheic dermatitis is most common on oily areas of skin like the scalp, face, ears, beard, or chest – but it can occur anywhere aside from the palms of your hands and soles of your feet.

Who gets seborrheic dermatitis?


Seborrheic dermatitis can affect anyone, regardless of age, ethnicity, or sex. But babies between one week and six months old, and adults over 40 years old are more likely to be affected. There’s not enough evidence as of now to link getting seborrheic dermatitis as an infant with developing it as an adult.

You’re also more likely to develop seborrheic dermatitis if you have HIV-AIDS, or neurological problems like Parkinson’s, dementia, or stroke.

How common is seborrheic dermatitis?


Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin condition, with around five percent of the global population living with it. But non-inflammatory seborrheic dermatitis, commonly called dandruff, is much more common – around 50%.

A study in Australian preschools showed seborrheic dermatitis affected 72% of three month old children, which then fell quickly as they grew older. About 14% of middle-aged adults have seborrheic dermatitis according to analysis of the Rotterdam Study data, but this increases to 35% in people with HIV, and 85% in those with AIDS.

Medically reviewed by
Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell
Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer
on August 15, 2023.
Meet Alexandra Cristina  
Alexandra Cristina
This page was medically reviewed by Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell, Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer on August 15, 2023. Next review due on August 15, 2025.

How we source info.

When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.

Seborrheic dermatitis

What causes seborrheic dermatitis?


Seborrheic dermatitis can occur for lots of different reasons, but we don’t fully understand why it happens. Some commonly suggested seborrheic dermatitis causes are:

  • Environmental triggers (cold weather, low humidity, etc.);
  • Fungal infection by Malessezia spp.;
  • Activity of the sebaceous gland;
  • Immunosuppression;
  • Disruption of microorganisms on your skin;
  • More unsaturated fatty acids present on your skin.

What are the symptoms of dermatitis?


Seborrheic dermatitis symptoms can affect you differently depending on the tone of your skin, how old you are, and any other medical conditions you might have. The most common symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis are:

  • A rash on your scalp or face. This tends to look red and raised on lighter skin tones – or light pink or purple with white spots on darker skin tones. The skin might be dry or have oily scales, or a combination of both;
  • Dry, scaly, flaky skin. You can get dry, flaky scales of skin anywhere you have seborrheic dermatitis;
  • Itching and burning sensation. Usually this is mild, and can be treated with medicine;
  • A rash on your eyelids. Inflamed oil glands in your eyelids can cause blepharitis, causing them to become itchy, discoloured, swollen, scaly and irritated.
  • Rash on the ear. You might also get inflammation in or around your ear. This can cause flaking, crusting, your skin to crack, or oozing from your ear.

Can seborrheic dermatitis cause other problems?


Seborrheic dermatitis can cause hair loss due to inflammation and itching on your scalp. Scratching the rash caused by seborrheic dermatitis can cause damage to your hair follicles, disrupting your hair’s natural growth and causing it to fall out. Luckily, you can get treatment that can reduce or stop any itching.

If it isn’t treated, the broken or damaged skin caused by seborrheic dermatitis can become infected by fungus or bacteria. This can make symptoms like discolouration, tenderness, and weeping worse – so it’s really important to keep your condition under control.

Medically reviewed by
Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell
Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer
on August 15, 2023.
Meet Alexandra Cristina  
Alexandra Cristina
This page was medically reviewed by Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell, Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer on August 15, 2023. Next review due on August 15, 2025.

How we source info.

When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.

Seborrheic dermatitis

What medications are there for seborrheic dermatitis?


The treatment you’ll use for seborrheic dermatitis will depend on how old you are, where it affects you, how severe it is, and any other conditions you might have or medication you’re on.

One of the most common ways to treat seborrheic dermatitis on the scalp is with dandruff shampoo. You can get this without a prescription, but if your condition is moderate or severe, you might need to see a clinician to get a prescription shampoo. Make sure to follow any instructions you’re given on how to use your shampoo to get the most out of your treatment.

There are also a range of creams, ointments, and gels available if seborrheic dermatitis affects other areas of your body, like your face, ears, or chest. A clinician can prescribe a corticosteroid treatment for a short period of time to help reduce itching and swelling. And some people might need an antifungal treatment to clear up any infections causing the condition.

Are seborrheic dermatitis treatments available over the counter?


You can get treatments for mild seborrheic dermatitis, like dandruff shampoo and most skin softeners (also known as keratolytics) over the counter. These can help break down and soften the outer layers of skin to reduce the thickness of any scaly skin and make it easier to wash out. But if your seborrheic dermatitis is more severe, you might need a more powerful prescription shampoo or cream from a doctor.

Does seborrheic dermatitis always need treating?


Seborrheic dermatitis tends to come and go, but if more serious cases are left untreated it can cause secondary infections. While there isn’t a treatment that will cure seborrheic dermatitis, we offer treatments that can relieve itching and swelling and reduce the signs of the disease on your skin when it flares up.

Seborrheic dermatitis in infants, commonly called cradle cap, tends to resolve on its own as they get older. But you can get medicines to help them feel more comfortable, if it bothers them.

Medically reviewed by
Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell
Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer
on August 15, 2023.
Meet Alexandra Cristina  
Alexandra Cristina
This page was medically reviewed by Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell, Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer on August 15, 2023. Next review due on August 15, 2025.

How we source info.

When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.

Seborrheic dermatitis

FAQ: Seborrheic dermatitis

Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.

Do seborrheic dermatitis treatments work?

Answer:
There are various clinically proven medicines available to treat seborrheic dermatitis. For fungal infections causing seborrheic dermatitis, ketoconazole 2% gel once a day over 14 days resulted in a 25.3% rate of successful treatment, compared to 13.9% on just the vehicle of the treatment (the inactive medium containing the medicine). It also helped reduce reddening, itching, and scaling.

Another antifungal treatment, ciclopiroxolamine 1% cream, was examined in a trial of 129 individuals who took it twice a day for 28 days, followed by once a day for a further 28 days. 63% of people reported that their scaly and red skin disappeared completely, compared to 34% of people using just the vehicle of the medicine.

Other antifungal medicines that have proven to treat seborrheic dermatitis include sertaconazole and metronidazole. And if local treatments that you apply directly to the affected skin don’t work – oral antifungal tablets like itraconazole might be an alternative.

Corticosteroids like hydrocortisone have also shown to provide similar results to ketoconazole in clinical trials. A study comparing ketoconazole 2% cream with hydrocortisone found they had comparable rates of response and reductions in redness, scaling, and itching.

So, to summarise, there are a range of available options with a proven track-record of treating seborrheic dermatitis. Meaning you’re likely to find one that works for you, even if some don’t.

How is seborrheic dermatitis diagnosed?

Answer:
There’s no specific test to determine whether or not you have seborrheic dermatitis. A dermatologist will ask about the symptoms you’re experiencing, and examine the affected areas of skin.

If you have any signs of another skin disease, you might need a culture or biopsy to examine your skin and diagnose any other conditions that might be present. This helps you get the specific treatment you need for your skin.

Can you get side effects from seborrheic dermatitis treatment?

Answer:
Just like any medication, there’s a chance you’ll get some side effects while using treatment for seborrheic dermatitis. The effects you might get will depend on the cause of your condition, how severe it is, and what you’re using to treat it.

Mild hydrocortisone creams are typically very safe, but when you first start using them you might notice a burning or stinging sensation after applying it. Antifungal medicines like ketoconazole can cause similar side effects.

What products should I avoid with seborrheic dermatitis?

Answer:
It’s possible that removing yeast and mould from your diet can help if you’re struggling to control your symptoms. This means cutting out food and drink like breads, cheese, wine, beer, large amounts of carbohydrates, and any others that are made by fungi or yeast. However, there aren’t any good clinical studies supporting this at the moment.

What’s the difference between seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff?

Answer:
Seborrheic dermatitis is very similar to dandruff – but while dandruff usually only affects the scalp, seborrheic dermatitis can affect other areas of the body. Dandruff usually only causes itchy, flaking skin, whereas seborrheic dermatitis causes scaling skin and inflammation as well.

Is there a permanent cure for seborrheic dermatitis?

Answer:
No, there’s no way to cure seborrheic dermatitis permanently. But there are treatments available to reduce any symptoms you experience, and to make their appearance less noticeable.

Is seborrheic dermatitis contagious?

Answer:
No – seborrheic dermatitis isn’t contagious. You can’t catch it from someone who has it, or pass it on to someone else if you do.

Why should I buy seborrheic dermatitis treatment online with you?

Answer:
We understand how important looking after your skin is, especially if you’re managing seborrheic dermatitis. When you buy seborrheic dermatitis treatment online with us, we’ll deliver it straight to your door with express delivery. And when you’re running out, we’ll notify you and send out a replacement if you’re happy with your treatment.

Just fill out one of our online consultations so we can get to know you a bit better, and we’ll suggest seborrheic dermatitis treatment tailored to you. And once you’ve chosen your medication, our clinical team will keep in touch to offer expert aftercare – helping you get the most out of your treatment.

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This page was medically reviewed by Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell, Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer on August 15, 2023. Next review due on August 15, 2025.
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