Seborrheic (seb-o-REE-ik) dermatitis is a common skin condition that mainly affects your scalp. It causes scaly patches, red skin and stubborn dandruff. Seborrheic dermatitis can also affect oily areas of the body, such as the face, sides of the nose, eyebrows, ears, eyelids and chest. Seborrheic dermatitis may go away without treatment. Or you may need many repeated treatments before the symptoms go away. And they may return later. Daily cleansing with a gentle soap and shampoo can help reduce oiliness and dead skin buildup. Seborrheic dermatitis is also called dandruff, seborrheic eczema and seborrheic psoriasis. For infants, the condition is known as cradle cap and causes crusty, scaly patches on the scalp.

Treatment FAQs: 

Which physical findings suggest seborrheic dermatitis?

Physical findings may include the following:

Scalp appearance ranging from mild, patchy scaling to widespread, thick, adherent crusts; plaques are rare; lesions may spread from the scalp onto the forehead, the posterior part of the neck, and the postauricular skin

What causes seborrheic dermatitis?

Malassezia organisms are probably not the cause of seborrheic dermatitis but a cofactor linked to a T-cell depression, increased sebum levels, and an activation of the alternative complement pathway. Various medications may also flare or induce seborrheic dermatitis.