Blog

Seborrheic dermatitis is one of the most frequent dermatological pathologies. In fact, what we all know as “dandruff” is nothing more than a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis.

There are two main forms of seborrheic dermatitis, infantile and adult.

Infantile seborrheic dermatitis appears in the first months of life in the form of redness and scaling on the scalp, midface and skin folds. When it affects the scalp, we usually call it cradle cap and, although it is striking, parents should not despair because it is usually asymptomatic. It usually resolves spontaneously within one or two months and does not usually require specific treatment. Generally, the application of olive oil and the use of specific shampoos or gels for this problem help to eliminate it sooner. En ocasiones, si no responde a estas medidas puede requerir un tratamiento dermatológico específico.

Adult seborrheic dermatitis manifests as red, scaly, orange-colored areas on the scalp, face (eyebrows, nasolabial folds and beard area) and décolleté. When there is only scaling of the scalp without redness or inflammation, we call it pityriasis sicca or dandruff.

In adults it is usually a chronic, relapsing process. Sometimes stress or fatigue can precipitate outbreaks. Low potency corticosteroid creams, topical immunomodulators or antifungal creams can be used for the treatment of lesions in the facial or body region. For scalp lesions, shampoos with antifungal or keratolytic active ingredients such as salicylic acid are recommended.

Seborrheic dermatitis is a frequent and recurrent process, whose main repercussion is at the esthetic level. Although there is currently no definitive treatment to prevent outbreaks, with proper follow-up and dermatological treatment they can be effectively prevented and controlled.