Seborrheic Dermatitis
Aka: Seborrheic Dermatitis, Seborrhea, Dandruff
II. Epidemiology
- Prevalence
- General population: 1-3%
- Immunocompromised: >34%
- Gender
- More common in men
- Age (bimodal)
- Age 2 to 12 months
- Adolescent and young adult
III. Pathophysiology
- Altered skin cell functioning
- Results in skin inflammation with redness, itching and Scaling
- Associated with fungal overgrowth
- Normal skin colonization with the fungus Malassezia species (Malassezia furfur, Malassezia ovalis)
- Malassezia invade Stratum Corneum in Seborrheic Dermatitis
- Release Lipases that in turn result in free Fatty Acid formation
- Free Fatty Acids allow for increased Malassezia growth and cause the localized skin inflammation
- Stratum Corneum proliferates in response to inflammation and results in Scaling
- Stratum Corneum is also impaired as a barrier allowing for further Malassezia invasion
IV. Causes
- Idiopathic (most cases)
V. Risk Factors
- Immunocompromised state (e.g. AIDS)
- Increased emotional stress
- Cold, dry environments
- Sun Exposure
VI. Associated Conditions
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
- Nutritional deficiency
- Impaired essential Fatty Acid metabolism
- Neurologic conditions
VIII. Signs
- See Pediatric Seborrheic Dermatitis (Cradle Cap)
- Characteristics
- Distribution
- Common areas
- Scalp
- Nasolabial fold
- Facial involvement (T-distribution)
- Central face
- Beard area
- Eyebrows
- Chest involvement
- Common areas
- Associated skin findings
IX. Labs: Biopsy (indicated only in unclear diagnosis)
- Scale crust with Neutrophils (perifollicular)
- Epidermal parakeratosis
- Plugged follicular ostia
- Spongiosis
X. Differential Diagnosis
- Acne Rosacea
- Atopic Dermatitis
- Candidiasis
- Contact Dermatitis
- Dermatophytosis
- Erythrasma
- Impetigo
- Langerhans Cell histiocytosis
- Lichen Simplex Chronicus
- Nummular Eczema
- Pityriasis Rosea
- Psoriasis vulgaris
- Rosacea
- Secondary Sypilis
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Tinea Capitis or Tinea Corporis
- Uremic frost
- Occurs in end-stage renal disease with high BUN (untreated or missed Hemodialysis)
- Crystallized urea from sweat forms and deposits on the skin
XI. Management: Scalp
- Approach
- Mild scalp involvement
- Use over-the-counter preparations
- Moderate scalp involvement
- Start with AntifungalShampoo 2-3 times weekly for several weeks until remission
- Maintain control with once weekly use
- Consider medium potency Corticosteroid intermittent, short-term use for itching, inflammation
- Moderate to severe scalp involvement
- High potency Corticosteroid (Clobetasol) twice weekly (wean as inflammation resolves)
- Ketaconazole 2% Shampoo twice weekly
- Mild scalp involvement
- Over-The-Counter
- Topical Antifungal Shampoos
- Apply to hair for at least 5 minutes before washing out
- Ketoconazole 2% (Nizoral) Shampoo
- Start with daily use, then twice weekly
- Ciclopirox 1% Shampoo (Loprox)
- Start with daily use, then twice weekly
- Topical Corticosteroids
- High potency Topical Corticosteroids
- Clobetasol 0.05% Shampoo (Clobex) twice weekly
- Medium potency Topical Corticosteroids
- Betamethasone valerate 0.12% foam (Luxiq) applied daily to twice daily
- Fluocinolone 0.01% Shampoo (e.g. Capex) or solution (e.g. Synalar) applied daily
- High potency Topical Corticosteroids
XII. Management: Face and Body
- Approach
- Maintenance: Topical Antifungals
- Topical Antifungals are first-line therapy for face and body Seborrhea
- As effective as Corticosteroids and safe for longterm use
- Inflammation or flare-ups (intermittent and short-term use)
- Maintenance: Topical Antifungals
- Topical Antifungals
- Ketoconazole 2% cream (Nizoral), gel (Xolegel) or foam (Extina)
- Twice daily for up to 8 weeks, then as needed
- Most reasonably priced
- Ciclopirox 0.77% gel or 1% cream (Ciclodan, not available in U.S.)
- Twice daily for up to 4 weeks
- Sertaconazole 2% cream (Ertaczo)
- Twice daily for up to 4 weeks
- Very expensive ($423 for 60 grams in 2014)!
- Ketoconazole 2% cream (Nizoral), gel (Xolegel) or foam (Extina)
- Topical Calcineurin Inhibitors
- See specific medications for precautions
- FDA black box warning for Lymphoma and skin cancer risk
- Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment (Protopic)
- Twice daily
- Pimecrolimus 1% cream (Elidel)
- Twice daily
- See specific medications for precautions
- Topical Corticosteroids
- Medium potency Topical Corticosteroids
- Betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream (Beta-Val) or lotion applied once or twice daily
- Fluocinolone 0.01% cream, oil (Derma Smoothe) or solution (Synalar) applied once to twice daily
- Low potency Topical Corticosteroids
- Hydrocortisone 1% cream or ointment
- Desonide
- Forms: 0.05% cream, foam (Verdeso), gel (Desonate), lotion (Lokara) or ointment (Desowen)
- Apply once or twice daily
- Medium potency Topical Corticosteroids
XIII. Preparations: Anti-inflammatory agents
- Decrease the skin inflammatory response (see pathophysiology above)
- Topical Corticosteroids
- High potency Topical Corticosteroids (for scalp)
- Clobetasol 0.05% Shampoo (Clobex) twice weekly to scalp
- Medium potency Topical Corticosteroids
- Betamethasone valerate
- Scalp: 0.1% lotion or 0.12% foam applied daily
- Face or body: 0.1% cream (Beta-Val) or lotion applied once or twice daily
- Fluocinolone
- Betamethasone valerate
- Low potency Topical Corticosteroids (for face or body)
- Hydrocortisone 1% cream or ointment
- Desonide 0.05% cream, foam (Verdeso), gel (Desonate), lotion (Lokara) or ointment (Desowen) 1-2x daily
- High potency Topical Corticosteroids (for scalp)
- Topical Calcineurin Inhibitors (for face and body involvement)
- Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment (Protopic)
- Twice daily
- Pimecrolimus 1% cream (Elidel)
- Twice daily
- Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment (Protopic)
XIV. Preparations: Keratolytics
- Remove outer layers of the hyperproliferating Stratum Corneum (see pathophysiology above)
- Indicated for scalp or beard area
- Directions
- Apply 2-3 times weekly
- Leave Shampoos applied to scalp for 5 minutes
- Types
XV. Preparations: Antifungals
- Suppress the Malassezia fungus population (see pathophysiology above)
- Ketoconazole 2%
- Scalp: (Nizoral) Shampoo, starting with daily use, then twice weekly
- Face and body: Cream (Nizoral), gel (Xolegel) or foam (Extina) twice daily for 8 weeks
- Effective for face
- Of the Antifungals, most reasonably priced, and cream is best tolerated
- Ciclopirox
- Sertaconazole 2% cream (Ertaczo)
- Indicated for face and body involvement
- Twice daily for up to 4 weeks
- Very expensive ($423 for 60 grams in 2014)!
- Selenium sulfide 2.5% (Selsun)
- Tea Tree Oil Shampoo (5%)
- Antifungal activity
- Effective and well tolerated
- Satchell (2002) J Am Acad Dermatol 47:852-5 [PubMed]
- Other anti-fungals
- Fluconazole topically
- Oral anti-fungals (Terbinafine) have been used
XVI. Preparations: Combination therapies
- Triple cream compounded at pharmacy
- Salicylic acid 2%
- Hydrocortisone 0.05%
- Precipitated Sulfur 3%
- Moderate scalp involvement combination
- Chloroxine 2% Shampoo apply daily
- Flucinolone 0.01% solution apply to scalp qd to bid