Seborrheic dermatitis

Diagnosis 

Your doctor will probably ask you about your symptoms and examine your skin to see if you have seborrheic dermatitis. A little portion of your skin may need to be taken (biopsied) so that it may be examined in a lab. This examination aids in excluding other conditions. 

Treatment 

Medication–infused shampoos, creams, and lotions are the principal therapies for seborrheic dermatitis in adults and adolescents. Your healthcare professional might advise you to attempt one or more of the following therapies if over–the–counter medications and good self–care practices are ineffective: 

• Antifungal used topically, orally, and as a shampoo. Your doctor might advise you to try a medicine that contains 1% ciclopirox or 2% ketoconazole. Alternately, you could switch between two or more goods. Ketoconzole can make tightly curled or chemically treated hair drier and make breaking more likely. Use it just once a week with a hydrating conditioner to lessen this effect. 

Your hair–care routine and symptoms will determine how frequently you shampoo or apply additional antifungal products. For several weeks, medicated shampoos can be applied once daily or two to three times per week. Follow the instructions on the package and allow the product to sit on your scalp for a few minutes so it can do its job. Next, rinse. Use a medicated shampoo simply once a week or once every two weeks if your symptoms have subsided. This will lessen the chance of a relapse. 

Your doctor could recommend an oral antifungal drug if your illness is severe or not improving with previous therapies. 

• Anti–inflammatories. A prescription–strength corticosteroid that you apply topically to the scalp or another affected area may be recommended by your doctor. These include desonide, fluocinolone, clobetasol, and hydrocortisone. They work well and are simple to use. And only use them up till your symptoms go away. They can have negative effects if used continuously for several weeks or months. These include fading skin tone, thinning skin, and the appearance of streaks or lines on the skin.

It may be helpful to use creams or ointments that contain a calcineurin inhibitor such tacrolimus or pimecrolimus. They are less likely to have side effects than corticosteroids, which is another advantage. However, the Food and Drug Administration is concerned about a potential relationship with cancer, therefore these treatments are not considered first-choice. Additionally, tacrolimus and pimecrolimus are more expensive than drugs that contain moderate corticosteroids.