Seborrheic Dermatitis

I.          Definition:
       
Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic, recurring scaly rash involving the face, ears, eyebrows, scalp, and sometimes the chest.  It occurs more frequently as people get older.  There is no cure for this condition.
 
II.          Causes:
 

• A yeast named Malassezia ovalis that grows on the skin causes seborrheic dermatitis.  People prone to seborrheic dermatitis are usually genetically susceptible to this condition.
• Seborrheic dermatitis is usually worse in the colder months.

 
 
III.          Treatment:
 

• Treatment is a matter of control rather than cure.
• Seborrheic dermatitis usually responds to topical therapy.  The treatment depends on its site as well as its severity.
• Nizoral Shampoo, which can be purchased without a prescription, should be used every other day to wash the scalp.  The more often you shampoo the less likely you are to have this problem.  Other good shampoos are Sebulex, Head and Shoulders and Selsun Blue.
• Shampoos that contain conditioners can make one more prone to this condition.  If you use a shampoo with conditioner alternate it with one that has no conditioner.
• Hair pomade can contribute to this problem.  The use of Sebizon Lotion with your favorite pomade is an effective treatment for this problem.
• A good treatment regimen for non-scalp areas is an anti yeast cream applied to the red scaly areas twice a day followed by hydrocortisone cream (hydrocortisone 1% cream can be bought at the drug store without a prescription).  These two medicines can be applied at the same time (okay to mix the two on the skin).  The anti yeast cream your doctor recommends is: ____________________.