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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff
Common signs and symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis include:
- Patchy scaling or thick crusts on the scalp
- Yellow or white scales that may attach to the hair shaft
- Red, greasy skin covered with flaky white or yellow scales
- Itching or soreness
- Skin flakes or dandruff
Seborrheic dermatitis predominately affects the scalp, but it can occur between folds of skin and on skin rich in oil glands. It can occur in and between your eyebrows, on the sides of your nose and behind your ears, over your breastbone, in your groin area, and sometimes in your armpits. You may experience periods when your signs and symptoms improve alternating with times when they worsen.
In infants, seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp is known as cradle cap. The patches may be thick, yellow, crusty or greasy. In most cases, the condition isn't itchy for infants like it is for older children or adults.
When to see a doctor
See your doctor if:
- You're so uncomfortable that you're losing sleep or are distracted from your daily routines
- Your skin is painful
- You suspect your skin is infected
- You've tried self-care steps without success
- Weston WL, et al. Overview of dermatitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 17, 2009.
- Seborrheic dermatitis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec10/ch114/ch114h.html. Accessed April 20, 2009.
- Plewig G, et al. Seborrheic dermatitis. In: Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2951940. Accessed April 20, 2009.
- Naldi L, et al. Seborrheic dermatitis. New England Journal of Medicine. 2009;360:387.
- Berger TG. Dermatologic disorders. In: McPhee SJ, et al. Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2009. 48th ed. Los Altos, Calif.: Lange Medical Publications; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=747. Accessed April 20, 2009.
- McCall CO, et al. Eczema, psoriasis, cutaneous infections, acne, and other common skin disorders. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2864389. Accessed April 20, 2009.
- Pimecrolimus cream. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/InfoSheets/patient/ElidelPIS.pdf. Accessed April 23, 2009.
