SEBORRHEIC DERMATITIS

• Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is a common scaly inflammatory skin condition (vs. dandruff- no inflammation)

• It seems to occur more commonly in blacks, men, immunocompromised patients (e.g. HIV), and persons with neurological and psychiatric disease (e.g Parkinsons disease)

• It presents with greasy scaly light, dark, and/ or reddish-purple patches and plaques on sebaceous areas of the skin (e.g. scalp, eyebrows, nose, folds around the mouth, ears) 

• The exact cause of AD is unknown but it has been associated with a genetic predisposition, altered skin microbiome, increase sebum production, skin lipid composition, inflammation, abnormal immunity, and "western diet"

• Management includes topical / shampoo / oral anti-yeast agents, topical steroids, keratolytic (e.g. salicylic acid, coal tar-containing, natural (e.g. tea tree oil)

References: 

- Tucker D, Masood S. Seborrheic Dermatitis.  2019 Dec 28. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan–.

- Adalsteinsson JA, et al., An update on the microbiology, immunology and genetics of seborrheic dermatitis.

Exp Dermatol. 2020 Mar 3. doi: 10.1111/exd.14091