Seborrheic dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin disorder, with an incidence of 1-3% of the adult population. Clinically, SD presents as erythematous plaques with greasy-looking, yellowish scales distributed on areas rich in sebaceous glands such as the scalp, the face, the upper back, and body folds. There is a large variation in extent and morphologic characteristics of the disease, depending on areas affected and age of incidence. It has two incidence peaks, the first in the first three months of life and the second beginning at puberty and reaching its peak at 40-60 years of age. Affected individuals are usually healthy, although seborrheic dermatitis has been associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, Parkinson’s disease, a number of other neurologic disorders, and use of certain medications. Both antifungal and anti-inflammatory preparations have been used to treat SD effectively and safely. In this chapter, we summarize the current knowledge on SD, including epidemiology, burden of disease, clinical presentations, diagnosis and management.