Seborrhoeic Dermatitis

Hi there,

Thanks for your question! Seborrhoeic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory condition occurring on areas of skin with a high concentration of sebaceous glands – that is, the scalp, face and trunk, where the skin is oilier. The exact cause of seborrhoeic dermatitis is unknown, though it is associated with an immune response to metabolites produced by yeasts from the Malassezia species, which are part of the skin’s natural microbiome.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis appears as patches of oily, flaking or scaly skin, which may also be itchy and inflamed.

In infants, seborrheic dermatitis may occur on the scalp, a condition commonly called cradle cap, which has an oily, yellow, crusty appearance. It may also affect other areas of skin such as under the chin, in the folds of the groin, arms and knees; in these areas the rash may appear as inflamed pink patches which may flake or peel.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis in adults usually affects the scalp, the creases around the nose and behind the ears, within the eyebrows and on the trunk (armpits, under the breasts, groin folds, chest).

Seborrhoeic dermatitis is best diagnosed by your doctor; self-diagnosis may lead to the selection of inappropriate over-the-counter treatments. Once your doctor has confirmed seborrhoeic dermatitis, you may be advised to use a combination of the following treatment options:

• Keratolytic agents to remove scaly skin eg. salicylic acid, lactic acid or urea
• Topical antifungal agents to reduce the Malassezia yeast count on the skin
• A mild topical corticosteroid for short term use to reduce inflammation

For the treatment of cradle cap, Ego has Egozite Cradle Cap Lotion, containing the keratolytic agent salicylic acid, which loosens crusts from the scalp.

For adults, seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp can be relieved with the use of Sebitar, a product containing coal tar and pine tar to reduce itch and inflammation, and salicylic acid to lift dry, scaly skin from the scalp. Sebitar also has antifungal activity.

Resolve Plus 0.5 and Resolve Plus 1.0 contain the antifungal ingredient miconazole nitrate, and the cortisone anti-inflammatory ingredient hydrocortisone, which work together to reduce the count of Malassezia on the skin, while at the same time providing relief from itch and inflammation.

If your condition does not respond to the above over-the-counter treatments, please follow up with your doctor.

We hope we’ve answered your question!

Please don’t hesitate to ask us more questions about your skin. If you have any specific questions about Ego products, please don’t hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team on 1800 033 706 or email us at customer service@egopharm.com

Kind regards,
Ego Pharmaceuticals