DiagnosisTo diagnose seborrheic dermatitis, your health care provider will likely talk with you about your symptoms and look at your skin. You may need to have a small piece of skin removed (biopsied) for study in a lab. This test helps rule out other conditions. Show
TreatmentFor adolescents and adults, the main treatments for seborrheic dermatitis are medicated shampoos, creams and lotions. If nonprescription products and self-care habits don't help, your health care provider might suggest that you try one or more of these treatments:
Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with
your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Lifestyle and home remediesYou may be able to control seborrheic dermatitis with lifestyle changes and home remedies. Many of these are sold in nonprescription forms. You may need to try different products or a combination of products before your condition improves. The best approach for you depends on your skin type, hair-grooming practices and your symptoms. But even if your condition clears up, it's likely to come back at some point. Watch for the symptoms and resume treating the condition when it recurs. Or use nonprescription antidandruff products in your self-care routine to prevent flare-ups. Wash your scalp regularlyIf regular shampoo doesn't help with dandruff, try nonprescription dandruff shampoos. They are classified according to the active ingredient they contain:
How often you shampoo or apply other antifungal products will depend on your hair-grooming practices and symptoms. Medicated shampoos can be used once a day or 2 to 3 times a week for several weeks. After your symptoms clear up, use a medicated shampoo just once a week or once every two weeks. This will help prevent a relapse. Shampoo that contains tar or selenium sulfide can discolor light-colored hair. Sometimes a shampoo that has helped loses its effectiveness over time. If that's the case, try alternating between two or more types. Be sure to leave your shampoo on for the full recommended time — this allows its ingredients to work. Then rinse. These shampoos may be rubbed gently on the face, ears and chest and rinsed off well. Other home remediesThe following nonprescription treatments and self-care tips may help you control seborrheic dermatitis:
Alternative medicineMany alternative therapies, including those listed below, have helped some people manage their seborrheic dermatitis. But evidence for their effectiveness isn't proved. It's always a good idea to check with your health care provider before adding any alternative medicines to your self-care routine.
If you're considering dietary supplements or other alternative therapies, talk with your health care provider about their pros and cons. Preparing for your appointmentYou'll probably first visit your primary care provider. Or you may see a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of skin conditions (dermatologist). Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment. What you can doBefore your appointment, list your answers to the following questions:
What to expect from your doctorYour health care provider is likely to ask you a few questions. Being ready to answer them may free up time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Your health care provider might ask:
What you can do in the meantimeA nonprescription antifungal cream or anti-itch cream can be helpful. If your scalp is affected, a nonprescription antifungal shampoo, foam or other product may ease your symptoms. Try not to scratch or pick at the affected area. This increases your risk of infection. Sept. 27, 2022 Which shampoo is best for seborrheic dermatitis?Shampoos containing ketoconazole
This ingredient is available OTC in shampoos like Nizoral Anti-Dandruff. Once the initial symptoms subside, some people are able to manage their seborrheic dermatitis by using ketoconazole shampoos just once or twice a week. Ketoconazole is considered safe.
Does dandruff shampoo help seborrheic dermatitis?Many cases of seborrheic dermatitis are effectively treated by shampooing daily or every other day with antidandruff shampoos containing 2.5 percent selenium sulfide or 1 to 2 percent pyrithione zinc. Alternatively, ketoconazole shampoo may be used.
What can I put on my hair for seborrheic dermatitis?Topical treatments are the most commonly recommended solution for seborrheic dermatitis outbreaks.. Corticosteroids. Creams and shampoos containing corticosteroids or hydrocortisone can help reduce severe inflammation. ... . Keratolytics. ... . Antibacterial gels or antifungal creams. ... . Light therapy. ... . Coal tar. ... . Medicated shampoos.. Is Head and Shoulders as good as Nizoral?The study showed that both products worked better than using no medication, but there was no significant difference between the two shampoos. This means that the two shampoos appeared to be similarly effective. But in the study, more people who received selenium sulfide experienced side effects.
|