Seborrheic Dermatitis Quiz

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Redness of the skin

Itchy

Increase in dandruff

My skin is dry

Red spots on skin

Itching

Even more dandruff now

Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!

What is Seborrheic Dermatitis?

Rashes with scaly flaky skin, typically on the eyebrows, bridge of the nose, and sides of the nose. It is believed to be caused by an overgrowth of the Malassezia fungus, which feeds on increased sebum in some patients. Risk factors include HIV and Parkinson's disease. This condition can also occur in newborns.

Typical Symptoms of Seborrheic Dermatitis

Diagnostic Questions for Seborrheic Dermatitis

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:

  • Do you have a rash on your scalp?
  • Do you have a mild itch?
  • Do you have itchy skin?
  • Do you have multiple red areas or spots on your skin?
  • Do you have a scab?

Treatment of Seborrheic Dermatitis

Creams are usually prescribed. If it involves the scalp, a special shampoo might be recommended. It tends to resolve on its own in newborns.

Reviewed By:

Unnati Patel, MD, MSc

Unnati Patel, MD, MSc (Family Medicine)

Dr.Patel serves as Center Medical Director and a Primary Care Physician at Oak Street Health in Arizona. She graduated from the Zhejiang University School of Medicine prior to working in clinical research focused on preventive medicine at the University of Illinois and the University of Nevada. Dr. Patel earned her MSc in Global Health from Georgetown University, during which she worked with the WHO in Sierra Leone and Save the Children in Washington, D.C. She went on to complete her Family Medicine residency in Chicago at Norwegian American Hospital before completing a fellowship in Leadership in Value-based Care in conjunction with the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, where she earned her MBA. Dr. Patel’s interests include health tech and teaching medical students and she currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Arizona School of Medicine.

Yukiko Ueda, MD

Yukiko Ueda, MD (Dermatology)

Dr. Ueda graduated from the Niigata University School of Medicine and trained at the University of Tokyo Medical School. She is currently a clinical assistant professor at the Department of Dermatology, Jichi Medical University, and holds several posts in the dermatology departments at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Komagome Hospital, University of Tokyo, and the Medical Center of Japan Red Cross Society.

From our team of 50+ doctors

Content updated on Mar 31, 2024

Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy

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With a free 3-min Seborrheic Dermatitis quiz, powered by Ubie's AI and doctors, find possible causes of your symptoms.

This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:

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Symptoms Related to Seborrheic Dermatitis

Diseases Related to Seborrheic Dermatitis

FAQs

Q.

Always Greasy? Why Your Sebum Is Overactive + Medical Next Steps

A.

Persistent greasiness usually stems from hormones, genetics, overwashing with harsh products, stress, diet patterns, or treatable conditions like seborrheic dermatitis or acne. There are several factors to consider; see below to understand the medical implications and why sudden worsening, irregular periods, hair loss, or scarring acne should prompt a doctor visit. Key next steps include gentle, non stripping cleansing, light moisturizers, targeted ingredients like salicylic acid, niacinamide, retinoids, or azelaic acid, scalp specific care, and hormone or thyroid evaluation when indicated, with the goal of controlling rather than eliminating sebum; full step by step guidance and when prescriptions are needed are detailed below.

References:

* Wong R, Tam S, Huang H, et al. The sebaceous gland: a mini-organ with a giant future. J Invest Dermatol. 2021 Aug;141(8):1878-1886. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.03.018. PMID: 34176840.

* Dréno B, Bissonnette R, Gagné-Larivière C. Sebaceous Gland Signaling in Health and Disease: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives. J Invest Dermatol. 2023 Mar;143(3):395-403. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2022.09.022. PMID: 36384196.

* Makrantonaki E, Zouboulis CC. Hormonal regulation of sebaceous glands. Horm Mol Biol Clin Investig. 2018 Jan 25;33(2). doi: 10.1515/hmbci-2017-0062. PMID: 29367258.

* Katsambas A, Antoniou C, Dréno B, et al. Treatment of Oily Skin and Seborrhea: A Systematic Review. J Drugs Dermatol. 2020 Nov 1;19(11):1118-1123. doi: 10.36849/JDD.2020.5367. PMID: 33151743.

* Tang L, Cui Y, Ma J, et al. Topical and Systemic Treatments for Oily Skin: A Review of the Current Literature. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2020 Dec;19(12):3158-3165. doi: 10.1111/jocd.13702. PMID: 32959635.

See more on Doctor's Note

Q.

Seborrheic Dermatitis: A Woman's 30-45 Guide to Relief & Next Steps

A.

Seborrheic dermatitis in women 30 to 45 often shows up as persistent dandruff and red, flaky patches around the hairline, brows, and nose, driven by yeast overgrowth, oil, hormones, stress, and cold weather; effective relief usually comes from medicated shampoos, antifungal creams, brief low-potency steroids or nonsteroid options, plus gentle skin care and stress management. There are several factors to consider, including look-alike conditions and clear signs to see a doctor like spreading rash, thick crusts, infection symptoms, or hair loss; for step-by-step next actions, product choices, and personalized tips, see the complete details below.

References:

* Clark GW, Pope SM, Jaboori AZ. Seborrheic Dermatitis: A Comprehensive Review. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2021 May;14(5 Suppl 1):S7-S14. PMID: 34188622.

* Borda LJ, Perper M, Keri JE. Treatment of seborrheic dermatitis: an updated review. G Ital Dermatol Venereol. 2023 Feb;158(1):3-11. doi: 10.23736/S0392-0488.22.07223-9. Epub 2022 Aug 19. PMID: 35984400.

* Zeng K, Zhong M, Yang M, Jiang X, Fan Y. Seborrheic dermatitis and hormonal regulation: The possible underlying mechanism. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022 Nov;21(11):5446-5452. doi: 10.1111/jocd.15286. Epub 2022 Jul 25. PMID: 35876547.

* Okokon EO, Verter F, Opadeyi A, Obot OS. Seborrheic Dermatitis: Pathogenesis, Clinical Manifestations, and Management. Dermatol Clin. 2019 Jul;37(3):289-301. doi: 10.1016/j.det.2019.02.001. Epub 2019 Mar 26. PMID: 31097282.

* Papakonstantinou A, Zampeli V, Kyriakou A, Gaitanis G, Bassukas ID. Seborrheic dermatitis. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2017 Mar 21;10:83-93. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S119420. eCollection 2017. PMID: 28352101.

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Which is the best Symptom Checker?

Which is the best Symptom Checker?

Ubie’s symptom checker demonstrated a Top-10 hit accuracy of 71.6%, surpassing the performance of several leading symptom checkers in the market, which averaged around 60% accuracy in similar assessments.

Link to full study:

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1

References