How to treat infantile seborrheic dermatitis?

Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
Updated on May 11, 2025
00:00
00:00

Infantile seborrheic dermatitis is also a type of eczema, which is a common skin condition in children and is categorized as atopic dermatitis. The treatment principles for seborrheic dermatitis are the same as for other types of eczema: first, the affected skin must be cleaned thoroughly, and then a thick layer of moisturizer should be applied.

For severe cases of seborrheic dermatitis, it is recommended to use about 250g of moisturizer per week, so a thick layer should be applied daily to keep the skin moist. Additionally, depending on the situation, medications such as topical creams for treating pediatric eczema, like desonide cream, may be used. In instances where the infantile seborrheic dermatitis has formed a thick, yellow crust, local application of tea oil or olive oil can be helpful. This should be left on the affected area for about an hour before washing off with a shower gel, followed by moisturizing the cleaned area.

With the aforementioned treatments, seborrheic dermatitis can generally be well-controlled. Furthermore, infants who consume formula might need amino acid formula or hydrolyzed protein formula depending on the condition. If the child is breastfed, the mother should avoid dairy, meat, nuts, seafood, and alcoholic beverages.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
53sec home-news-image

Is infantile eczema contagious?

Pediatric eczema is a chronic, recurrent inflammatory skin condition that typically presents during infancy and early childhood. Some children may continue to experience symptoms into childhood and even adulthood. It is characterized by skin damage but is not infectious; thus, pediatric eczema is not contagious, which should reassure parents. The causes of pediatric eczema are complex and relate to immune dysfunction or deficiency, and nutritional disorders. External factors also play a role, such as allergies to milk, fish, shrimp, or eggs, as well as mechanical irritation or improper care, all of which can lead to eczema. However, it is not contagious. Poor care can lead to local bacterial infections of the skin, which parents must be careful to avoid.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
47sec home-news-image

Symptoms of scrotal eczema

Scrotal eczema is a common type of eczema that is confined to the scrotal skin and can sometimes extend around the anus, and less commonly to the penis. Clinically, it often presents symptoms of chronic eczema: the scrotal skin becomes dry and thickened, with deeper wrinkles and a walnut-like appearance, often with thin crusts and scales, and darkened skin pigmentation, although there can also be pigment loss due to scratching. When exudation occurs, the scrotal skin can show erythema, edema, crusting, and fissuring. There is often intense itching, which can prevent sleep. Due to the difficulty of treatment and recurrent nature, the scrotal skin can undergo lichenification.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
29sec home-news-image

Symptoms of eczema

Eczema is divided into acute, subacute, chronic, and some special types of eczema. Acute eczema is characterized by millet-sized papules appearing on erythema, subacute eczema is characterized by reduced erythema and exudation, chronic eczema results from the lingering of acute and subacute eczema, and special types of eczema are mainly manifested in the location of onset.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhai Yu Juan
Dermatology Department
44sec home-news-image

Does scabies transmit from mother to baby?

Genital warts are a sexually transmitted disease caused by infection with the human papillomavirus, commonly referred to as HPV. There are many types of HPV, which can cause various conditions including genital warts, flat warts, common warts, or cervical cancer. Genital warts are almost always transmitted through sexual contact. Additionally, they can also be spread through close personal contact, blood transmission, and from mother to child. Mother-to-child transmission primarily occurs when the virus is transmitted to the newborn through the birth canal during delivery, leading to the infection of the newborn with genital warts.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Shu Kun
Traditional Chinese Medicine
32sec home-news-image

What should I do if eczema is caused by excessive dampness?

For patients suffering from eczema caused by excessive dampness, initially, using a warm towel compress can help alleviate symptoms. It is also important to bathe frequently, maintain cleanliness, and keep dry to effectively prevent and improve the condition. Alternatively, spending more time in the sun, using a sauna, or soaking feet in warm water can also provide some relief. These methods can effectively prevent and treat the condition. Excessive dampness is often related to habitual overexertion and improper diet.