Is seborrheic dermatitis easy to treat?

Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
Updated on May 04, 2025
00:00
00:00

Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic, pustular, scaly superficial inflammatory skin disease that occurs at sites of sebum overflow. It can be accompanied by varying degrees of itching. The exact cause of the disease is not completely clear, but it is generally believed to be related to an increase in sebum secretion or changes in its chemical composition. Additionally, colonization and infection with Malassezia are also somewhat related. Other factors such as mental state, diet, alcohol consumption, deficiency of B vitamins, infections, and fatigue can also influence the occurrence and development of the disease to varying degrees. Clinically, seborrheic dermatitis is a challenging condition, generally managed symptomatically. Although it can be clinically cured, it is a chronic condition that may still recur.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
59sec home-news-image

Will seborrheic dermatitis recur?

Seborrheic dermatitis is likely to recur. In cases of seborrheic dermatitis, oily skin can easily lead to recurrence. Additionally, an inappropriate diet, often consisting of spicy, irritating food, as well as fried and greasy food, and habitual late nights, can also easily lead to recurrence. Therefore, when seborrheic dermatitis occurs, it’s essential to maintain a light diet, avoiding spicy and irritating foods, and seek treatment under the guidance of a doctor. For topical use, one can choose corticosteroid medications, typically choices include desonide ointment or hydrocortisone butyrate cream. For oral medications, options include Vitamin B6 or a B-complex vitamin. If itching is significant, it might also be necessary to combine treatment with antihistamine medications.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
1min 6sec home-news-image

Seborrheic dermatitis causes

The causes of seborrheic dermatitis are multifaceted. Typically, if one does not pay attention to their diet, consuming spicy, irritating, or overly greasy foods can easily lead to the occurrence of seborrheic dermatitis. Seborrheic dermatitis can also occur when there is excessive secretion of male hormones, which leads to overactive sebaceous glands. Additionally, some metabolic disorders and genetic factors are also related to the onset of seborrheic dermatitis. Furthermore, seborrheic dermatitis can be associated with a deficiency in B vitamins, as well as physical and chemical irritants. Frequent scratching of the skin or the use of overly alkaline facial cleansers can promote the occurrence and exacerbation of seborrheic dermatitis. Psychological factors can also lead to the occurrence of seborrheic dermatitis; excessive stress, anxiety, and depression can all trigger the condition.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
51sec home-news-image

The difference between tinea capitis and seborrheic dermatitis

Tinea capitis and seborrheic dermatitis are both skin diseases, but they are very different.Firstly, the types of fungi that cause tinea capitis and seborrheic dermatitis are different. Tinea capitis is mainly caused by fungi such as Trichophyton violaceum and Trichophyton tonsurans, whereas seborrheic dermatitis is predominantly caused by Malassezia.Secondly, their clinical manifestations are also different. The clinical manifestations of seborrheic dermatitis are often less severe than those of tinea capitis.Finally, tinea capitis often does not heal by itself and requires professional treatment, while seborrheic dermatitis can heal on its own, but tends to recur frequently.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
54sec home-news-image

Is seborrheic dermatitis easy to treat?

Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic, pustular, scaly superficial inflammatory skin disease that occurs at sites of sebum overflow. It can be accompanied by varying degrees of itching. The exact cause of the disease is not completely clear, but it is generally believed to be related to an increase in sebum secretion or changes in its chemical composition. Additionally, colonization and infection with Malassezia are also somewhat related. Other factors such as mental state, diet, alcohol consumption, deficiency of B vitamins, infections, and fatigue can also influence the occurrence and development of the disease to varying degrees. Clinically, seborrheic dermatitis is a challenging condition, generally managed symptomatically. Although it can be clinically cured, it is a chronic condition that may still recur.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
1min 15sec home-news-image

Can seborrheic dermatitis wear makeup?

Seborrheic dermatitis, also known as seborrheic eczema, is a chronic papular squamous superficial inflammatory skin disease that occurs in areas of sebum secretion and can be accompanied by varying degrees of itching. The causes of the disease are generally believed to be related to increased sebum secretion, changes in the chemical composition of sebum, and colonization and infection by Malassezia. Additionally, factors such as mental state, diet, deficiency in B vitamins, alcohol consumption, stress, fatigue, and infections can all variably affect the occurrence and development of the disease. Accordingly, in clinical practice, patients are advised to maintain a regular lifestyle, ensure adequate sleep, adjust their diet, limit intake of polysaccharides and fats, avoid spicy and irritating foods, abstain from alcohol, eat more vegetables and fruits, and avoid various irritants. Furthermore, makeup can potentially irritate the face, so it is generally recommended that patients with seborrheic dermatitis either do not wear makeup or minimize its use.