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Seborrhoeic dermatitis & cradle cap

Seborrhoeic dermatitis (also called seborrhoeic eczema) is a common and harmless, non-contagious skin condition that causes itchy, red, flaky or scaly patches on your skin.

It can affect any area of your body but mainly affects oily areas such as your face, scalp and chest.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis is quite common and most common in males, teenagers and adults between the ages of 30 and 70.

It's common for babies under three months old to get a short-lived form of seborrhoeic dermatitis called cradle cap on their scalps. This usually clears up by the time the baby is six to 12 months old.

Causes of seborrhoeic dermatitis

Health professionals do not clearly understand why people or babies get seborrhoeic dermatitis but it's thought to be associated with a yeast on your skin called Malassezia. People with seborrhoeic dermatitis appear to have more of this yeast than others or are more sensitive to it. This causes an inflammatory reaction in areas of skin where there are lots of oil-producing glands (sebaceous glands).

Symptoms of seborrhoeic dermatitis

Symptoms in teenagers and adults include red, flaky or scaly patches on your skin which may be itchy and sore. The most commonly affected areas include:

• Scalp (known as dandruff) – white flakes of skin, may be itchy.
• Face – between your eyebrows, on your cheeks and in the folds at the sides of your nose. Your eyelids may be red, swollen and flaky.
• Ears – the skin inside and behind your ear and outer ear may become red and inflamed.
• Upper chest and back – may have pink or red, scaly patches.
• Skin folds such as your armpits, under your breasts and groin – skin may be pink, shiny and cracked.

Symptoms in babies include:

• Head – crusty or greasy yellow scaly patches on their head (this is called cradle cap).
• Face, behind ears, and in skin folds and the nappy area – skin is drier and scales are whiter than those on their scalp.

Diagnosing seborrhoeic dermatitis

Your GP can usually diagnose seborrhoeic dermatitis and cradle cap by looking at your skin. They will ask you questions about your symptoms.

Sometimes seborrhoeic dermatitis can look similar to psoriasis.

Self-care for seborrhoeic dermatitis

Keep your skin clean and dry. Do not use any soaps or lotions if they irritate your skin. Use soap substitutes such as Sorbolene. Ask your pharmacist or GP for advice.

Try to avoid scratching.

Sometime stress can make your symptoms worse. Read more about things you can do to help cope with stress.

Scalp seborrhoeic dermatitis:

• Teenagers and adults – use an anti-dandruff shampoo. You can buy these at pharmacies and supermarkets.
• Babies – gently apply moisturiser (emollient) or repeatedly wash with a mild shampoo to help loosen and remove the scales. Olive oil or vegetable oil can also help soften the scales. Sometimes you can follow this by carefully removing scales using a soft toothbrush or comb.

If seborrhoeic dermatitis affects other areas of your baby's skin, such as where their nappy is, change their nappy frequently and use a barrier cream.

Getting help for seborrhoeic dermatitis

See your doctor if:

• you still have symptoms after a month of using anti-dandruff shampoo.
• your dandruff or baby's cradle cap doesn't go away or seems severe, such as the scalp being red or swollen or the scalp very itchy.

  HealthInfo recommends the following pages

• DermNet NZ
  • Seborrhoeic dermatitis

    This page explains what seborrhoeic dermatitis is, what causes it, who gets it and how it's treated.

  • Cradle cap (infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis)

    Information specifically about cradle cap.

• NHS – Dandruff

  Information about dandruff and how to treat it yourself.

Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed August 2021.

Sources

Page reference: 142835

Review key: HICOD-326084