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Seborrhoeic dermatitis - Management
What advice should I give?

  • Reassure the person that seborrhoeic dermatitis is not caused by lack of cleanliness or excessive dryness of the skin, and is not transmissable.
  • Explain that treatment cannot cure seborrhoeic dermatitis but can control it. Symptoms often recur after treatment has stopped.
  • Avoid using cosmetic products that contain alcohol.
  • Avoid using soap and shaving cream on the face if they cause irritation. Advise the use of non-greasy emollients or emollient soap substitutes.
  • A diet rich in yeast-containing products will not affect the disease. If the person has known dietary triggers, these should be avoided, and if the diet is generally poor, advise an improved diet.
  • Advise stress reduction, if possible.
Basis for recommendation
  • The recommendation about lack of cleanliness not causing seborrhoeic dermatitis is based on a review of the management of seborrhoeic dermatitis [Gupta and Bluhm, 2004].
  • Treatment is suppressive rather than curative, and as such, seborrhoeic dermatitis often comes back after treatment has stopped. Treatment may have to be used for months or even years [BAD, 2004; NGC, 2007].
  • Cosmetic products containing alcohol solutions usually aggravate the inflammatory state and should be avoided [Selden, 2007; Plewig and Jansen, 2008].
  • Soap and shaving cream may be irritating when applied to affected skin. Emollients or emollient soap substitutes can be used instead [Plewig and Jansen, 2008].
  • CKS could find no evidence that dietary factors contribute to seborrhoeic dermatitis. Stress may aggravate it [Schwartz et al, 2006].

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