Seborrheic dermatitis (=Seborrhoeic Dermatitis) is a common, chronic, superficial skin disorder causing scaly, itchy, red skin on the scalp, face, upper chest, back and other oily areas in the body. Seborrheic dermatitis is one of the leading causes of stubborn dandruff and occurs in all age groups. This condition primarily affects the sebaceous cysts present in the skin.

The sebaceous glands are present nearly everywhere in our skin except on the palms and soles. These glands secrete an oily substance (sebum) which consists of fat, and dead fat-producing cells.

People with this condition seem to have increased production of sebum.

In infants, the condition commonly affects the scalp and is called ‘cradle cap’.

All the symptoms need not occur in the same person. Also, symptoms vary in their severity. Many a times, the symptoms improve while at other times they seem to remain the same or may increase in severity. Children are less severely affected than adults.

Seborrheic dermatitis is thought to be due to a combination of an over production of skin oil and irritation from a yeast called malessizia. Recent studies have attributed seborrheic dermatitis to the presence and perhaps over-abundance of malessizia furfur, a naturally-occurring yeast on the surface of the skin. (4-8) Other researchers consider seborrheic dermatitis to be an inherited primary inflammatory process and malessizia furfur to cause only a secondary aggravation of the condition.