Seborrheic Dermatitis

Seborrhoeic Dermatitis is a chronic recurrent inflammatory disease that affects 3% of the healthy population. It principally concerns the face and scalp, but can also be located in presternal and axillary regions, groin and external genitalia.

The principal symptoms are the development of erythematous patches and oily desquamation associated with inflammation and itching. An exacerbation of symptoms is especially observed in winter. There is a transitory form of SD that concerns infants and which, generally, clears by the third/fourth month of life (milk crust). However, SD is generally more common in the male adult (from puberty to the age of 50); later, after 50-55 years of age, cases of SD record an increase even in women.

Fungi of the genus Malassezia play an essential role in the progress of SD.Malassezia can produce high quantities of lipase, enzymes that split the triglycerides of sebum, releasing highly irritating and proinflammatory fatty acids.
Seborrhoeic Dermatitis responds significantly to treatment with antimycotic agents.