Seborrheic Dermatitis Diagnosis
Seborrheic dermatitis is a skin condition marked by oily, flaky, red patches. In infants, it is known as cradle cap. In adults, it can affect the face, upper chest, back, scalp or other areas that become oily. Seborrheic dermatitis is linked to an overproduction of an oily substance called sebum. Your doctor will examine you and may perform tests to ensure that you're not suffering from a different skin condition such as psoriasis.
Assessment
Your doctor will check the affected areas, giving special attention to your face, ears, eyebrows and eyelashes. If you have flakes of skin that appear greasy and if the affected areas are symmetrical and red or pink, this indicates seborrheic dermatitis. According to the Mayo Clinic, your doctor may do a skin biopsy to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other conditions.
Atopic Dermatitis
The symptoms of atopic dermatitis--itchy, red and inflamed skin--are similar to those of seborrheic dermatitis, and it can be difficult to tell the two conditions apart. Atopic dermatitis often affects the folds around your elbows and neck, or behind your knees. Your doctor will examine the characteristics of the affected areas and evaluate your history of symptoms to determine whether the irritation is atopic or seborrheic.
Psoriasis
The symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis also are similar to those of psoriasis. On the scalp, seborrheic dermatitis looks like a very severe form of dandruff. Psoriasis also produces scaly, white patches that are similar to dandruff. However, psoriasis has thicker patches of skin that can bleed easily if you pick or scratch at them, according to the American Osteopathic College of Medicine. If you have dandruff symptoms, check to see if the flakes are more consistent with psoriasis before confirming a diagnosis of seborrheic dermatitis.
Scalp Treatments
If you have seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp, over-the-counter shampoos that contain salicylic acid or ketoconazole, including Scalpicin, Selsun Blue or Nizoral, can help relieve symptoms. Allow the shampoo to penetrate deep into your scalp for at least five minutes before rinsing. If your infant or child suffers from seborrheic dermatitis, rub a small amount of baby oil into the scalp. Then use a very soft bristled brush to loosen the flakes gently. To rinse, use a dishwashing detergent to get the oil out of your little one's hair.
Other Treatments
Hydrocortisone creams can alleviate symptoms of redness and inflammation. For your children, never use a cream stronger than 1 percent hydrocortisone. Long-term use of hydrocortisone creams can cause side effects such as stretch marks and the appearance of spider veins.
Anti-fungal creams such as Lamisil also can relieve symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis. According to the Mayo Clinic, your doctor may prescribe stronger oral medications such as terbinafine (an antifungal) when other treatments fail.
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