What is seborrheic dermatitis?

Also known as: cradle cap, seborrheic eczema, seborrheic psoriasis, dandruff.

Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory condition of the skin (a type of eczema) that comes and goes and causes a greasy, white, crusty, scaly red rash that usually affects the scalp (but can affect eyebrows, eyelids, behind the ears and forehead and other parts of the body).

It is mostly not painful.

When it occurs in babies, it is known as cradle cap (in mild form it’s called dandruff).

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Reviewed by: Jose R. Rosa-Olivares, M.D.

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM