Most of us have heard of eczema and psoriasis, but are you familiar with seborrheic dermatitis? You probably are, but you just haven’t heard it called by its scientific name. Seborrheic dermatitis is commonly known as cradle cap or dandruff in older people. This condition is most often found on the scalp. We have all seen a little one with flaky, itching skin on their heads or the unfortunate soul who has white flakes all over the shoulders of their black sweater. Here is a little more information to help take the mystery out of this common skin condition.

• areas most often affected
• causes
• treatments

We have already mentioned how seborrheic dermatitis can affect the scalp, but there are other areas of the body that can be potentially affected as well. This flaky condition sometimes appears on the face and torso. It isn’t unheard of for it to make its way to the creases and folds of the skin either. For example, it is sometimes found in the creases of the elbows and knees, as well as in the groin, where the thighs meet the torso. If it strikes an infant, it is usually in the first three months. For an adult, the average age of onset is 30 to 60 years old, and for some reason affects more men than women.

Like so many health issues, the exact cause of seborrheic dermatitis isn’t known. Experts suspect that the cause in infants may be different than the cause in adults. Some believe that there may be a relationship between hormones and this skin condition. Once again, for unknown reasons, people who suffer seizures and Parkinson’s disease are more likely to deal with the effects of dandruff.

The method of treatment used depends on the age of the patient and the location of the affected areas. In babies, the scalp is commonly treated with a non medicated baby shampoo and a soft brush is used to loosen the flaky skin. If the baby has it in the skin creases, low dose steroid creams may be prescribed. In teenagers and adults dandruff is treated with a medicated shampoo that typically includes coal tar. Like infants, the folds of the skin are treated with a steroid topical cream.