Headstrong Seborrheic Dermatitis

Pulsed doses of systemic itraconazole (200 mg/day for two consecutive days each month) effectively treat moderate-to-severe seborrheic dermatitis and maintain remissions.

Seborrheic dermatitis often responds promptly and well to treatment with antiseborrheic shampoos and topical corticosteroids, but sometimes it persists. Because the disorder may involve Malassezia sp. infection or colonization, treatment with topical or systemic antifungal agents often helps. Pulsed doses of oral itraconazole often help, too, but trials of this agent have not included control groups or blinded protocols.

To test the benefits of pulsed-dose itraconazole, investigators completed a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial in 68 subjects with moderate-to-severe seborrheic dermatitis. Patients had Seborrheic Dermatitis Area and Severity Index (SDASI) scores of 4; involvement of three or more anatomic sites; and…

Reviewing Author

Mark V. Dahl, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Ulthera, Inc.; AuBio LifeSciences, LLC; Paris Therapeutics

Equity Elorac, Inc.; Makucell, Inc.; Paris Therapeutics

Editorial boards UpToDate

Leadership positions in professional societiesNational Rosacea Society (Chairman, Medical Board)