[Seborrheic dermatitis--clinical diagnosis and therapeutic value of different drugs].

Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is a disease characterized by erythema and accompanied by greasy scale in the seborrheic region. The mechanism by which the disease occurs is still unknown. The genus Malassezia is involved in aggravating SD. Objective diagnosis of SD has yet been established. Atopic dermatitis and psoriasis or contact dermatitis are often confused with SD. One method to differentiate SD from other skin diseases is direct microscopic examination. Mild corticosteroids are effective in treatment of this condition, although, many cases recur within a few days. Antifungal agents are also effective in the treatment of SD by reducing the number of spores, which results in prolongation of the time to recurrence. It is my recommendation that antifungal agents be the first choice of therapy.