Seborrhoeic eczema

Seborrhoeic eczema may affect people of all ages.

In babies, it can appear as ‘cradle cap’ when thick dry patches of skin form on the scalp. The cause of ‘cradle cap’ isn’t clear and it seldom causes babies any bother.

The dry skin can be loosened by massaging baby oil or olive oil into the scalp at night, and washing it out with mild baby shampoo the next morning. If the condition is more troublesome, your healthcare professional may advise you to apply a mild antifungal agent or steroid cream if needed.

In adults, seborrhoeic eczema can appear on the scalp, face, chest, back, groin and armpits.

Seborrhoeic eczema in adults is thought to be caused by an overgrowth of yeast that live on greasy parts of the skin. It appears on the scalp as dandruff, and on the face, especially in the eyebrows and around the nose. The skin is red, dry and flaky, with a variable amount of irritation. Seborrhoeic eczema of the scalp can be treated with an anti-yeast shampoo. If it appears elsewhere on the body, an antifungal agent or steroid cream may help.