Seborrheic Dermatitis Workup

  • Author: Samuel T Selden; Chief Editor: William D James, MD   more...
 
Updated: Mar 23, 2012
 

Laboratory Studies

A clinical diagnosis of seborrheic dermatitis is usually made based on a history of waxing and waning severity and by the distribution of involvement upon examination.

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Procedures

A skin biopsy may be needed in persons with exfoliative erythroderma, and a fungal culture can be used to rule out tinea capitis, although tinea capitis in the adult is rare.

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Histologic Findings

Dermatopathologic findings of seborrheic dermatitis are nonspecific. Hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, accentuated rete ridges, focal spongiosis, and parakeratosis are characteristic. Psoriasis is distinguished by regular acanthosis, thinned rete ridges, exocytosis, parakeratosis, and an absence of spongiosis. Neutrophils may be seen in both diseases.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Samuel T Selden  MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Eastern Virginia Medical School; Consulting Staff, Chesapeake General Hospital; Private Practice

Samuel T Selden is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and International Society of Geriatric Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Robin Travers, MD  Assistant Professor of Medicine (Dermatology), Dartmouth University School of Medicine; Staff Dermatologist, New England Baptist Hospital; Private Practice, SkinCare Physicians

Robin Travers, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Informatics Association, Massachusetts Medical Society, Medical Dermatology Society, and Women's Dermatologic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Richard P Vinson, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Mountain View Dermatology, PA

Richard P Vinson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Military Dermatologists, Texas Dermatological Society, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jeffrey Meffert, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology, University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio

Jeffrey Meffert, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Texas Dermatological Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Catherine M Quirk, MD  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania

Catherine M Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

William D James, MD  Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, Vice-Chairman, Residency Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Elsevier Royalty Other

References

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Seborrheic dermatitis affecting the scalp line and the eyebrows with red skin and scaling. Courtesy of Wilford Hall Medical Center Dermatology slide files.
Seborrheic dermatitis may affect any hair-bearing area, and the chest is frequently involved. Courtesy of Wilford Hall Medical Center Dermatology Teaching slides.
African Americans and persons from other darker-skinned races are susceptible to annular seborrheic dermatitis, also called petaloid seborrheic dermatitis or seborrhea petaloides. Sarcoidosis, secondary syphilis, and even discoid lupus may be in the differential in such cases. Courtesy of Jeffrey J. Meffert, MD.
 
 
 
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