Seborrheic Dermatitis Treatment in Melbourne
Doctor-led care for dandruff, facial flaking, and itchy red patches around the nose, eyebrows, eyelids, ears and scalp.
Seborrheic dermatitis is a very common condition that causes flaky, red, irritated skin in oily areas — most often the scalp (dandruff), face (around the nose/eyebrows/eyelids), and ears, and sometimes the chest.
It’s not contagious and it’s not poor hygiene. It tends to flare and settle in cycles, and most people can control it very well once they have a clear plan for:
- scalp management (the “shampoo protocol”), and
- facial maintenance (a simple, steroid-sparing plan). (1–4)
What is seborrheic dermatitis?
Seborrheic dermatitis is inflammation in areas with many oil glands. A normal skin yeast called Malassezia plays a major role — in susceptible people it triggers inflammation and scaling. (1–4)
It commonly affects:
- Scalp: dandruff or thicker scale
- Face: sides of nose (nasolabial folds), eyebrows, eyelids, beard area
- Ears: behind ears and within ear folds
- Chest: centre of chest/sternum
- Skin folds: occasionally
Key takeaways
- Seborrheic dermatitis is usually controlled with consistent maintenance, not one-off treatment. (1–4)
- For scalp: the biggest wins come from medicated shampoos used correctly (frequency + leave-on time). (2–4)
- For face/eyelids: we often prefer steroid-sparing anti-inflammatory creams (e.g. pimecrolimus) instead of repeated steroid use. (2–4)
- Facial redness/flaking sometimes overlaps with rosacea or peri-orificial dermatitis, and treatment differs. If your face doesn’t respond as expected, reassessment matters. (5–7)
Jump links
- Common symptoms and where it appears
- Why it flares (triggers)
- The “Scalp Protocol” (dandruff shampoo plan)
- The “Face Protocol” (nose/eyebrows/eyelids)
- Cradle cap (infants)
- When to see a doctor
- FAQs
- Book
Start here: Seborrheic Dermatitis Toolkit
If you want step-by-step instructions, use these pages:
- Daily Scalp Routine for Dandruff (Shampoo Protocol)
- Facial Seborrheic Dermatitis (Nose/Eyebrows/Eyelids): Treatment Plan
- Cradle Cap (Infant Seborrheic Dermatitis): What to Do at Home
- Prescription Treatments & Maintenance Plans
- Facial Flaking: Seb Derm vs Rosacea vs Peri-Orificial Dermatitis vs Psoriasis
If your main problem is facial redness or flushing, you may also want to read:
If your main problem is small bumps around the mouth, nose or eyes, especially if steroids made it worse:
Symptoms and common areas
Scalp (dandruff)
- white flakes or greasy yellow scale
- itch and tightness
- worse with stress, winter, and infrequent washing
Face
- redness and flaking around the nose
- eyebrow and eyelid scale
- beard area scale in some men
- behind ears and ear folds
Chest
- red patches with fine scale on the sternum
Seborrheic dermatitis can look different across skin tones. In darker skin, redness may be less obvious and there may be lighter/darker patches around affected areas. (2–4)
Why it flares (common triggers)
Most people notice flare patterns with:
- winter / dry weather
- stress and fatigue
- illness
- oily skin
- irritating skincare or hair products
- infrequent scalp washing (scale builds up). (1–4)
The goal is not to eliminate every trigger. It’s to have a plan that keeps you stable when life happens.
The Scalp Protocol (high-level)
For most adults, scalp control comes down to:
- choosing a medicated anti-dandruff shampoo
- using it 2–3× per week initially
- leaving it on 3–5 minutes before rinsing
- then stepping down to a maintenance schedule once stable. (2–4)
Common active ingredients include:
- ketoconazole
- zinc pyrithione
- selenium sulfide
- coal tar
- salicylic acid/sulfur
- piroctone olamine. (2–4)
Step-by-step scalp plan: Daily Scalp Routine for Dandruff (Shampoo Protocol)
The Face Protocol (high-level)
Facial seborrheic dermatitis tends to respond best to:
- an antifungal cream during flares
- plus a steroid-sparing anti-inflammatory cream for sensitive areas (especially eyelids and face)
- plus simple “barrier-friendly” skincare. (2–4)
Step-by-step facial plan: Facial Seborrheic Dermatitis (Nose/Eyebrows/Eyelids): Treatment Plan (HL127)
When it might not be seborrheic dermatitis
If you’re not improving as expected, consider overlap or misdiagnosis:
- If the main feature is flushing/burning/redness with triggers (heat, alcohol, spicy food): Rosacea: Treatments for Rosacea (Facial Redness) (HL24) (5)
- If the rash is bumpy around the mouth/nose/eyes and steroids worsen it: Peri-orificial dermatitis (HL46) (6,7)
The treatment pathway differs — so this is worth checking rather than persisting with the wrong plan.
Cradle cap (infants)
In babies, seborrheic dermatitis is called cradle cap. It looks like thick yellow/brown scale on the scalp and is usually harmless and not itchy. It often resolves with gentle care. (2–4)
Cradle cap guide: Cradle Cap (Infant Seborrheic Dermatitis): What to Do at Home
When to see a doctor
Book a review if:
- you’ve used medicated shampoos correctly for 3–4 weeks with minimal improvement
- facial/eyelid dermatitis is persistent, sore, or recurrent
- you’re getting frequent flares requiring steroid cream
- the diagnosis is uncertain (psoriasis, fungal infection, rosacea, peri-orificial dermatitis, contact allergy). (2–7)
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is seborrheic dermatitis contagious?
No. It’s not contagious and not caused by poor hygiene. (2–4)
Will it ever go away?
It often comes and goes. Many people keep it quiet with a maintenance schedule. (2–4)
Do I need to wash my hair more often?
Often yes — infrequent washing allows oil and scale to build up and worsens dandruff for many people. (2–4)
Are steroid creams the best option for facial seb derm?
Steroids can work quickly, but repeated use on the face/eyelids isn’t ideal. We often prefer steroid-sparing options (e.g. pimecrolimus) for ongoing control. (2–4)
Let's start
Book an appointment
If you’re dealing with persistent dandruff, facial flaking, or recurrent eyelid/eyebrow scaling, we can confirm the diagnosis and create a simple plan you can actually stick to
Clinics: Ivanhoe and Diamond Creek
References
1.DermNet NZ. Seborrhoeic dermatitis. https://dermnetnz.org/topics/seborrhoeic-dermatitis
2.Australasian College of Dermatologists. Seborrhoeic dermatitis. https://www.dermcoll.edu.au/atoz/seborrhoeic-dermatitis/
3.Mayo Clinic. Seborrheic dermatitis overview. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seborrheic-dermatitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20352710
4.StatPearls. Seborrheic Dermatitis. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551707/
5.DermNet NZ. Rosacea. https://dermnetnz.org/topics/rosacea
6.DermNet NZ. Periorificial dermatitis. https://dermnetnz.org/topics/periorificial-dermatitis
7.Australasian College of Dermatologists. Perioral dermatitis. https://www.dermcoll.edu.au/atoz/perioral-dermatitis/