Atopic Dermatitis vs Seborrheic Dermatitis
Atopic Dermatitis and Seborrheic Dermatitis are easy to mix up on the boards. Here's a side-by-side comparison — presentation, workup, imaging, and first-line treatment — drawn from our full outlines.
Atopic Dermatitis vs Seborrheic Dermatitis at a glance
- Atopic Dermatitis: Chronic relapsing pruritic inflammatory dermatosis driven by skin barrier dysfunction and Th2 immune skewing; part of the atopic march.
- Seborrheic Dermatitis: Chronic relapsing dermatitis of sebum-rich areas associated with Malassezia overgrowth; manifests as cradle cap (infants) and dandruff (adults).
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Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Atopic Dermatitis | Seborrheic Dermatitis |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | Chronic relapsing pruritic inflammatory dermatosis driven by skin barrier dysfunction and Th2 immune skewing; part of the atopic march. | Chronic relapsing dermatitis of sebum-rich areas associated with Malassezia overgrowth; manifests as cradle cap (infants) and dandruff (adults). |
| Classic presentation | Flexural eczematous patches with lichenification in a child or adolescent with personal/family atopy.; Intense pruritus — required feature; often worse at… | Greasy yellow scale on erythematous base in sebaceous distribution; nasolabial fold involvement; postauricular fissures.; Mild pruritus or burning, especially… |
| Workup / key labs | Hanifin and Rajka criteria (3 major + 3 minor) or AAD simplified criteria. Essential features: pruritus + eczematous dermatitis in age-typical distribution +… | Clinical: scaling and erythema in characteristic sebaceous distribution with chronic relapsing course.; Clinical diagnosis; Consider HIV testing if sudden,… |
| Imaging | Not indicated | Not indicated |
| First-line treatment | Skin barrier repair: emollient/moisturizer (ceramide-containing, petrolatum-based) applied liberally ≥2x/day and immediately after bathing ('soak and seal');… | Adult scalp (dandruff/mild-moderate): ketoconazole 2% shampoo, selenium sulfide 2.5% shampoo, zinc pyrithione 1-2% shampoo, ciclopirox 1% shampoo, or coal tar… |
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