Seborrheic Dermatitis vs Psoriasis
Seborrheic Dermatitis and Psoriasis 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.
Seborrheic Dermatitis vs Psoriasis at a glance
- Seborrheic Dermatitis: Chronic relapsing dermatitis of sebum-rich areas associated with Malassezia overgrowth; manifests as cradle cap (infants) and dandruff (adults).
- Psoriasis: Chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disorder with well-demarcated erythematous plaques and silvery scale; systemic comorbidities.
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Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Seborrheic Dermatitis | Psoriasis |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | Chronic relapsing dermatitis of sebum-rich areas associated with Malassezia overgrowth; manifests as cradle cap (infants) and dandruff (adults). | Chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disorder with well-demarcated erythematous plaques and silvery scale; systemic comorbidities. |
| Classic presentation | Greasy yellow scale on erythematous base in sebaceous distribution; nasolabial fold involvement; postauricular fissures.; Mild pruritus or burning, especially… | Auspitz sign (pinpoint bleeding after scale removal); Koebner phenomenon (plaques at sites of trauma); silvery micaceous scale.; Pruritus (often less intense… |
| Workup / key labs | Clinical: scaling and erythema in characteristic sebaceous distribution with chronic relapsing course.; Clinical diagnosis; Consider HIV testing if sudden,… | Clinical diagnosis based on lesion morphology and distribution; severity by BSA, PASI, and impact (DLQI). Mild: BSA <3%; moderate: 3-10%; severe: >10% OR… |
| Imaging | Not indicated | Not routinely indicated for skin disease; Joint X-rays/MRI for suspected PsA: 'pencil-in-cup' deformity, periostitis, ankylosis |
| First-line treatment | Adult scalp (dandruff/mild-moderate): ketoconazole 2% shampoo, selenium sulfide 2.5% shampoo, zinc pyrithione 1-2% shampoo, ciclopirox 1% shampoo, or coal tar… | Mild-moderate (limited BSA): topical corticosteroid potency by site — clobetasol 0.05% (high; trunk/extremities, 2 wks then taper), triamcinolone 0.1% (mid),… |
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