What is Seborrheic Dermatitis? Symptoms and Treatments

5. Treatment: Shampoos and Washing Methods

Try washing your hair with over-the-counter dandruff shampoos. There are several different active ingredients to choose from so you might have to do a little trial and error. There are shampoos that contain pyrithione zinc, salicylic acid, or selenium sulfide as their main medical ingredient. Clean your scalp every day until the symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis subside. After that, wash your hair regularly from one to three times a week. Be sure to follow the directions and leave it in for the recommended amount of time. If it works for a while but becomes less effective, try another shampoo. If you have facial hair, you should wash your beard with a shampoo containing one percent ketoconazole daily. After the symptoms are gone, you should continue to shampoo it once a week unless you want to shave altogether. For babies, wash the cradle cap using a non-medicated shampoo once a day. Before rinsing out the shampoo, loosen the greasy scales with a soft-bristled brush.