Topical anti-inflammatory agents effective for seborrhoeic dermatitis of the face or scalp

Topical steroid treatment (eg, hydrocortisone and betamethasone), topical calcineurin inhibitor treatment (eg, tacrolimus and pimecrolimus) and topical lithium salts all reduced the symptoms of seborrhoeic dermatitis when compared with placebo treatment. Short-term (4 weeks or less) total clearance was achieved with antifungal azole treatment (eg, ketoconazole and miconazole), as well as with steroids. Strong steroids were better than azole treatment in reducing erythema, scaling and pruritus, and were comparable in terms of safety. Steroids were also as effective as calcineurin inhibitors, but side effects occurred more often with calcineurin inhibitors. There were no differences between calcineurin inhibitors and azole treatments in effectiveness or side effects. Lithium was more effective than azoles but had a similar frequency of side effects (1 study). The most common side effects in all treatment groups were burning, itching, erythema and dryness. Mild and strong steroids seemed to be comparable with regard to efficacy and adverse effects in up to 6 weeks' follow-up.