Infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis

Definition

An inflammatory but usually non-pruritic dermatitis of infants with a similar distribution to adult seborrhoeic dermatitis. Its principal manifestations are a confluent psoriasiform napkin eruption and greasy, adherent scaling over the scalp (“cradle cap”). In disseminated forms the face, retroauricular folds, neck and trunk may be involved. A small proportion of cases represent infantile onset of psoriasis (“napkin psoriasis”). Its onset is characteristically earlier than that of infantile atopic eczema, the subsequent development of which it does not preclude.

Exclusions

• Seborrhoea

Inclusions

• Neonatal seborrhoeic dermatitis

Subcategories (3)