Itraconazole in the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis: a new treatment modality

BACKGROUND: Due to the high rate of recurrence, seborrheic dermatitis (SD) represents a therapeutic problem. AIM: To evaluate the role of oral itraconazole in the treatment of SD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-two patients with SD were enrolled in the study. All topical and oral treatments were stopped. The patients applied 1% hydrocortisone cream twice daily for 1 month. In addition, they took itraconazole, 200 mg/day, during the first week of the first month and then hydrocortisone cream was stopped and itraconazole (200 mg/day) was given on the first 2 days of the following 11 months. The patients were followed for 2 months without medicine. The severity score was measured at the initial evaluation, and at the first, 12th, and 14th months. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients completed the study. There was a statistically significant decrease in the mean severity score at the first, 12th, and 14th months. On the final evaluation at the 12th month, 19 of the 28 patients showed a complete improvement, and three patients showed a slight improvement. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that itraconazole plays an important role in the treatment of SD.