Seborrheic Dermatitis (also known as Seborrheic Eczema) is the medical condition which, in many cases, is the underlying cause of dandruff. In infants, it appears as cradle cap.
Up to 50% of the adult population suffer from dandruff with flaky, yellowish scales on the scalp and a significant number also from an inflammatory scalp condition.
It is often accompanied by reddened skin. Seborrheic Dermatitis can also occur on many different areas of the skin, such as oily skin patches inside the ear. Other commonly affected areas include the eyebrows and eyelids, the nose and nasolabial folds, and middle of the chest. Seborrheic Dermatitis is not contagious or caused by poor hygiene.
Seborrheic Dermatitis in infants (cradle cap) is a temporary skin condition and should disappear, as the child gets older, usually by the age of 3 years. Symptoms are thick, crusty, yellowish flakes of skin from over the infant's scalp, and sometimes the eyes ears and nose.