Seborrheic Dermatitis in the Geriatric Population

Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin disorder with an increasing incidence globally. Clinically, the severity has a wide range with it being classically described as greasy, erythematous, scaly patches affecting any regions with sebaceous glands such as the scalp, face, and body. The microbe implicated in this reaction is a yeast species named Malassezia that thrives off the sebum produced. The disease is multifaceted with its pathophysiology remaining poorly understood but can be exacerbated with changes that occur in the aging process. The age distribution of SD is bimodal peak in infancy and again in middle age between the third and fifth decade of life most commonly affecting men. The prognosis is good with traditional treatments utilizing topical antifungals and corticosteroids usually being enough to effectively manage it. The geriatric population can be a vulnerable subset due to the stigma, metabolic, comorbid, and lifestyle changes they face. This chapter addresses unique conditions and considerations that relate to quality of life in older adults.