Scalp dermatitis

Clinical features

Scalp psoriasis is characterized by the presence of well-demarcated erythematous plaques with overlying white scale of variable thickness affecting the occipital scalp more commonly than the remainder of the scalp.

• The scalp may be the only area of the body affected by plaque psoriasis.

• More commonly, scalp psoriasis occurs concomitantly with psoriasis elsewhere.

• The main differential diagnosis for isolated scalp psoriasis is seborrheic dermatitis.

  • In cases where scalp psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis cannot be readily distinguished from one another, the rash is referred to as “sebopsoriasis.”

• Psoriasis can be differentiated from seborrheic dermatitis based on:

  • The location of scalp involvement—Isolated occipital scalp involvement in subtler cases of scalp psoriasis versus encroachment onto the forehead and temples in seborrheic dermatitis;

  • The presence of characteristic skin lesions elsewhere—The elbows, gluteal cleft, knees, nails, palms, soles, and trunk for psoriasis or the nasolabial folds, glabella, or chest for seborrheic dermatitis;

  • Plaque and scale appearance—Psoriasis has more sharply circumscribed, redder-looking plaques and whiter-looking scale, whereas seborrheic dermatitis has thinner, pinker-looking plaques and greasier-looking scale;

  • Degree of treatment responsiveness—Classically psoriasis is less treatment responsive than seborrheic dermatitis;

  • Family history and past medical history of psoriasis.

• Differentiation of psoriasis from seborrheic dermatitis is important because:

  • Antifungals are a mainstay of treatment in seborrheic dermatitis, but they are much less effective in psoriasis.

  • Refractory cases of psoriasis benefit from the use of phototherapy or systemic therapy, whereas these are not recommended in seborrheic dermatitis.

  • Psoriasis has comorbidities such as psoriatic arthritis and the metabolic syndrome that require prompt recognition and management, whereas seborrheic dermatitis does not.

• Uncontrolled, severe scalp psoriasis can present with a pityriasis amiantacea-like appearance where a patient’s hair is engulfed by scale; however, scalp psoriasis in and of itself does not result in alopecia. The presence of scaly alopecic plaques should prompt investigation for other causes of an itchy scalp rash, including tinea capitis.

• Scalp psoriasis often coexists with ear canal psoriasis, which is typically very pruritic and involves its own separate management. Nevertheless, ear involvement with pruritus can also be seen in seborrheic dermatitis and therefore is not always helpful to differentiate the two diseases.

Work-up

• A total-body skin examination should be performed to identify other areas of the body affected by psoriasis. Patients frequently do not realize that their scalp rash is related to their body rash.

• All patients with psoriasis require screening for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) at every single visit because a delay in diagnosis of PsA can result in irreparable joint damage.

• Patients with longstanding psoriasis that has suddenly worsened and patients with acute-onset psoriasis should have their medication list reviewed for possible exacerbating triggers (see Chapter 3 ).

• Routine evaluation for possible systemic triggers of psoriasis (e.g., HIV, streptococcal pharyngitis) is not indicated in the absence of clinical suspicion.

• Routine histologic confirmation is not indicated except in atypical-appearing cases or in cases that fail to respond to treatment as expected.

• Examination of hairs with potassium hydroxide (KOH) and/or submitted for culture should be considered to rule out tinea capitis if possible.

Initial steps in management

Recommended initial regimen

• Clobetasol propionate 0.05% scalp solution, spray, or foam (depending on patient preference and insurance formulary) daily until clear followed by PRN use. Care should be taken to avoid exposure of facial skin to this medication. Patients should be counseled about signs of steroid-related atrophy; however, realistically, this almost never occurs on the scalp.

• A nonexhaustive list of alternatives to clobetasol propionate include in decreasing order of potency: halobetasol propionate 0.05% lotion or foam, betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% lotion or spray, fluocinonide 0.05% topical solution, betamethasone valerate 0.12% foam, fluocinolone 0.025% oil or solution.

What to do if there is a partial but inadequate response after a 4-week trial of potent topical corticosteroid monotherapy:

• Either switch to a combination topical corticosteroid vitamin D analogue product (e.g., betamethasone dipropionate-calcipotriene 0.005%-0.064% scalp solution daily) or add a topical vitamin D analogue product (e.g., calcipotriene 0.005% scalp solution) to the existing corticosteroid regimen.

• Almost all patients who are compliant with therapy should become clear or almost clear with combination therapy.

• In the experience of the authors, compliance is superior for combination products; however, they are often not covered by insurance without prior authorization.

What to do if the response continues to be inadequate:

• Reconsider the diagnosis. If you are not confident in the diagnosis of psoriasis, it is reasonable to consider a punch biopsy of an affected area at this time. Punch biopsies on the scalp are technically more difficult than punch biopsies elsewhere and should only be performed by experienced practitioners. Additionally, the pathology requisition form for a punch biopsy from the scalp must specify that the biopsy is from the scalp because horizontal sectioning is often performed.

• Because scarring alopecia can result from some inflammatory scalp dermatoses, referral to a dermatologist is indicated at this point in time unless one is not available.

• If you are confident that the patient has psoriasis and it is refractory to a combination topical corticosteroid–vitamin D analogue product, then next steps in therapy include intralesional corticosteroid injections, phototherapy (including narrowband ultraviolet B [UVB] and even localized psoralen and ultraviolet A [PUVA] and xenon chloride laser), oral immunosuppressive medications (e.g., methotrexate), acitretin, and biologic medications (reserved for severe scalp psoriasis or for patients with psoriasis elsewhere).

Other treatment options

• Topical coal tar preparations, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and anthralin are all reported treatments for scalp psoriasis. Data supporting the use of these agents are much weaker than data supporting the use of topical corticosteroids and vitamin D analogues. These agents should only be considered as adjuncts to combination topical corticosteroid vitamin D analogue therapy in patients who fail combination therapy and who are uninterested in phototherapy or systemic therapy for treatment of their psoriasis. The authors’ preferential use of these treatments is listed in order of decreasing preference as follows: glycolic acid > salicylic acid > coal tar > anthralin.

Counseling

Psoriasis is a rash that results from your genetics (family history) and immune system causing inflammation in your skin. Psoriasis is a chronic disease that tends to wax and wane. It is incurable, meaning that it lasts for years. Treatments for psoriasis are directed at decreasing inflammation in the skin. The goal of treating psoriasis is to manage symptoms.

Importantly, some people with psoriasis also develop a condition called psoriatic arthritis where they experience painful swelling of the joints and stiffness in the joints when they wake up in the morning that lasts for hours. If you think you may have psoriatic arthritis, it is important that you let us know because psoriatic arthritis can irreversibly damage your joints if it is not treated.

Some patients with psoriasis are at risk for metabolic syndrome (diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, etc.). Therefore weight control and exercise are important to include in your daily routine.

I have prescribed you a topical corticosteroid. You should apply this to your scalp every day while you have the rash. When no rash is present, you do not need to use this medication. It is okay to resume use of the medication when the rash comes back. The major side effect of this medication is that it can thin the skin and cause the blood vessels in the skin to dilate and become visible. This typically does not occur on the scalp but may occur if you use the medication more frequently than instructed or if you apply this medicine to other places on your body, such as your face.

Clinical features

Seborrheic dermatitis is characterized by the presence of poorly circumscribed, thin, pink plaques with an overlying greasy-looking scale that appear on the seborrheic areas of the body. Seborrheic dermatitis is on a continuum with dandruff because both impact seborrheic areas of the body. Dandruff, however, is limited to the scalp and presents with pruritus and scaling but not erythema. Seborrheic dermatitis can impact other seborrheic areas in addition to the scalp and demonstrates itching, scaling, and evidence of inflammation.

• In adults, seborrheic dermatitis most commonly involves the scalp and is the most common cause of scalp itch.

  • Seborrheic dermatitis may also affect other so-called seborrheic areas, such as the eyebrows, glabella, nasolabial folds, retroauricular area, and chest.

• When seborrheic dermatitis affects the scalp of an infant, it is called “cradle cap.”

  • Infantile seborrheic dermatitis also commonly affects the diaper area, axillae, and retroauricular area.

• Uncontrolled, severe seborrheic dermatitis can present with a pityriasis amiantacea-like appearance where a patient’s hair is engulfed by scale; however, seborrheic dermatitis in and of itself does not result in alopecia.

• Seborrheic dermatitis commonly develops in immunosuppressed individuals and in individuals with Parkinson disease. In rare cases, severe seborrheic dermatitis can be the presenting sign of HIV.

The etiology of seborrheic dermatitis is multifactorial and is likely because of a normal body yeast called Malassezia . If the immune system has a somewhat irregular response to Malassezia , it may result in this inflammatory condition. The disease is very common, impacting 1% to 5% of the population and including all races and sexes.

Differential diagnosis

• In adults, the main differential diagnosis for seborrheic dermatitis is scalp psoriasis ( Fig. 2.8 ). Rarely, tinea capitis can be mistaken for seborrheic dermatitis ( Fig. 2.9 ).

• Seborrheic dermatitis can be differentiated from scalp psoriasis based on the following characteristics:

  • The location of scalp involvement—Plaques of seborrheic dermatitis are ill defined and can affect anywhere in the scalp. Psoriasis plaques often develop near the hairline in the frontotemporal scalp and may extend onto the forehead and temples. In contradistinction, milder cases of scalp psoriasis are localized to the occipital scalp.

  • Presence of characteristic skin lesions elsewhere—As previously mentioned, seborrheic dermatitis often also affects other seborrheic areas, whereas psoriatic plaques most frequently develop on extensor surfaces.

  • Plaque and scale appearance—Plaques of seborrheic dermatitis are thin, ill defined, and pink and have a greasy-looking scale, whereas psoriatic plaques are thicker, well circumscribed, and covered in white, micaceous scales.

  • Response to antifungals—Seborrheic dermatitis responds to azole antifungals within 4 weeks of treatment; psoriasis, meanwhile, will not typically respond as rapidly to antifungals and even when it does, it tends to recur and to be more resistant.

Tinea capitis can be distinguished from seborrheic dermatitis because tinea capitis usually presents as a solitary, discrete plaque, has overlying alopecia, and predominantly has peripheral scaling rather than diffuse scaling. If there is concern that the patient may have tinea capitis, a KOH examination and fungal culture can distinguish tinea capitis from seborrheic dermatitis.

Testing and work-up

• In both adults and infants, a total-body skin examination, with a focused examination of seborrheic areas (such as the eyebrows, beard, nasolabial folds, retroauricular area, and central chest) should be performed to identify all areas of the body that may be affected by seborrheic dermatitis.

• Adults who present with subacute onset severe seborrheic dermatitis affecting the face and chest should be screened for HIV unless another obvious trigger for development of seborrheic dermatitis has been identified (e.g., organ transplant immunosuppression, Parkinson disease; Fig. 2.10).

• Seborrheic dermatitis is generally a clinical diagnosis; rarely is a biopsy required to make a diagnosis of seborrheic dermatitis.

How to manage seborrheic dermatitis

Management of seborrheic dermatitis is divided into two phases: (1) an intensive initial treatment phase, which is followed by a (2) less intensive maintenance phase. There is no cure for seborrheic dermatitis. The course is chronic with waxing and waning. Failure to emphasize the importance of using a maintenance therapy virtually guarantees disease recurrence and patient dissatisfaction.

• After an initial period of treatment responsiveness, some patients can become treatment resistant and require a change in therapy. This most frequently is seen in patients receiving antifungals.

• In elderly patients, especially institutionalized elderly patients who require assistance when bathing, a common cause of treatment failure is that these patients are only showered once or twice weekly. Daily bathing is both a treatment for seborrheic dermatitis and is required for medicated shampoos to be effective. Tailoring therapy based on patient bathing habits is essential to success.

• In all infants with cradle cap and in adults with substantial scaling, emollients (e.g., plain petroleum jelly or mineral oil) are necessary for loosening scale. Gentle debridement with a hairbrush is also helpful.

• Treatment options are divided into antifungal and antiinflammatory approaches:

  • Antifungals

    • Azoles (e.g., ketoconazole, clotrimazole, etc.) – The initial treatment of all adults with seborrheic dermatitis should include a topical azole. For scalp disease, shampoos are most commonly prescribed. Ketoconazole is the only prescription azole shampoo available in the United States. It is generally used 2 to 3 times a week. On alternate days, other medicated shampoos are recommended that contain selenium, zinc, salicylic acid, etc. Other azole shampoos (miconazole and climbazole) are available over the counter but do not have the same degree of clinical efficacy as ketoconazole.

    • Ciclopirox—Ciclopirox is a reasonable second-line antifungal. Although it is equally as effective as topical azoles, it is more likely to cause scalp irritation and is typically more expensive. In patients who are bathed infrequently, ciclopirox shampoo is preferential to ketoconazole because it requires less frequent applications (1–2 times a week has been demonstrated to be effective).

    • Selenium sulfide (active ingredient in Selsun Blue)

    • Zinc pyrithione (active ingredient in Head and Shoulders)

  • Antiinflammatory drugs

• Topical corticosteroids—These are equally as effective and possibly more effective than antifungals, but they are more likely to cause cutaneous adverse effects and more likely to cause early disease rebound after discontinuation. Topical corticosteroids should be added in cases that do not respond appropriately to topical antifungals and should be used preferentially in patients with scalp disease who are bathed infrequently. These drugs should be used with caution in cases of cradle cap. Topical steroid scalp preparations can be prescribed as solutions, foams, and even shampoos.

• Topical calcineurin inhibitors—These are equally effective to antifungals and topical corticosteroids. Topical calcineurin inhibitors are only commercially available as ointments and creams, making them less cosmetically acceptable for scalp dermatitis. There is no topical calcineurin inhibitor formulation that is designed for scalp disease.

• Crisaborole—There is limited experience with crisaborole at this point. It is only available as an ointment and therefore is not ideal for scalp disease; it is also often not cosmetically desirable for facial diseases.

• Promiseb—There is not one specific active ingredient in Promiseb. It is a combination of antiinflammatory agents. It is often very expensive but can be considered in refractory cases.

Recommended initial treatment regimen in adults

• Initial treatment phase (first 4 weeks of treatment)—Ketoconazole 2% shampoo 2 to 3 times weekly for 4 weeks. The shampoo should be kept in contact with the scalp for 5 to 15 minutes before rinsing. On all other days of the week, over-the-counter (OTC) antifungal shampoos containing either zinc pyrithione or selenium sulfide should be used. Salicylic acid shampoos (such as T-Sal) are also helpful for debridement.

• Maintenance phase (after initial treatment phase)—Ketoconazole 2% shampoo once weekly indefinitely. The shampoo should be kept in contact with the scalp for 5 to 15 minutes before rinsing. On all other days of the week, OTC antifungal shampoos containing either zinc pyrithione or selenium sulfide should be used.

• Patients with severe scaling should also be encouraged to apply mineral oil or another emollient to their scalp nightly. In adults, a shower cap can be used to keep the oil from creating a mess on the patient’s bedding. In the morning, a comb can be used to gently debride the now-loosened scale before shampooing.

• Derma-Smooth/FS (fluocinolone acetonide in a peanut oil base) can be prescribed for overnight application. Most patients with a known peanut allergy tolerate this topical therapeutic. Skin testing has shown no immediate (15-min) or delayed (72-h) skin test reactivity, suggesting that refined peanut oil–containing oils are safe to use, even in patients with a history of sensitivity to peanuts. Even the use of this product in atopic children with a history of peanut allergy was found to be safe.

What to do if there is a partial but inadequate response after a 4-week trial of topical azole monotherapy:

• Steroid solutions and foams can be applied to the scalp to reduce inflammation. This should only be done as needed in the acute phase to avoid secondary side effects from the topical steroids because the scalp skin is highly vascularized and not particularly thick, making it susceptible both to absorption of medications systemically and local atrophy.

• Add or switch to a topical corticosteroid (e.g., clobetasol dipropionate 0.05% solution nightly or fluocinonide acetate 0.05% solution nightly). In cases with severe scaling, fluocinolone acetonide 0.01% scalp oil with or without shower cap occlusion nightly is preferred because the fluocinolone scalp oil serves both as an antiinflammatory and emollient. A much milder topical steroid, topical 1% hydrocortisone scalp solution, is also available over the counter; patients should be warned to use even this mild topical steroid only intermittently.

What to do if response to azole monotherapy wanes over time:

• Initial treatment phase (first 4 weeks of treatment)—Switch to ciclopirox 1% shampoo twice weekly for 4 weeks. The shampoo should be kept in contact with the scalp for 5 to 15 minutes before rinsing. On all other days of the week, OTC antifungal shampoos containing either zinc pyrithione or selenium sulfide should be used.

• Maintenance phase (after initial treatment phase)—Ciclopirox 1% shampoo once weekly indefinitely. The shampoo should be kept in contact with the scalp for 5 to 15 minutes before rinsing. On all other days of the week, OTC antifungal shampoos containing either zinc pyrithione or selenium sulfide should be used.

What to do if the response continues to be inadequate:

• Reconsider the diagnosis. If you are not confident in the diagnosis, it is reasonable to consider a punch biopsy of an affected area at this time. Punch biopsies on the scalp are technically more difficult than punch biopsies elsewhere because of the vascularity of the scalp, resulting in bleeding and the need to place the biopsy at the same angle as the growing hair. Therefore these biopsies should only be performed by experienced practitioners. Additionally, the pathology requisition form for a punch biopsy from the scalp must specify that the biopsy is from the scalp because horizontal sectioning is often performed.

• If you are concerned that the patient may have tinea capitis, a fungal culture or KOH preparation is a reasonable next step.

• Because scarring alopecia can result from some inflammatory scalp dermatoses, referral to a dermatologist is indicated at this point in a timely fashion to avoid unnecessary permanent hair loss.

• It is very rare for scalp seborrheic dermatitis to be refractory to a combination of topical corticosteroids and topical antifungals if the patient is compliant with therapy. If you are confident that the patient has seborrheic dermatitis and it is refractory to a combination of topical corticosteroids and topical antifungals, then evaluation for immunosuppression (e.g., HIV) should be performed. Obtaining a history of the patient’s bathing habits is also essential for dictating therapy moving forward. A short course of oral azole antifungals can also be considered (e.g., fluconazole 200 mg PO once weekly for 2 weeks).

Other treatment options

• Other aforementioned treatment options for scalp disease are not frequently employed for seborrheic dermatitis because they are not manufactured in vehicles that are conducive for application to the scalp. Coal tar shampoos have historically been used for treating scalp seborrheic dermatitis, but data supporting their use are limited. Patients with blond or white hair should be warned about the possibility of discoloration of their hair from staining by the tar. As previously mentioned, short-course oral azole antifungals can be considered in severe cases, but they are rarely necessary.

Recommended initial treatment regimen for cradle cap

• Daily hair washing with baby shampoo preceded by application of plain white petroleum jelly (Vaseline) to the scalp once daily. The Vaseline should stay on the scalp for about an hour to help soften the scales before shampooing. Once-daily gentle scale debridement with a soft brush or comb can also be considered.

• Other emollients such as mineral oil, baby oil, or olive oil can be used as alternatives to plain white petroleum jelly if preferred.

What to do if there is a partial but inadequate response after a 4-week trial of topical emollients:

• Given the harmless nature of this condition, no additional treatment is required unless parents are significantly bothered by the condition. In most instances, switching emollients is effective. In cases where this is ineffective or additional therapy is desired, either hydrocortisone 1% cream or ketoconazole 2% cream can be applied once daily for 1 to 2 weeks.