Abstract
Malassezia spp. play a major etiological role in seborrheic dermatitis. Antimycotics are occasionally prescribed for this disease as are topical steroid ointments. In the present study, we designed two groups and compared their response to different treatments for seborrheic dermatitis : application of 0.05% betamethasone butyrate propionate (BBP) lotion alone for the first two weeks followed by the combined application of BBP lotion and 2% ketoconazole (KC) lotion for the next two weeks (BBP group) ; the application of KC lotion alone for the first two weeks followed by the combined application of BBP lotion and KC lotion for the next two weeks (KC group). As a result, total skin scores for both groups had significantly (p<0.01) improved at two weeks. However, the score for the BBP group was significantly (p<0.05) lower than that of the KC group at two weeks. After the last two weeks of combination therapy, the total skin scores for both groups had improved significantly (p<0.01) and showed no significant difference. The BBP group demonstrated a significantly (p<0.01) lower score for erythema compared with the KC group, whereas the scores for scalingand itchingshowed no significant difference between the two groups. No adverse effects were reported in this trial. These results indicate that therapy combining topical steroid lotions and antimycotics, startingwith the application of the topical steroid alone and followed by the combination with antimycotics, is effective treatment of seborrheic dermatitis.
