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Seborrhea

Seborrhea, a form of eczema, is a skin condition that produces a reddish rash with greasy, yellow crusts. It is caused by skin glands producing too many oily secretions (sebum).

The rash may appear on many parts of the body. On the scalp, seborrhea most often occurs in babies younger than 2 months and is known as cradle cap. Babies may also get the rash in the diaper area. People of all ages may get seborrhea on the face (especially the eyebrow area and skin folds between the nose and mouth), ears, breasts, underarms, and genital area.

Seborrhea can be treated with a variety of creams and skin care methods.

Last Revised: April 26, 2011

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine

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