Does Seborrheic Dermatitis Cause Hair Loss?

Reading time: 5 min.

Medically reviewed by
Dr. Ismail Ughratdar (FRCS) — Updated on December 29, 2025

If you have been diagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis and been warned about its increased chances of hair loss, the prospect will likely have caused you some concern. But while this condition is known to cause hair loss, incidences are rare and usually temporary.

This article will give you the facts about this scalp condition that affects approximately 5% of the population. We’ll explain:

What is seborrheic dermatitis is
What causes this scalp condition
Seborrheic dermatitis symptoms
How to treat seborrheic dermatitis and the best ways to manage its symptoms.

Table of Contents

What is seborrheic dermatitis?
What are the symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis?
What causes seborrheic dermatitis?
What can trigger a seborrheic dermatitis flare-up?
How to treat seborrheic dermatitis
Over-the-counter treatments for seborrheic dermatitis
What can I do about premature hair loss?

What is seborrheic dermatitis?

Seborrheic dermatitis is often referred to interchangeably with dandruff — largely because they share similar symptoms and treatments.

However, it is important to make their distinctions clear. Dandruff is much more common (affecting up to 50% of the population at some stage in their life), and affects a much smaller part of the body. It’s usually less extreme than seborrheic dermatitis.

Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is a chronic skin condition that causes red, flaky, and greasy skin patches. Whereas dandruff affects only the scalp, SD can also affect the eyebrows, eyelids, in and around the ears, the lips, creases of the nose, and the middle of the chest.

What are the symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis?

SD can often be confused with other conditions, especially in infants where it can be mistaken for nappy rash or eczema.

Its symptoms include:

Scaly skin (usually white and flaking, or yellowish and oily)
Itchy scalp
Mild redness, inflammation or rash on the scalp
Dandruff
Hair loss

These symptoms are caused by the seborrhoea that gives the condition its name. Seborrhoea is an overproduction of sebum, an oily secretion produced by the sebaceous glands in your hair follicles. This leads to scalp irritation and inflammation. The reaction to this (not the condition itself) can lead to hair loss. Scratching the scalp excessively damages the hair follicles and impedes hair growth.

This excess sebum production can have another unpleasant knock-on effect: an imbalance of Malassezia on the skin. Malassezia is a naturally occurring yeast found on most people’s skin, but seborrhoea can trigger an overgrowth that results in a yeast infection on the scalp, compounding inflammation and further damaging your hair follicles which in turn obstructs natural hair growth.

The good news, at least, is that seborrheic dermatitis-related hair loss is not common or permanent. If steps are taken to control the inflammation and itchiness, the hair will eventually grow back by itself.

What causes seborrheic dermatitis?

There are various known risk factors for developing seborrheic dermatitis:

Various medications, such as lithium and psoralen
Chronic stress
Weakened immune system
Genetics
Pre-existing conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, HIV, psoriasis, eating disorders, and recovery from a heart attack or stroke.

Seborrheic dermatitis is not contagious, so you can’t catch it from, or transmit it to, another person.

What can trigger a seborrheic dermatitis flare-up?

Several factors have been isolated as potential triggers, including:

Extremely hot, cold or dry weather
Increased stress
Hormonal changes
Reaction to ingredients (especially in soap or detergent)

How to treat seborrheic dermatitis

There’s currently no known cure for seborrheic dermatitis, but there are ways to treat and manage the symptoms. This chronic disease is likely to persist as a lifelong condition, with a variety of triggers that can cause sporadic flare-ups.

Proper treatment will alleviate the inflammation and help reverse any subsequent hair loss. However, attempting to treat the hair loss without first attending to the cause can actually exacerbate your symptoms.

The best treatment for each patient depends on their lifestyle, symptoms, and the severity of their condition. It’s advisable to weigh up the potential risks and side effects of each treatment with a trichologist before settling on your proposed course of action.

First, lifestyle changes that can improve dermatitis include choosing a hypoallergenic diet, and ensuring you get enough vitamins A, B, and C, as well as zinc and selenium. Learn more about the impact of vitamin supplements on hair growth.

Milder cases can be treated with home remedies like aloe vera and tea tree oil, although a consultation with a doctor is advised to prescribe the best treatment for your case. Doctors may suggest over-the-counter antifungal medication, followed by a prescription if these are not successful.

Over-the-counter treatments for seborrheic dermatitis

Medicated shampoo

Medicated shampoos are often the first port-of-call when treating seborrheic dermatitis, assuming the condition has not been allowed to develop too much. Applied directly to the scalp, medicated shampoos include several of the chemicals listed below and help reduce dandruff, heal inflammation, and relieve itchiness.

Potential side-effects can include irritation, itchiness, dry scalp, and skin rashes. A dry scalp may lead to hair loss if you scratch your scalp frequently.

Pyrithione zinc

Pyrithione zinc has antifungal and antibacterial properties. As well as being infused in dandruff shampoo to eliminate the fungi that cause itchy, flaking skin, it can also be found in creams and face washes.

Potential side-effects include a burning sensation on the scalp and skin peeling.

Ketoconazole

Ketoconazole is a robust anti-fungal medication, that treats the fungal infection that causes seborrheic dermatitis flare-ups. It’s the active ingredient in Nizoral. Find out more about Nizoral shampoo and hair loss.

Its potential side-effects include dizziness, nausea, headaches, and skin rash.

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid softens the scales on the scalp caused by excessive sebum production. It is an active ingredient in many conventional dandruff shampoos. While not treating the seborrheic dermatitis itself, it can be a useful remedy alongside other antifungal creams.

Potential side effects can include skin irritation, notably itchiness, peeling, or burning.

Topical corticosteroids

Topical corticosteroids help reduce inflammation and itchiness, and some boast antifungal properties too. They usually come in a cream or ointment solution.

Hydrocortisone can cause skin irritation, nausea, dizziness, and insomnia.

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What can I do about premature hair loss?

Hair is a hugely important factor in our sense of self, so premature hair loss can be alarming. Fortunately, hair loss from seborrheic dermatitis is rare and temporary, so even if you experience it, managing the symptoms can reverse your hair loss.

If you’re concerned about any scalp or hair condition, it’s a good idea to speak with a trichologist. They’ll be able to discuss your hair loss treatment options with you, so you can manage your condition and swiftly reverse any hair loss.

Book a free consultation with a Harley Street hair clinic for a free consultation. If you have any further issues with hair loss and want to speak to one of our friendly specialists, contact us and we’ll get in touch with you shortly.