title: Itraconazole in the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis: a new treatment modality.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Due to the high rate of recurrence, seborrheic dermatitis (SD) represents a therapeutic problem.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the role of oral itraconazole in the treatment of SD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two patients with SD were enrolled in the study. All topical and oral treatments were stopped. The patients applied 1% hydrocortisone cream twice daily for 1 month. In addition, they took itraconazole, 200 mg/day, during the first week of the first month and then hydrocortisone cream was stopped and itraconazole (200 mg/day) was given on the first 2 days of the following 11 months. The patients were followed for 2 months without medicine. The severity score was measured at the initial evaluation, and at the first, 12th, and 14th months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-eight patients completed the study. There was a statistically significant decrease in the mean severity score at the first, 12th, and 14th months. On the final evaluation at the 12th month, 19 of the 28 patients showed a complete improvement, and three patients showed a slight improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that itraconazole plays an important role in the treatment of SD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Suleyman Demirel, Isparta, Turkey. vahide@med.sdu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Vahide
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Baysal
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Cagnur
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ozcanli
authors.forename: A Murat
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ceyhan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012628:Dermatitis, Seborrheic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D017964:Itraconazole