When it’s hard to tell whether scalp symptoms are from psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis, your doctor may diagnose you with sebopsoriasis. This condition has features of both. Over time, the diagnosis may change to psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis, depending on how your symptoms develop.

Members of MyPsoriasisTeam wonder about sebopsoriasis. “Need help and information on the treatment of sebopsoriasis,” wrote one member. “I think, from reading about pustular psoriasis, that some of that is also beginning on my scalp. Dermatology treatments do not really help a lot, and it continues to get worse.”

Another member shared, “I was diagnosed with sebopsoriasis in June. I get scalp psoriasis on my scalp and neck in the winter. I get large red plaques on my neck that I still have scars from. It occurs near my hairline, my temples, near my sideburns, on my ears, under my jaw, and on my neck. It gets so patchy and itchy, it’s the worst. Then it peels, and I get relief until the next morning. It’s very scaly but does not look like typical psoriasis.”

If you can relate to these anecdotes, you might be curious to learn more about sebopsoriasis. Having a mix of recognizable and unrecognizable symptoms can be confusing. The following points can help you better understand sebopsoriasis and how it’s related to both scalp psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis.

What Is Sebopsoriasis?

Sebopsoriasis isn’t its own condition. It’s the overlap of scalp psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis, with symptoms from both. That’s why it can be hard to tell the two apart. A doctor may first diagnose you with sebopsoriasis, then watch how your symptoms develop and respond to different treatments.

Sebopsoriasis is most common either in children and adolescents or in people aged 50 and older. Men typically get the condition more often than women, as noted in DermNet, an online dermatology site.

What Is the Difference Between Psoriasis and Sebopsoriasis?

Psoriasis is a chronic (ongoing) skin condition that typically causes silver-colored scales to form. There are many types of psoriasis, and sebopsoriasis is one of those types. Sebopsoriasis usually causes red, oily scales to form in parts of the body where a lot of sebum is produced. Sebum is a substance that coats your skin and helps keep it moisturized.

Sebopsoriasis usually affects areas such as the forehead, scalp, and the creases next to your nose and around your ears.

What Are Common Symptoms of Sebopsoriasis?

You may have sebopsoriasis if you see:

• Oily, yellowish scales behind the ears and on the scalp, nasolabial folds (the lines from your nose down to each side of your mouth), eyebrows, and sternum
• Thick scales with defined borders
• Deep red borders around the scales, with less silvery color than standard plaque psoriasis

Symptoms of sebopsoriasis are a combination of those from psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis. Symptoms that may indicate sebopsoriasis, beyond those mentioned above, include:

• Inflamed skin
• Crusty patches
• Flakes that are both white and silver — Dandruff from seborrheic dermatitis tends to be white, while the flaking from psoriasis tends to appear silver. Seeing a mix of both could indicate sebopsoriasis.
• Scales or flakes on both your scalp and back
• Itching

You may also notice symptoms that make one condition more likely than the other. Oily skin patches are more common with scalp psoriasis, while dandruff on its own is more often linked to seborrheic dermatitis.

Flakes that are only white may point to seborrheic dermatitis, while silvery scales are more common with psoriasis.

How Is Sebopsoriasis Diagnosed?

Your doctor should be able to determine whether you have scalp psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, or sebopsoriasis by examining your skin. They likely won’t need to perform a biopsy (remove a skin sample to look at under a microscope) or other invasive procedures.

Your doctor might also check whether your symptoms have spread beyond your scalp. Psoriasis tends to extend beyond the hairline to the face or the rest of your body, especially areas that have skin folds, causing friction.

Seborrheic dermatitis, however, can also develop on the chest, under the breasts, or in the armpits and groin area.

A diagnosis of sebopsoriasis may be changed to psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis if you develop more distinct symptoms of one or the other.

Can You Cure Sebopsoriasis?

There’s no cure for seborrheic dermatitis or psoriasis, but there are ways to control sebopsoriasis symptoms. Medicated shampoos are used to treat both plaque psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis, so they can make good treatments for people with sebopsoriasis.

One MyPsoriasisTeam member wrote, “Just starting, and my scalp is driving me nuts. Losing bits of hair from the scaly stuff on my scalp. Been using Head & Shoulders anti-itch and T/Gel.”

Some ingredients to look for in medicated shampoos are:

• Coal tar
• Salicylic acid
• Zinc pyrithione
• Ketoconazole (an antifungal)
• Selenium sulfide
• Coconut oil

Over-the-counter ointments can also help. Ointment ingredients to look for include:

• Salicylic acid
• Hydrocortisone
• Coal tar

Topical corticosteroid lotions (medications you put directly on the skin) can also bring relief. But applying them to the scalp can be difficult if hair gets in the way. Corticosteroids are usually applied in small amounts to the affected skin. On the scalp, apply topical corticosteroids in the direction your hair grows. This helps the medicine reach the skin more easily.

When buying shampoos or topical treatments over the counter, look for products with the National Psoriasis Foundation Seal of Recognition. This indicates that they’re generally safe for use by people with psoriasis and related skin conditions.

If standard treatments don’t work for you, your doctor might recommend stronger options. These can include topical or oral medications like PDE-4 inhibitors or other newer agents sometimes used off-label in psoriasis — meaning they’re approved for other conditions but not specifically for this one. Biologic drugs, which are made from living cells, are approved for other types of psoriasis. They aren’t usually used for sebopsoriasis and don’t have official approval for it. Other options may include topical treatments and phototherapy (light therapy).

Whatever treatment you try, make sure to update your healthcare provider about your symptoms. That way, they can tailor your care as best they can.

Advice From MyPsoriasisTeam Members

Some home remedies may help relieve certain symptoms, like itchiness. One MyPsoriasisTeam member wrote about how they manage symptoms. “I try to stay hydrated and use moisturizer on my skin. I have found that stress and chocolate make my psoriasis flare. You might find different foods cause a trigger.”

Other MyPsoriasisTeam members have shared their skin care strategies, such as these:

• “I use coconut oil, but my scalp’s so bad, I have to keep reapplying for about 2 days and keep combing it through. Only clears for about a week, though.”
• “I use T/Gel tar shampoo! It helps some!”
• “I’m trying not to pick scales. They are covering most of my scalp. I’m using salicylic acid and tea tree oil shampoos.”

If you’re unsure which condition you have, talk with a dermatologist about the best treatment for you. Scalp psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, and sebopsoriasis can all cause flare-ups that disrupt daily life, but help is available. With the right care, you don’t have to face it alone.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On MyPsoriasisTeam, people share their experiences with psoriasis, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

Do you have sebopsoriasis? Let others know in the comments below.