CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND TREATMENT OUTCOMES OF FACIAL SEBORRHEIC DERMATITIS WITH ORAL ITRACONAZOLE COMBINED WITH TOPICAL TACROLIMUS 0.03% AT DONG NAI DERMATOLOGY HOSPITAL IN 2025
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: Facial seborrheic dermatitis is a common chronic and recurrent condition. The combination of oral itraconazole and topical tacrolimus 0.03% may provide good therapeutic efficacy; however, domestic data remain limited. Objectives: To describe the clinical features and evaluate the treatment outcomes of facial seborrheic dermatitis using a combination of oral itraconazole and topical tacrolimus 0.03% at Dong Nai Dermatology Hospital in 2025. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 88 patients with facial seborrheic dermatitis at Dong Nai Dermatology Hospital in 2025. Results: The study included 88 patients, predominantly males, mainly aged 30–39 years. Lesions were mostly symmetrical with illdefined borders, commonly affecting the cheeks, eyebrows, and nasolabial folds. After treatment, the mean symptom scores decreased markedly. At baseline, 76.1% of patients had moderate disease and 21.6% had severe disease. After 4 weeks, the rate of good and complete improvement reached 97.8%. Gastrointestinal adverse effects associated with itraconazole were uncommon. After 2 weeks of treatment, topical tacrolimus may cause burning and stinging sensations; however, the stinging symptoms improved after 4 weeks. Conclusion: Seborrheic dermatitis of the face mainly occurs in young and middle-aged men, with onset after puberty, and a duration of illness usually less than 5 years. The lesions are characterized by symmetrical distribution. The combination of oral itraconazole and topical tacrolimus 0.03% provides a significant therapeutic effect. Symptom scores decrease rapidly from the second week and continue to improve after 4 weeks. The proportion of patients with moderate to severe cases achieves complete remission after treatment, with a high rate of good and complete remission. Adverse effects are rare, mostly mild and transient.
Keywords
Seborrheic dermatitis, itraconazole, tacrolimus
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