The Efficacy and Safety of Pimecrolimus 1% Cream versus Sertaconazole 2% Cream in the Treatment of Patients with Facial Seborrheic Dermatitis: A Randomized Blinded Trial

Pediatric Dermatitis Seborrhoica - A Clinical and Therapeutic Review

Pediatric dermatitis seborrhoica (DS) is a common inflammatory disorder of infancy and adolescence distinct from atopic dermatitis. We performed a narrative review on clinical and therapeutic aspects of the disease. The prevalence varies geographically and can reach up to 10%. There is a slight male predominance. Although etiopathology is not well known, both endogenous and exogenous factors contribute. Skin microbiome and its interaction with sebaceous gland function is crucial. The inflammatory pathways include innate immune function and skin barrier disturbances. Malassezia spp. and certain bacteria are increased in lesional skin. DS develops in different clinical subtypes, from localized cephalic to disseminated disease with a risk of erythroderma and eczema herpeticatum. Treatment consists of skin care and topical and rarely systemic medical therapy. Cornerstones of treatment are antifungals and mild corticosteroids. Targeted treatment is on the horizon. Pediatric DS is a common disorder important in the differential diagnosis of skin problems in infants and and children. Due to better understanding of its pathogenesis, new treatment options are developed.

A Meta-Analysis on the Effectiveness of Sertaconazole 2% Cream Compared with Other Topical Therapies for Seborrheic Dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is a relapsing inflammatory skin disorder that affects the seborrheic areas of the body. Its etiology is not completely elucidated; however, the link between disease exacerbations and the proliferation of Malassezia spp., along with the good response to antifungal agents, indicate the role of fungi in its pathophysiology. Sertaconazole nitrate is a relatively new imidazole antifungal agent with a particular structure, consisting in a benzothiophene ring similar to the indole ring of tryptophan, and it acts mainly through the inhibition of ergosterol synthesis and the formation of pores in the fungal cell membrane. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficiency of sertaconazole 2% cream compared with other topical treatments in patients with SD. We performed an extensive literature search by browsing the PubMed database with the keyword combination “sertaconazole AND seborrheic dermatitis AND clinical trial”, which retrieved eight controlled clinical trials evaluating the effects of sertaconazole in SD. All of the clinical trials included a standard scoring index (SI). At 28 days since the beginning of the treatment, the sertaconazole regimen was associated with a significantly higher percentage of patients with mild SI and a lower percentage of patients with moderate or severe SI (odds ratio 0.51) than the other investigated treatments—hydrocortisone, ketoconazole, clotrimazole, metronidazole, pimecrolimus, and tacrolimus (odds ratio 1.95). In conclusion, treatment with sertaconazole 2% cream may represent an efficient alternative therapy for patients with SD.