Successful Treatment of Seborrheic Dermatitis with Topical Roflumilast: A Case Series

Abstract

Background: Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is a common skin disease that presents with pink scaly patches in areas with higher sebaceous gland density, such as the scalp, glabella, retroauricular folds, nasolabial folds, chest, and groin.

Case Reports: This is a case series of two patients with longstanding SD that did not respond adequately to topical corticosteroids or azoles, and were successfully treated monotherapy with roflumilast cream 0.3%. Both patients responded within two months and continue to respond to treatment with topical roflumilast monotherapy.

Discussion:  SD is commonly considered to be caused by Malassezia yeast proliferation and activity, however recent research has revealed that the inflammatory skin disease results from immune dysregulation and skin barrier disruption with Malassezia contributing as an exacerbating factor secondary to the primary pathogenesis.  Thus treatment with topical roflumilast, a highly potent phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, has been studied and demonstrated to be effective in treating the signs and symptoms of SD.  Topical roflumilast 0.3% is formulated as a cream and a foam, with the foam approved for the treatment of SD.  These cases demonstrate a successful treatment of patients with longstanding SD with roflumilast cream 0.3%. 

Conclusion: These cases demonstrate that SD, treated with either roflumilast cream 0.3% or roflumilast foam 0.3% may provide improvement in signs and symptoms of SD.