Clinical photograph of the scalp showing seborrheic dermatitis. Imaging modality: clinical photography; frontal view of the scalp illustrating diffuse erythema with greasy yellow scales along the hairline and at the vertex. Affected skin is reddened, slightly inflamed, with adherent scales that are thicker where hair density is highest; no scarring or focal crusting observed. The lesion distribution is scalp-dominant, commonly bilateral and symmetrically distributed across crown and frontal regions, with mild pruritus reported in many cases. Hair shafts appear normal; no alopecia is evident in this image, though chronic disease can cause temporary shedding. The pattern is characteristic: progressive, oily scale-covered plaques on sebaceous-rich skin, often with intermittent flares and scaling at the forehead and behind the ears. Histopathology, if obtained, would typically show superficial perivascular dermatitis with parakeratosis and spongiosis; however, diagnosis here is clinical. Diagnostic significance: seborrheic dermatitis is a common, benign inflammatory dermatosis linked to Malassezia species and sebaceous activity; management relies on antifungal shampoos (ketoconazole, selenium sulfide, zinc pyrithione), topical anti-inflammatory agents (low-potency corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors), and regular skin hygiene. This image is useful for education, differential diagnosis training, and guiding treatment responses in primary care and dermatology settings. Correlation with patient history improves diagnostic confidence.

This composite image illustrates the clinical and dermoscopic presentation of seborrheic dermatitis on the scalp. Image A is a clinical photograph showing the mid-frontal scalp of a patient with visible diffuse, fine, white-to-yellowish scaling. Despite the scaling, the hair density and shaft structure appear relatively preserved. Images B and C are dermoscopic views of the same region, providing a magnified perspective of the scalp surface. They reveal characteristic yellowish, greasy scales (indicated by red arrows) distributed inter-follicularly among the hair shafts. The hair follicles themselves do not show significant atrophy or scarring. These findings are typical for seborrheic dermatitis, differentiating it from other inflammatory scalp conditions. This visual material is intended for dermatology education to assist in the identification of inflammatory scalp disorders and the application of dermoscopy in clinical diagnosis.

Clinical photograph of the scalp depicting seborrheic dermatitis with visible scales and dandruff. Modality: clinical photography; technique: standard bright-light macro close-up; magnification approximately 1.5–2x. Anatomic location: hair-bearing skin of the scalp (vertex and frontal regions), with erythematous, inflamed surrounding skin and greasy yellowish-white scales adherent to hair shafts and interfollicular zones. Visual features include diffuse flaking, oily sheen, crusting at hairline, and punctate erythema beneath flaking areas. The scale is fine to moderately thick, loosely adherent to microscopic hair shafts, often described as dandruff in milder cases. The image captures typical seborrheic dermatitis morphology: erythematous plaque-like patches with greasy scales, preferentially in sebaceous-rich regions, sometimes involving eyebrows and the glabella. Pathological correlation: clinically arcuate to patchy inflammation with hyperseborrhea; Malassezia yeast and lipid-rich microenvironment contribute to flaking. Diagnostic significance: supports diagnosis of seborrheic dermatitis; helps differentiate from dry scalp, psoriasis, or tinea capitis; guides therapeutic decisions. Potential clinical use cases include documentation of disease severity, patient education about chronic relapsing course, and evaluation of treatment response to antifungal shampoos (ketoconazole, zinc pyrithione) and anti-inflammatory agents (low-potency steroids, calcineurin inhibitors). When in doubt, correlate with symptoms such as pruritus, distribution, and presence of associated conditions (facial seborrhea, dandruff).