Are infantile seborrheic and atopic dermatitis clinical variants of the same disease?

Abstract Background The relationship between infantile seborrheic dermatitis (ISD) and infantile atopic dermatitis (IAD) is controversial. Methods Ninety‐six children aged 2–12 months diagnosed with atopic dermatitis and a comparable control group of healthy children were evaluated. Demographic data, personal history of ISD and personal or family history of atopy was considered in both groups. Results A personal history of ISD was found in 49% of IAD cases and in 17% of controls ( P < 0.05). Conclusions Our result and those of the literature do not demonstrate a relationship between ISD and IAD. However, a number of cases of AD have an ISD‐like clinical picture. It is probable that ISD is a syndrome and not a disease.