What it means
Flaking of the scalp, often with mild itching. It is a mild form of seborrheic dermatitisseb-uh-REE-ik der-muh-TY-tisA common, long-lasting inflammation of the skin in oily areas such as the scalp, face and chest.seb/o sebum, skin oil-rrhea flowderm skin-itis inflammationFull entry and is linked to oily skin and to a yeast that lives on everyone's skin. It is not contagious. Medicated shampoos, such as those with ketoconazole, zinc pyrithione or selenium sulfide, control it.
For the nurse
Teach the client to leave a medicated shampoo on the scalp for a few minutes before rinsing, as the label directs. Scaling with patches of hair loss in a child may be tinea capitisTIN-ee-uh KAP-ih-tisA fungal infection of the scalp and hair, also called ringworm of the scalp.tinea ringworm, fungal skin infectioncapitis of the headFull entry instead, which needs its own treatment.
At a glance
| Spanish | caspa |
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Related terms
seborrheic dermatitis
A common, long-lasting inflammation of the skin in oily areas such as the scalp, face and chest.
tinea capitis
A fungal infection of the scalp and hair, also called ringworm of the scalp.