Suggested Medical Treatments for Seborrheic Dermatitis and Dandruff

• Topical antifungal medications: various preparations are available; selection can be based on cost and availability. Antifungals may be used in combination with topical corticosteroid therapy (see below). Effective antifungals are not limited to this list.
• Ketoconazole (Nizoral) 2% cream or shampoo. Studies suggest this is as effective as 1% hydrocortisone cream. Ketoconazole is one of the most widely studied of all topical treatments.
• Bifonazole ointment, miconazole cream, terbinafine (Lamisil) 1% solution, or clotrimazole (Lotrimin) 1% cream, lotion, or solution.
• Ciclopiroxolamine (Loprox) 1% shampoo, gel, or cream.
• Zinc pyrithione (keratolytic/antifungal) shampoo or cream.
•  Topical corticosteroids: generally effective, and may be used in combination with topical antifungal therapy (see above). Low-potency agents (eg, hydrocortisone 1%) rather than high-potency corticosteroids (eg, betamethasone dipropionate, triamcinolone), are recommended, especially for the face, to reduce the adverse effects associated with all corticosteroids (eg, atrophy, telangiectasias, and perioral dermatitis).
• Selenium sulfide/sulfur preparations (the most common is selenium sulfide shampoo).
• Whole coal tar and crude coal tar extract.
• Lithium succinate ointment, available in some countries as a combination of 8% lithium succinate and 0.05% zinc sulfate (may have antifungal and/or antiinflammatory effects).
• Antibiotic agents: Metronidazole 1% gel
• Honey, 90% diluted with warm water, may be useful to treat seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff.
• Noncorticosteroid topical immunomodulators (eg, tacrolimus, pimecrolimus) are helpful in atopic dermatitis and may be useful for seborrheic dermatitis.

Source: Veterans Administration. This is from the VA on their aids page: http://www.hiv.va.gov/vahiv?page=cm-529_sebdem

The FDA's policy statement for available medicated over-the-counter treatments is found here.