Brief Answer: You seem to have seborrheic dermatitis. Detailed Answer: Hi, After going through the history you gave, I feel that you are having seborrheic dermatitis...(SD). SD is a chronic and relapsing disease featured by flakes on scalp and greasy scaly erythematous patches on chest,neck,behind ears,paranasal area,eye brows,underneath breasts,axillae,and groin areas. Exact cause is not known. Yeast like Mellasezia might be responsible. There may be many factors which might exacerbate the disease...like stress,anxiety,sleeplessness,altered weather,lowered immunity as in HIV,internal diseases,..etc. You may be improved by taking regular treatment and keeping the mind cool. Reduce stress and anxiety. Have good sleep. Antifungal like ketoconazole may be taken for long time. Steroids may be taken for short period in tappering dose. Antihistaminics like levocetirizine may be taken to reduce itching. If you have secondary bacterial infection,you take antibiotics. Apply ketoconazole cream with mild steroid like mometasone cream. Do not take soap bath.You may use dettol liquid for bath..few drops in a bucket. Have shampoo containing ketoconazole. You take treatment under supervision of dermatologist. I hope you may be satisfied with my answer. Still, any query, you may ask. And post the photographs of the affected parts. Best wishes. Thanks. Dr.Ilyas Patel MD

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Brief Answer: Mellasezia is a fungus. Detailed Answer: Hi, Welcome back. Mellasezia is a yeast or fungus residing on scalp may produce inflammatory reaction leading to seborrheic dermatitis. Oral ketoconazole may reduce the Mellasezia. So, take ketoconazole as I suggested previously along with other treatments. Thanks.. Dr. Ilyas Patel MD

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