Treatment usually includes the application of a topical corticosteroid containing 1 percent hydrocortisone cream. In refractory cases, 0.2 percent hydrocortisone valerate may be applied twice daily. Use of stronger corticosteroids on areas other than the scalp is discouraged as it may lead to atrophy, telangiectases, perioral dermatitis and, in people with dark skin, noticeable hypopigmentation. Topical and systemic antifungal agents have occasionally been used with good results. Shampoo containing ketoconazole has helped many patients with seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp.
Washing the hair and the face with prescription and over-the-counter dandruff shampoos containing selenium sulfide may also help, although washing the face with selenium sulfide more often than two or three times per week can be irritating.

Secondary syphilis often presents with rings similar to those pictured here, although the presence of lesions only on the face and not on the palms or soles would be most unusual. A negative serology test will exclude lues in more questionable cases.
Tinea faciei may look identical to seborrheic dermatitis, but results of the KOH preparation should be positive and the patient should respond to topical antifungal medications.
Discoid lupus erythematosus may start with flesh-colored rings, but hypopigmented, red papules and plaques would be a more common presentation.