Faster Relief for Seborrheic Dermatitis? A Case for Topical Roflumilast
Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that often frustrates patients and clinicians alike, especially during flare-ups. While topical corticosteroids are a go-to for short-term control, their limitations in speed and sustained effectiveness are well known.
In a recent JDD case report, “Rapid Improvement of Seborrheic Dermatitis With Topical Roflumilast: A Case Report and Literature Review” , the authors present a compelling case of near-immediate improvement in severe seborrheic dermatitis using topical roflumilast 0.3% cream, with visible symptom relief within 24 hours of application.
Although roflumilast foam was recently FDA-approved for seborrheic dermatitis, this case suggests that the onset of action may be faster than previously appreciated—potentially even outpacing corticosteroids in controlling acute flares.
For clinicians managing patients with difficult-to-treat or recurrent seborrheic dermatitis, this emerging data signals that roflumilast may offer both efficacy and speed. Further studies are needed, but this case raises a compelling question: could this PDE-4 inhibitor be the new frontline option for flare control?
J Drugs Dermatol. 2025;24(6): doi:10.36849/JDD.8619
