Background: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of topically applied ciclopiroxolamine cream with that of the corresponding vehicle in patients with seborrheic dermatitis of the face.

Patients and Methods: The study was conducted as a multicenter prospective, randomized, double-blind parallel group comparison at 14 centers in Australia and New Zealand. 189 patients with clinically diagnosed seborrheic dermatitis participated in the study. Each patient applied ciclopiroxolamine 1% cream or the corresponding vehicle twice daily as a thin film to the affected skin areas and to clinically unaffected skin areas surrounding the lesions for 29 days.

Results: The rate of treatment success was significantly higher with ciclopiroxolamine than with vehicle (73.9 vs 53.6%; p = 0.003). Treatment with ciclopiroxolamine reduced the sum score of the clinical signs of seborrheic dermatitis to a greater extent than the vehicle (p ≤ 0.001).

Conclusion: This study confirms that topical treatment with ciclopiroxolamine is effective and well tolerated in patients with seborrheic dermatitis.