Ducray: new clinical data on seborrheic dermatitis
3 November 2025
Laboratoires Dermatologiques Ducray unveil new clinical data on the management of seborrheic dermatitis, too often mistaken for a "simple" dandruff problem.
Affecting up to 3.3% of the world's adult population1, scalp seborrheic dermatitis (SD) remains largely underestimated, as this chronic inflammatory disease of everyday life is often mistaken for a simple dandruff problem. At the EADV 2025 congress, Laboratoires Dermatologiques Ducray presented new clinical data on the management of intense, recurrent pruritus - the most disabling symptom of seborrheic dermatitis, and the leading cause of consultation for patients suffering from this pathology - as well as on the biological mechanisms at the origin of the disease.
What is seborrheic dermatitis?
Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic, recurrent inflammatory disease affecting areas rich in sebaceous glands: scalp, face (eyebrows, wings of the nose, earlobes) and sometimes the upper trunk. It manifests as greasy, sticky dandruff, persistent redness and irritation, and above all pruritus (itching) that can be very intense, affecting sleep and quality of life.
This condition is the result of a complex interaction between the skin's microbiota, sebum production and inflammatory response. Although benign, SD is chronic and recurrent: it requires regular and appropriate treatment.
Prof. Jacek Szepietowski, Professor of Dermatology at the University of Wroclaw and President of the Polish Society of Dermatology, presented the key role of oxylipins, bioactive lipids involved in the modulation of inflammation, identified for the first time in seborrheic dermatitis, and of the Cathepsin S enzyme involved in the regulation of pruritus.
Professor Szepietowski also highlighted the direct correlation between biological biomarkers, the severity of pruritus and patients' quality of life. Pruritus, a major and disabling symptom, leads to discomfort, stigmatization, low self-esteem and social isolation, and can lead to anxiety-depressive disorders. It is estimated that 73% of patients with severe dandruff and/or seborrheic dermatitis2 suffer from intense, chronic pruritus.
Seborrheic dermatitis is a complex chronic disease. Understanding its interactome (biological interactions in the skin), its clinical manifestations and its psychological impact opens the door to comprehensive care.
Two game-changing clinical studies
At the DUCRAY symposium, two groundbreaking clinical studies confirmed the benefits of a science-based dermocosmetic approach, from diagnosis to relapse prevention.
The studies presented were based on the interactome approach , a scientific method that enables us to understand the complex interactions at skin level between the microbiota and the biological mechanisms linked to inflammation and pruritus.
This approach led to the discovery of two important biomarkers of the disease: oxylipins, pro-inflammatory lipids, and Cathepsin S, an enzyme involved in the non-histaminic pathways of pruritus.
These discoveries enabled the development of KELUAL DS Intensive shampoo, a dermocosmetic treatment targeting both inflammation and pruritus. Two studies have confirmed the benefits of KELUAL DS Intensive shampoo.
A first "attack phase" study assessed the efficacy and tolerance of KELUAL DS Intensive shampoo used alone in the attack phase in patients with moderate seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp accompanied by intense pruritus. The open-label, multicenter clinical study was conducted over two weeks, with shampoo use three times a week. Evaluation criteria included:
• Dermatologist assessment of dandruff and erythema intensity,
• Patient self-assessment of pruritus intensity and scratching frequency,
• Analysis of the impact on quality of life, using a validated questionnaire (Chronic Itch Burden Scale)
The first effects were observed as early as three days of use, i.e. after two shampoos, with:
• a significant reduction in pruritus intensity and scratching frequency.
• A significant improvement in quality of life, with a reduction in itch-related stress.
Patients also reported an anti-recurrence effect, with symptoms not recurring immediately after treatment discontinuation. Tolerance of the product was judged excellent by both patients and dermatologists.
A second "maintenance phase" study evaluated the efficacy of KELUAL DS Intensive shampoo in weekly maintenance, to prevent relapses and maintain the results obtained after the attack phase. Long-term management is essential, given that 100% of SD patients who reconsult complain of pruritus/ or because the pruritus has returned. This open, comparative study was conducted over eight weeks. At the end of the first attack phase, patients were divided into two groups: a "maintenance" group, using KELUAL DS Intensive once a week, and a "control" group, with no maintenance treatment.
Assessments focused on clinical evolution (dandruff, erythema, pruritus) and on variation in biological biomarkers identified using the interactome approach: oxylipins (pro-inflammatory lipids) and Cathepsin S (enzyme linked to non-histaminic pruritus).
Patients in the maintenance group maintained a lasting clinical improvement, with a healthy scalp and no visible relapse. In the control group, a rapid reappearance of dandruff, redness and itching was observed. In biological terms, a significant and lasting reduction in oxylipin and Cathepsin S levels was observed in maintenance patients, while these markers increased again in the no-treatment group.
These results confirm the value of a long-term maintenance strategy: weekly use of KELUAL DS Intensive shampoo prolongs clinical benefits, prevents relapses and restores microbial balance, reducing inflammation and scalp pruritus. Our advances in the oxylipin pathway and the interactome approach illustrate our commitment to translating science into concrete solutions.
An innovation born of Ducray's cutting-edge science
These results confirm Ducray's vision of putting science back at the heart of dermocosmetic care, in order to have a lasting effect on the skin's ecosystem and improve patients' quality of life.
KELUAL DS Intensive shampoo combines the patented OxyCalm™ complex (Enoxolone, Polidocanol, Calmiskin™) with a patented antifungal duo (Piroctone Olamine + Ciclopiroxolamine). This formula targets inflammatory and pruritus mechanisms while rebalancing skin microbiota.
For Ducray, this approach is part of a broader mission: to liberate patients from their chronic dermatological illnesses over the long term.
Ducray press contact
Marie Béchu – Communication Manager
marie.bechu@pierre-fabre.com
References:
1. R. Grimalt et al, JEADV,. 2024;00:1–4
2. C. Zeidler et al, JEADV, 2024, 38 :1649-1661
4. Theunis J et al, British Journal of Dermatology, 2022;186:86-95