Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin disease in clinical practice, which mostly occurs in areas rich in sebaceous glands such as the head, face, and trunk, and is common in adults and newborns. Western medicine believes that the key factor in the incidence of seborrheic dermatitis is the exuberant secretion of sebaceous glands, which is related to hormone levels, genetic factors and bad living habits. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that the etiology and pathogenesis of seborrheic dermatitis are due to the accumulation of dampness-heat in the spleen and stomach in the skin, or the long-term stagnation of wind-heat evil from external factors, leading to blood dryness generating wind. At present, the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis is generally based on the combined treatment of traditional Chinese and Western medicine, which can play a good therapeutic role. However, the exact pathogenesis of seborrheic dermatitis has not been fully elucidated in current studies, especially the interaction mechanism between different factors needs to be further explored. In terms of treatment, although the combined treatment of traditional Chinese and Western medicine has shown good curative effect, the specific treatment plan, drug dosage, treatment course, etc., still lack unified standards and specifications. The safety and tolerance of long-term treatment and the strategy for preventing recurrence also need further research and verification. This paper reviews the latest research progress on the etiology, pathogenesis and treatment of seborrheic dermatitis in traditional Chinese and Western medicine, in order to provide some reference for clinical treatment.