A 62-Year-Old Man Comes to the Community Health Center Due

A 62-year-old man comes to the community health center due to a "flaky and itchy" scalp.  He is uncertain when the symptoms began and believes his brother has a similar problem.  The patient has not attempted any specific treatments but washes his hair with a mild shampoo every other day and washes his face with cold water once daily.  Medical history is notable for coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and diverticulosis.  The patient is a recovering alcoholic and has lived in a group home for the last 3 months.  Vital signs are normal.  Physical examination shows oily skin with faint erythema and scaling of the scalp, eyebrows, and ears, as shown below.  During the course of the visit, the patient repeatedly scratches his head and eyebrows, but the remainder of the skin examination is normal. The patient returns to the clinic after 4 weeks of treatment.  His rash has nearly resolved, but he is concerned because his brother developed recurrent symptoms after similar treatment.  Which of the following is the most appropriate guidance for long-term management of this patient's condition?

A) Avoiding contact with the offending agent is needed to prevent recurrence.
B) Clothing and bed linens should be laundered to eliminate the causative agent.
C) Household members should be treated to prevent relapse.
D) One course of treatment usually leads to long-term remission.
E) Weekly re-treatment may be needed to prevent recurrence.