Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of Recipe for Clearing Heat and Removing Dampness combined with Butyl Flufenamate Ointment for the treatment of facial seborrheic dermatitis. Methods A total of 92 patients with facial seborrheic dermatitis were randomly divided into treatment group and control group,46 cases in each group. The treatment group was treated with oral use of Recipe for Clearing Heat and Removing Dampness combined with external use of Butyl Flufenamate Ointment, and the control group was only treated with external use of Butyl Flufenamate Ointment. The treatment for the two groups covered 4 weeks. Before treatment and on treatment day 7, 14 and 28, scores of clinical symptoms, related skin barrier function indexes,and the serum level of cathepsin S(Cat S)in the two groups were observed. Results(1)On treatment day 14,28,the total effective rate in the treatment group was 84.8％, 89.1％,and that in the control group was 65.2％,71.7％ respectively,the difference being significant(P < 0.05).(2)On treatment day 7,14,28, the scores of clinical symptoms in the two groups were obviously decreased(P < 0.05 compared with those before treatment),and the decrease in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group (P < 0.05).(3) On treatment day 7,14,28,facial sebum secretin,skin water content,and transepidermal water loss(TEWL) of the treatment group were improved to various degrees compared with those of the control group,the differences being significnat(P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).(4)On treatment day 28,serum Cat S of the two groups was markedly decreased(P < 0.01 compared with that before treatment),and the decrease in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group (P < 0.01). Conclusion Recipe for Clearing Heat and Removing Dampness combined with Butyl Flufenamate Ointment exerts certain effect for the treatment of facial seborrheic dermatitis.