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Seborrheic Dermatitis

Men's Health, Skin Conditions, Women's Health / By

Seborrheic Dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis is a common, long-term skin disorder that looks similar to eczema or an allergic reaction and can appear on the body as well as the scalp.

  • It is marked by a red, itchy, scaly patches and stubborn dandruff
  • Area of the skin rich in oil-producing glands such as the face, chest, and sides of the nose, eyebrows, ears and eyelids, an area where the skin folds are mostly affected.
  • The condition is most common in those around the age of 50 and also during puberty.
  • The condition is common among infants less than three years old where it often affects the scalp (cradle cap).
  • The condition is also more common in men than in women and in people with oily skin.
  • It is not contagious

CAUSES

The exact cause of seborrheic dermatitis is unknown, but current theories for the cause suggests:

  • An irregular response to the immune system
  • An inflammatory reaction to a fungus called Malassezia that is in the oil secretion of the skin.
  • Issues with the nervous system
  • The lack of some specific nutrients.

Some factors can increase your risk of developing the condition. These may include:

  • A weakened immune system as seen in people with AIDS
  • Alcoholism
  • Certain medications
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Depression
  • Recovery from some stressful condition such as stroke, heart attack

Symptoms

  • Soreness
  • itching
  • Yellowish, white or gray flakes on the skin of the scalp, eyebrows, beard, behind the ears, groins, armpits, or under the breast
  • patchy scaling on the scalp
  • red, greasy skin covered with flaky white or yellow scales

Psychological stress, fatigue, sleep deprivation, change of season and decreased general health can aggravate your condition.

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

The diagnosis of seborrheic dermatitis is made by examination of the skin. The doctor will be able to determine if you have the condition on the basis of its appearance. A scraping of the skin scale for examination to rule out other medical condition that may mimic seborrheic dermatitis including psoriasis, eczema, rosacea, or Tinea Versicolor may be carried out. A skin biopsy may be required, although it is rare.

TREATMENT

Often the best result comes from a combination of treatment, both medication, and lifestyle.

Treatment often includes the use of over-the-counter antifungal shampoo or prescription antifungal shampoo. The doctor may prescribe a product with 2% ketoconazole or 1% ciclopirox.

An antihistamine may be used to prevent itching if present

Topical steroids such as fluocinolone (Capex), clobetasol ( Cormax), desonide (Desonate) may be applied to the scalp or affected area

If other treatments are not working, the doctor may recommend an antifungal medication that will be taken orally

Lifestyle changes and self-care tips may also help improve your condition. This may include:

  • washing scalp daily
  • Washing the skin regularly
  • Removing scale by applying olive or mineral oil for an hour or more and then coming off the scalp gently.
  • Styling products should be avoided while treating the condition
  • Skin and hair products that contain alcohol should be avoided as this may flare up the condition
  • Beards or mustache should be washed regularly