Seborrheic dermatitis
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A typical skin problem that primarily affects your scalp is seborrheic dermatitis. It results in skin inflammation, scaly patches, and flaky dandruff. The face, sides of the nose, eyebrows, ears, eyelids, and chest are typical oily body regions affected. Although it doesn’t cause permanent hair loss and is not contagious, this condition can be unpleasant.
The “sebaceous” glands are referred to as “seborrheic” while “derm” is the scientific term for “skin.” It’s known as “cradle cap” when it affects a baby’s scalp and “dandruff” (pityriasis capitis) when it affects an adolescent or adult.
Without therapy, seborrheic dermatitis can fade away. To eliminate symptoms and stop flare–ups, you might also need to use medicated shampoo or other items on a long–term basis.
Dandruff, seborrheic eczema, and seborrheic psoriasis are other names for seborrheic dermatitis. Cradle cap is the term used to describe it when it affects infants.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis might include:
- Itchy areas
- Greasy skin patches that are coated with flaky white or yellow scales or crust on the head, face, eyebrows, ears, eyelids, chest, armpits, groin, or beneath the breasts.
- Scalp, hair, eyebrow, beard, or mustache flaking skin (dandruff)
- Petaloid seborrheic dermatitis, characterized by a ring–shaped (annular) rash
- A rash can exhibit variations in color based on an individual’s skin tone. In individuals with brown skin, the rash may appear darker or lighter compared to the surrounding skin. Conversely, in individuals with white skin, the rash may appear redder in comparison.
Seborrheic dermatitis signs and symptoms frequently worsen in response to stress, exhaustion, or seasonal changes.
If you experience these, consult your doctor:
- You suspect an infection on your skin.
- Despite your efforts at self–care, your symptoms continue.
- You are unable to sleep or focus on your regular tasks because you are so uncomfortable.
- You feel ashamed or anxious about your condition.
Causes
It is unclear what causes seborrheic dermatitis. It might be brought on by the yeast Malassezia, too much sebum in the skin, or an immune system issue.
Risk factors
The following are risk factors for seborrheic dermatitis:
- Extreme tiredness
- Seasonal changes
- Being under stress
- Disorders present at birth such as Down syndrome
- Healing from traumatic medical problems like a heart attack
- Disorders of the immune system (e.g., HIV infection, organ transplant recipient, adult Hodgkin’s or Non–Hodgkin’s lymphoma)
- Disorders of the nervous system, such as Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, tardive dyskinesia, spinal cord injury, or facial nerve palsy.
- Suffering from a mental illness, such as sadness or depression
- Taking psychotropic medications such as buspirone, chlorpromazine, lithium, or haloperidol decanoate.
Infants under three months old and adults in their 30s to 60s are the most common age groups to experience it. It affects men more often than women, and Caucasians have a higher prevalence than African Americans.
You are more prone to get this type of dermatitis if you were born with naturally oily skin. You become more susceptible if your family has a history of psoriasis. Living in a dry, cold climate doesn’t cause seborrheic dermatitis, but it does make the condition worse.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will probably ask you about your symptoms and examine your skin to see if you have seborrheic dermatitis. A little portion of your skin may need to be taken (biopsied) so that it may be examined in a lab. This examination aids in excluding other conditions.
Treatment
Medication–infused shampoos, creams, and lotions are the principal therapies for seborrheic dermatitis in adults and adolescents. Your healthcare professional might advise you to attempt one or more of the following therapies if over–the–counter medications and good self–care practices are ineffective:
- Antifungal used topically, orally, and as a shampoo. Your doctor might advise you to try a medicine that contains 1% ciclopirox or 2% ketoconazole. Alternately, you could switch between two or more goods. Ketoconzole can make tightly curled or chemically treated hair drier and make breaking more likely. Use it just once a week with a hydrating conditioner to lessen this effect.
Your hair–care routine and symptoms will determine how frequently you shampoo or apply additional antifungal products. For several weeks, medicated shampoos can be applied once daily or two to three times per week. Follow the instructions on the package and allow the product to sit on your scalp for a few minutes so it can do its job. Next, rinse. Use a medicated shampoo simply once a week or once every two weeks if your symptoms have subsided. This will lessen the chance of a relapse.
Your doctor could recommend an oral antifungal drug if your illness is severe or not improving with previous therapies.
- Anti–inflammatories. A prescription–strength corticosteroid that you apply topically to the scalp or another affected area may be recommended by your doctor. These include desonide, fluocinolone, clobetasol, and hydrocortisone. They work well and are simple to use. And only use them up till your symptoms go away. They can have negative effects if used continuously for several weeks or months. These include fading skin tone, thinning skin, and the appearance of streaks or lines on the skin.
It may be helpful to use creams or ointments that contain a calcineurin inhibitor such tacrolimus or pimecrolimus. They are less likely to have side effects than corticosteroids, which is another advantage. However, the Food and Drug Administration is concerned about a potential relationship with cancer, therefore these treatments are not considered first-choice. Additionally, tacrolimus and pimecrolimus are more expensive than drugs that contain moderate corticosteroids.
