Seborrheic Dermatitis

Seborrheic Dermatitis General Information

Seborrheic Dermatitis is more commonly known as cradle cap (when it affects the scalp of small children), dandruff (when it affects the adolescents) or seborrheic eczema. This is an inflammatory condition of the skin that leads to the appearance of flaky white or yellow scales in the oily areas, for example inside the ear or on the scalp. Sometimes, the respective area of the skin may turn red and may be itchy. Seborrheic Dermatitis is thought to occur because of a combination of malessizia (an irritation from yeast) and an over production of skin oil (called sebum). This type of skin disorder appears to be hereditary, being transmitted from parents to children.

The risk of developing this disorder increases if there are several factors involved, such as stress, oily skin, obesity, acne and other skin disorders, fatigue, use of lotions that have as ingredient alcohol, weather extremes, infrequent shampoos etc. There are certain neurologic disorders, for example stroke, heart injury or Parkinson’s disease or HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) that can cause Seborrheic Dermatitis. This type of skin condition can extend on the face, the creases of the arms, chest, legs or groin. More prone to develop it are the babies who have less than 3 months of life and adults between 25 and 50 years old. Among adults, the medical condition has a predilection for the male sex. The causes of this disease are usually different in small children than in adults. In infancy may be related to hormones because it disappears before puberty.

Seborrheic Dermatitis Symptoms

Seborrheic Dermatitis Treatment

It is very important for every patient to know all the possible treatment options available to cure his/her disease. This is why we will present you some of the most effective and used methods of treatment for Seborrheic Dermatitis. For further information we advise you to talk to your health care provider if you think it is necessary. You must take in consideration that every therapy has positive and negative aspects and the response depends a lot on your organism and how much the disease has advanced. This is why it is highly important to seek medical care as soon as you start experiencing any of the signs and symptoms that we have listed above. We strongly advise you to contact your doctor for a medical examination. If you suffer from a mild form, then over-the-counter medicines and self care may be the perfect option. But if these do not work, it means that you present an advanced stage that requires medical attendance.

Seborrheic Dermatitis is a long-lasting (chronic) medical condition that can be easily controlled with the appropriate treatment option. So, with the adequate treatment, the prognosis is good and the expectations high. If it is not treated in time, Seborrheic Dermatitis can cause several complications, for example secondary fungal or bacterial infections or psychological distress, embarrassment and low self esteem. Paying careful attention to your skin and controlling the risk factors may keep you away from developing this annoying medical condition. During the consultation, the doctor will ask you about your signs and symptoms and about your family and personal medical history. Tell your doctor all the useful information to help him set the diagnosis. A physical exam is usually the most important because it is based on the location of the skin lesions and on how they look.

The treatment options depend on the location of the disease and on the patient’s age. For example, in the case of babies, gentle creams and lotions based on steroids must be used.   Avoid using detergents and soaps because they dry the skin and worsen the condition. Specialists (called dermatologists) from all around the world recommend treatments with shampoos that contain Selenium Sulfide, Ketoconazole, Coal Tar, Ciclopiroxolamine, or Zinc Pyrithione. If the disease is more severe, the dense scale can be removed by using Coal Tar or Salicylic Acid or other Keratolytics preparations. In the case that Seborrheic Dermatitis has affected the scalp, topical solution containing Terbinafine (only 2%) is usually used in combination with lotions rich in Corticosteroids (for example Fluocinolone Acetonide) and Alpha hydroxy acids. Rezorcin, a type of hydroxy acid is an active ingredient for medicated shampoos. Doctors can sometimes prescribe Pimecrolinus topical lotion. All these treatment options may provoke several side effects. In the case of a chronic treatment, telangiectasia, atrophy and other skin changes may occur. Phytotherapy (or therapy with plants) has often given some extraordinary results. Aloe Vera gel has been mentioned by some organizations as the only official traditional medicine for Seborrheic Dermatitis.