What is Seborrheic Dermatitis?
Seborrheic Dermatitis (also called Seborrhea) is an inflammatory disorder of the skin that affects areas on the head and body where sebaceous glands are most prominent. It generally presents itself as dandruff like flaking on the scalp or flaky, greasy patches in skin folds and along the edges of the hairline in mild case or as itchy, scaly, crusty patches in more severe instances. Also, the condition commonly causes flaking, scaling, and sometimes redness of the eyebrows, nasal creases as well as inside and behind the ears.
There have been links to this disorder to hormones and to a specific type of yeast called Pityrosporum ovale. Since this yeast, is present on everyone's skin, it is unknown why some people develop Seborrheic Dermatitis and others do not. However, up to 30% of the population can be bothered by this problem at one time or the other. It is thought that colonization of yeast in patches where the sebaceous glands secrete oils result in the patches of itchy, flaky skin. So, what can be done to get relief?
Treatment for Seborrheic Dermatitis
· Hygiene- Hygiene plays big role in controlling your condition. Keeping the skin oil-free is important to prevent the growth of yeast. Frequent cleansing with antibacterial soap and water will help to improve the Seborrhea. Medicated soaps containing zinc are often found to be the most effective.
· Antifungal Creams-Since there is a link between Seborrhea and yeast, topical anti-fungal creams are one of the most common methods of treatment, however this does not make the problem disappear. When antifungal creams are used to treat fungal skin infections the problem will usually clear up and never return again.
· Topical Corticosteroids. Topical steroids are the most effective and fastest treatment to get relief and help to reduce the inflammation and ease the itching as well as stop the scaling and flaking. Milder preparations in the form of creams or gels are used to treat the face and ears. More potent versions as solutions, foams, ointments and prescription shampoos are used to treat the scalp.
· Medicated Shampoo. Over the counter anti-dandruff shampoo containing coal tar, selenium sulphide, salicylic acid or pyrithione zinc is effective for treatment of Seborrhea on the scalp. The shampoo should be left on the scalp for a minimum of 5-10 minutes, sometimes even leaving it on overnight for full effectiveness. A moisturizing shampoo or conditioner may be used afterwards to prevent the hair from drying out.
Most individuals who have this condition will most likely require a combination of the above treatments to control the disorder and maintain clear skin and scalp. At first, you will need to be aggressive to get the outbreaks under control. Then develop a maintenance regime to keep it in check. Hyper vigilance to hygiene will be a lifelong issue.
So, When do you need to see a dermatologist for Seborrheic Dermatitis?
In certain cases, you might try all of the available over the counter shampoos and creams that are available for treating seborrheic dermatitis and find yourself still being bothered by the redness and scaling of the face or ongoing scaling and flaking of the scalp.
In these cases it is appropriate to see a dermatologist who can prescribe more potent prescription strength medications to help control this bothersome condition. Also, the dermatologist can help to differentiate stubborn seborrheic dermatitis from psoriasis, or fungal infections, and other conditions that could also be responsible for similar changes on the scalp, face, or ears but require different treatment.
It is important to be examined by an expert to ensure your therapy is appropriate to the condition. Long-term use of some topical creams may cause unwanted changes to the skin if the treatment is not supervised by a health care professional so you want to be sure you are using them properly.
To learn more, download the free report "Solutions for Lifelong Health and Beauty" and find out how you can enjoy health and wellness plus look and feel your best. The report is provided by Seymour M. Weaver, III, M.D. publisher of http://DrSeymourWeaver.com/dermatology-blog who is devoted to helping you enjoy the best life possible.
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