Seborrheic Dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis is a type of inflammatory skin disorder that mainly affects the scalp of adolescents and adults causing flaking, itchiness, reddishness and white to yellowish scales to form on oily areas of the scalp and sometimes inside the ear.



In infants this type of scalp disease is known as cradle cap. Besides scalp, seborrheic dermatitis also affects other parts of the body such as face, upper chest, back, legs and other oily areas of the body causing the skin to look oily and greasy. This type of scalp disease is neither harmful nor contagious, but it can be uncomfortable and embarrassing as it gives rise to constant feeling of itchiness. It is more common among people who have an oily skin compared to dry. Treating seborrheic dermatitis is very easy. Once a person is able to identify its signs and symptoms it can be treated with the help of a number of skin-care tips and over-the-counter medications.

In adults seborrheic dermatitis usually occurs between 30 to 60 years of age and is more common in men than in women. It is also termed as bad dandruff. In infants it usually affects the scalp, eyelids, ear, and nose and appears as thick, crusty, yellow scales that usually goes away by the age of 3. Many parents become upset when they observe sign of seborrheic dermatitis on the scalp of their newborn. But this is not a condition to worry about because it is neither an allergic reaction nor it is dangerous and caused by poor hygiene. Also in infants seborrheic dermatitis usually does not cause itchiness. But if itchiness occurs it give rise to inflammation, mild infections or bleeding.

The reason why people with oily skin are usually affected by seborrheic dermatitis is because the sebaceous glands of these people produce too much oil. The main problem in seborrheic dermatitis is in the oil producing (sebaceous) glands and hair follicles. Sometimes yeast; a type of fungus grows in the sebum of people having oily skin along with bacteria. This can be treated with a suitable anti-fungal treatment.

The exact cause of seborrheic dermatitis is still unknown but there are a number of contributing factors that makes the functionality of the oil glands and hair follicles abnormal. These are linked with production of certain hormones, stress, exhaustion, travel, oily skin, infrequent shampooing, alcoholic lotions, skin disorders, and change of season. But the causes for adult and infants differ greatly. Seborrheic dermatitis also affects people who have suffered through medical conditions, such as AIDS, Parkinson's disease, head injury, and stroke and can also affect the skin along with acne rosacea.

Following are some useful tips that are useful for controlling and managing seborrheic dermatitis:

• Shampoo daily with an anti-dandruff shampoo either medicated or non-medicated.
• Use an Antifungal cream.
• Massage the scalp and other affected areas with the help of the shampoo leaving it for few minutes.
• Apply cream or lotion to the affected area to overcome itchiness.
• Avoid harsh soaps and detergents.
• Wear cotton clothes to avoid irritation.
• Avoid scratches as these give rise to infection

If your newborn is suffering through seborrheic dermatitis then wash your baby's hair once a day with only a mild baby shampoo. Also rub a few drops of mineral oil onto the baby's scalp and allow it to soak for few minutes. Then before shampooing brush it properly. After washing do check that the oil don’t remains in the baby's hair because it can give rise to more scaling. While treating seborrheic dermatitis among infants avoid using harsh or strong soaps. Also brush the baby's scalp with a soft brush that can help loosen scales or flakes.

Following are certain scalp conditions that are similar to seborrheic dermatitis:

1. Atopic dermatitis:
It is a chronic condition that causes itchiness and inflammation. This type of disease affects the elbows, backs of the knees or the front of the neck.

2. Psoriasis:
It is a type of skin disorder that give rise to dry and red skin. It affects the scalp and causes flakiness. The affected areas start bleeding if they are scratched excessively or if they are injured or hurt.

3. Ringworm of the scalp:
This type of fungal infection is more common among school going children. It causes red, itchy, bald-looking patches on the scalp.

Seborrheic dermatitis usually runs in families. The treatment of seborrheic dermatitis depends on its location on the body. It also depends on the age of the person. People who are not able to diagnose seborrheic dermatitis can get it diagnosed with the help of a skin biopsy or other similar tests.

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