Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic form of eczema. Eczema is a medical condition in which patches of skin become rough and inflamed, with blisters that cause itching and bleeding, sometimes resulting from a reaction to irritation. Seborrheic dermatitis appears where there are a lot of oil-producing glands, or sebaceous glands. The upper back, nose, and scalp are the most common areas. When seborrheic dermatitis has affected the skin, the skin tends to be red in color, swollen, greasy, and have a white or yellowish crusty scale on the surface. Often times, the affected skin can be itchy and irritable.
It is estimated that up to one in 20 Americans may be affected by seborrheic dermatitis. Seborrheic dermatitis is somewhat more common in men …show more content…
Seborrheic dermatitis is not caused by poor hygiene, is not an allergy, and does not cause harm to the body. It seems that most patients with seborrheic dermatitis have an abundant growth of a normal skin yeast such as Pityrosporum or Malassezia. Many factors that seem to work together to cause seborrheic dermatitis may include the yeast that normally lives on our skin, a person’s genes, living in a cold and dry climate, stress and a person’s overall health. Researchers have stated that fungi may also play role in causing the disease since topical antifungal medications are effective in controlling seborrheic …show more content…
Sometime, a scraping of skin scales treated with potassium hydroxide is examined using a microscope to exclude a fungal infection. Treatment of the scalp often includes the use of over-the-counter shampoos that contain one or more of the following ingredients: tar, ketoconazole, zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide, and salicylic acid. The most common shampoos are Head & Shoulders and Selsun. The application of a prescription a topical steroid or topical antifungal cream may be required for treatment on areas besides the scalp. The use of tacrolimus or pimecrolimus ointments can be effective. In more severe cases, patients may receive a prescription for a mild corticosteroid medication to calm the inflammation when it is actively flaring. Patients may also use ketoconazole-containing creams. However, it is emphasized that if the disease is active and the treatment is stopped, the disease may recur. Occasionally, it may be necessary for the doctor to refer patients to a dermatologist for a diagnosis. A skin biopsy is rarely required. For infants with cradle cap, treatment is rarely necessary as the seborrheic dermatitis tends to completely disappear on its own. However, if treatment is necessary, dermatologists recommends shampooing the baby’s scalp daily with a baby shampoo, gently brushing away the scale once the scale starts to soften, and applying a