Seborrheic Dermatitis - Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic skin inflammation and affects the scalp and also called is dandruff and cradle cap. It is causes flaking on the scalp, face, and behind the ears. Seborrheic dermatitis can also affect the skin on other parts of the body, such as the face and chest, and the creases of the arms, legs and groin. Seborrheic dermatitis usually causes the skin to look a little greasy and scaly or flaky. Seborrheic dermatitis is associated with normal levels of Malassezia but an abnormal immune response. Helper T cells, phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin stimulation, and antibody titers are depressed compared with those of control subjects.

Because seborrheic dermatitis is uncommon in preadolescent children, and tinea capitis is uncommon after adolescence, dandruff in a child is more likely to represent a fungal infection. A fungal culture should be completed for confirmation. Various medications may flare or induce seborrheic dermatitis. Malassezia organisms are probably not the cause but are a cofactor linked to a T-cell depression. Seborrheic dermatitis occurs in persons of all races. Seborrheic dermatitis may start in infancy as cradle cap. It affects the scalp as thick, crusty, yellow scales. Children usually outgrow it by age 3 and do not normally get seborrheic dermatitis. Persons prone to this dermatitis also may have a skin-barrier dysfunction.

Causes of Seborrheic Dermatitis

Common causes of Seborrheic Dermatitis

• T-cell depression (sebum levels).
• Various medications ( ethionamide, gold, griseofulvin, haloperidol, interferon alfa, lithium.).
• Tinea capitis.

Symptoms of Seborrheic Dermatitis

Common Symptoms of Seborrheic Dermatitis

• Itchy
• Burning irritation.
• Skin lesions
• Plaques.
• Greasy, oily areas of skin
• Skin scales.
• Itching
• Mild redness
• Hair loss.

Treatment of Seborrheic Dermatitis

Common Treatment of Seborrheic Dermatitis

• Topical corticosteroids may hasten recurrences, may foster dependence because of a rebound effect, and are discouraged except for short-term use.
• Use of hair spray or hair pomades should be stopped. Shampoos containing salicylic acid, tar, selenium, sulfur, or zinc are effective and may be used in an alternating schedule.
• Shampoos may be used on truncal lesions or in beards but may cause inflammation in the intertriginous or facial areas.
• Seborrheic blepharitis may respond to gentle cleaning of eyelashes with baby shampoo use of ketoconazole cream in this anatomical region is controversial.

Home | Blog | Contact Us
Copyright © TheSkinDisorders.com All Rights Reserved.