Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin condition that usually affects the scalp. It causes redness of the skin, scaly patches and long-lasting dandruff. Besides the scalp, it often affects oily areas of the body, such as the face, sides of the nose, eyebrows, ears, eyelids and chest. It is not contagious and in some cases it may improve spontaneously without treatment. In other cases, a long course of repeated treatment may be required to relieve the symptoms.
This disease is also known as dandruff, seborrheic eczema or seborrheic psoriasis. Stress is at the forefront among the factors that cause the disease to occur. It is more common in men than in women. It often occurs in infants, middle age and old age. The disease can gain a different appearance depending on the area where it occurs, and when seen in infants, it causes crusted and scaly spots on the scalp.
What Causes Seborrheic Dermatitis?
The causes of seborrheic dermatitis are not known exactly. However, it is thought to be caused by a type of fungus called malassezia in the oil secretion in the skin or a reaction of the immune system.
Some factors increase the likelihood of this condition occurring. These factors include Parkinson's disease, stress, some neurological and psychiatric disorders such as depression, HIV, AIDS, excessive alcohol consumption and weakening of your immune system as a result of some cancer diseases, the use of certain medications as a result of stressful situations such as heart attack.
What are the Symptoms of Seborrheic Dermatitis?
Symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis may vary from person to person, depending on the condition and underlying causes of the disease. This condition can also be confused with some similar skin conditions. For this reason, it should be detected by specialist physicians.
Common signs and symptoms are as follows:
- Skin dryness and scaly lesions
- Dandruff on the scalp
- Scaling on the skin and exfoliation as a result of dryness of the skin
- Burning sensation and sensitivity of the skin
- Dry but oily appearance of the skin
- Thickening of the skin and edema
- Itching and discoloration of the skin
- Itching sensation on the skin and formation of wounds as a result of itching
How is Seborrheic Dermatitis Diagnosed?
Seborrheic dermatitis is diagnosed by the doctor after a detailed medical history and physical examination. The patient should discuss all complaints and symptoms with the doctor during the examination and explain the different diseases they have.
During the physical examination, the specialist examines the patient's skin and scalp and observes whether the patient has a disease condition. The physician will take a biopsy sample of the skin cells and send it to the laboratory for examination in order to rule out conditions similar to this disease. Medical conditions that are similar to this disease include eczema, rosacea, psoriasis and tinea versicolor.
This disease is a reaction of the skin, with symptoms of itching and inflammation on the elbows, back of the knees and front of the neck. It is a disease that can often recur. Correct diagnosis of the disease is of great importance for the treatment process and recovery.
How is Seborrheic Dermatitis Treated?
In some cases, the disease may heal spontaneously. However, it is a disease that can recur after recovery. In order to prevent this situation from recurring, the patient must follow and maintain the treatment plan recommended by the doctor. However, there is no guarantee for this situation. Seborrheic dermatitis can be treated with medicated shampoos, creams and lotions.
The specialist may recommend trying over-the-counter dandruff shampoos before prescription medications. If such recommendations do not help, the doctor may deem it necessary to turn to medicated shampoos.
The main aim of treatment is to try to control the symptoms and complaints. It is aimed to eliminate crusting and dandruff on the skin surface, eliminate the underlying causes of the disease and minimize excessive itching.
During the treatment process, antifungal shampoo and cream applications may be recommended by the doctor. The drugs used in treatment are divided into 2 as prescription and non-prescription. In addition, the person should take care and pay attention to skin care during the treatment process. One of the treatment methods can be seen as phototherapy.
The doctor plans the treatment process depending on the severity of the disease, the frequency of symptoms and the area. Creams used to control inflammation include shampoos or ointments, corticosteroids, which are usually prescribed and applied according to the affected area.
Although such creams are effective and simple to use, they should always be used under the supervision and on the advice of a doctor. Since such drugs can cause thinning and wrinkling of the skin, they should be applied at the dose and frequency recommended by the doctor.
How Does Seborrheic Dermatitis Go Away?
In some cases, the disease may improve spontaneously by paying attention to hygiene conditions and taking the necessary precautions. However, in some cases, long and repeated treatment methods may need to be applied.