Seborrheic Dermatitis - Information on Seborrheic Dermatitis

Seborrheic Dermatitis Information

Seborrheic Dermatitis is basically a skin disease typical to youth, but it may occur to the people at any age. Seborrheic dermatitis frequently affects persons in postpuberty. Seborrheic dermatitis is generally limited to the scalp; however, dry scales and underlying erythema can occur on the face, ears, chest, back, and body folds. Skin may be dry or oily.

We have provided you here all symptoms, causes and treatment methods of Seborrheic Dermatitis.Seborrheic dermatitis is a skin condition characterized by loose, greasy or dry, white to yellowish scales, with or without associated reddened skin. Cradle cap is the term used when seborrheic dermatitis affects the scalp of infants.

Causes of Seborrheic Dermatitis

The cause of the Seborrheic Dermatitis is unknown. Seborrheic dermatitis appears to run in families. Stress, fatigue, weather extremes, oily skin, infrequent shampoos or skin cleaning, use of lotions that contain alcohol, skin disorders (such as acne), or obesity may increase the risk.

Treatment of Seborrheic Dermatitis

Methods For Treating Seborrheic Dermatitis are :

1. Washing with ZNP soap, a zinc-based product, can be recommended.

2. In general, washing is critical to remove any scale so that medications can reach the underlying redness. Zinc pyrithione (like Head and Shoulders) also reduces yeast colonization and prevents outbreaks of seborrheic dermatitis.

3. A second option has been ketoconazole (Nizoral) cream. It is an anti-yeast cream that works for some refractory cases and contains no steroid.

4. Pharmacologic treatment options for seborrheic dermatitis include antifungal preparations (selenium sulfide, pyrithione zinc, azole agents, sodium sulfacetamide and topical terbinafine) that decrease colonization by lipophilic yeast and anti-inflammatory agents (topical steroids).

5. Alternating cortisone application in the morning and Nizoral in the evening can be tried.

6. For severe disease, keratolytics such as salicylic acid or coal tar preparations may be used to remove dense scale; then topical steroids may be applied. Other options for removing adherent scale involve applying any of a variety of oils (peanut, olive or mineral) to soften the scale overnight, followed by use of a detergent or coal tar shampoo.

7. As a last resort in refractory disease, sebosuppressive agents such as isotretinoin (Accutane) may be used to reduce sebaceous gland activity.