What is Seborrheic Dermatitis?
Seborrheic dermatitis is a skin condition that generally affects the scalp and oily areas of the body, such as the back, face, forehead, armpits, groin, and upper chest.
On the scalp, this disease causes red, flaky, and scaly skin. This disease is also called seborrheic psoriasis, seborrheic eczema, or cradle cap in infants.
This skin condition may look like psoriasis, eczema, or an allergic reaction. It is also important to note that it can sometimes go away without treatment.
However, this disorder can be a lifelong condition. Treatment is done so that this problem does not easily recur.
It is also important to note that this disease does not cause serious damage to the body, including hair. It is also common and is not a contagious disease.
Symptoms of Seborrheic Dermatitis
Symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis can vary, such as in infants and adults. It is important to note that infants aged 3 months and younger are more susceptible to cradle cap.
Although it can disappear before the age of one year, recurrence can occur when the child enters puberty.
Some of the symptoms that can occur in babies are yellow or brown crusty scales on the scalp.
Many parents may mistake seborrheic dermatitis for diaper rash. So be sure to check your child’s scalp if it feels scaly or red.
Then, for adults the symptoms can be different from seborrheic dermatitis that occurs in babies.
Some symptoms of this disease include:
- The skin feels itchy or like it’s burning.
- The scalp is red and flaky.
- Flaking skin or dandruff that occurs on the mustache, beard, or eyebrows.
- Crusty or reddish eyelids (blepharitis).
- White or yellow scaly skin, which occurs on oily areas of the skin other than the scalp, such as the face, armpits, ears, and chest.
Causes of Seborrheic Dermatitis
The exact cause of seborrheic dermatitis is still unknown. However, it is thought to be related to the fungus Malassezia furfur and the inflammation associated with psoriasis.
The inflammatory reaction of this fungus can live on the surface of the skin. As this fungus grows larger, the immune system overreacts, causing a trade response that causes changes in the skin.
Apart from that, there are factors that are suspected to cause this disease, including:
- Increased levels of androgens (hormones).
- Increased skin lipid levels.
- Inflammatory reaction.
- Family history (dermatitis runs in families).
There are also other factors that trigger or worsen seborrheic dermatitis, including:
- Stress.
- Cold and dry climate.
- Oily skin.
- Using alcohol-based lotion.
- History of other skin disorders, including rosacea, psoriasis, and acne.
Risk Factors for Seborrheic Dermatitis
Some risk factors that a person has that make them more susceptible to this disease include:
- Oily skin type.
- Newborn baby.
- Adults, especially women, aged 30-60 years.
- Heart failure.
- Certain medications.
- Mental illness and nervous disorders, such as depression and Parkinson’s disease.
- The habit of scratching facial skin.
- Diseases that weaken the immune system, such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, organ transplant recipients, and alcoholic pancreatitis.
- Endocrine diseases that can cause obesity, such as diabetes.
- The weather is cold and dry.
- Stress.
- Genetic factors.
- Environmental factors, such as pollution.
- The presence of other skin problems such as acne.
- Use of certain skin care products that contain alcohol.
- Hormonal changes.
- Harsh detergents, soaps, and chemicals.
What Does Research Say?
A study in JAMA Dermatology looked at how common seborrheic dermatitis is worldwide.
The results showed that the prevalence of seborrheic dermatitis worldwide is around 4.38 percent.
This study also found that the prevalence of seborrheic dermatitis varies depending on age, geographic location, and other factors.
Diagnosis of Seborrheic Dermatitis
Diagnosis is based on the location, appearance, and behavior of the lesion.
To diagnose this disease, the doctor will start by conducting a medical interview by talking about the symptoms you are experiencing, a physical examination, and supporting examinations such as a biopsy or skin cell peel examination to confirm seborrheic dermatitis.
In this test, a small piece of your skin will be removed to be examined in a laboratory.
A dermatologist will also need to rule out other conditions that can affect the skin, such as psoriasis, rosacea, allergic reactions, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
A biopsy test may be performed to help rule out this condition.
If the diagnosis is uncertain, a biopsy may be performed. This usually shows parakeratosis of the epidermis, plugged follicular ostia, and spongiosis in cases of seborrheic dermatitis.
Seborrheic Dermatitis Treatment
This disease can sometimes go away on its own. However, this disorder can be a lifelong problem.
The way to control it is by doing skin care. Here are the types of care that can be done:
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Treatment recommended by a doctor
Then, there are several things that doctors recommend to treat this disease, including:
- Apply a special cream to the skin 1-2 times a day to fight bacteria.
- Use antifungal shampoo 2-3 times a week.
- Lotions or creams that suppress the immune system.
- Light therapy.
The drugs that doctors usually prescribe include:
- Antifungal creams or ointments, such as ketoconazole 2 percent or clotrimazole, which work to reduce the growth of fungus on the skin.
- Topical corticosteroids, such as hydrocortisone or betamethasone, work to reduce inflammation and itching. They must be used according to a prescription because they can cause side effects if used too long.
- Calcineurin inhibitors, such as tacrolimus or pimecrolimus creams, are used to treat skin inflammation.
- In more severe cases, your doctor may prescribe oral medications such as itraconazole or fluconazole, especially if the fungal infection is extensive.
- Sulfur cream to clear scaly skin and relieve inflammation.
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Self-care
Apart from using creams and lotion products, there are other self-care products that can be used:
- Keep the infected area clean by washing with mild soap and water daily. For babies with cradle cap, use baby shampoo daily and gently brush away the scales.
- Avoid using alcohol-based skin care products as they can worsen irritation.
- Use a suitable moisturizer to maintain skin moisture and prevent dry skin.
- Avoid excessive stress because stress can worsen skin conditions.
- Reduce the use of hot water when bathing, and use warm water with a temperature that is gentler on the skin.
- Sunlight is known to inhibit the growth of fungi that cause seborrheic dermatitis. However, make sure to use sunscreen to protect your skin from UV damage.
Although self-care can help, treatment should still be carried out under the supervision of a doctor, especially if symptoms worsen or do not improve.
Long-term use of certain medications, such as corticosteroids, requires regular evaluation to prevent side effects such as thinning of the skin.
If you experience disturbing symptoms, such as excessive itching, spreading red skin, or the appearance of an infection, consult a dermatologist immediately.
The doctor can adjust the type of treatment according to your needs and skin condition.
Seborrheic Dermatitis Prevention
Some efforts that can be made to prevent seborrheic dermatitis include:
- Avoid frictional stimuli, especially when using soap and towels.
- Try to avoid using soaps that have strong scents because they are thought to contain alcohol.
- Use a type of soap that has a high oil content.
- Limit foods that can trigger itching, such as foods rich in protein.
- Take a shower with warm water with a temperature that tends to be cold.
- Try not to rub your skin with alcohol.
- Avoid direct contact or touch with objects or objects that can cause allergies.
- Use moisturizing cream as often as possible.
- Treat itching by avoiding scratching to avoid eczema and secondary infections.
Meanwhile, in children, it can be done:
- Distract your child when he or she is about to scratch.
- Avoid conditions that are too warm or hot.
- Put gloves on your child when sleeping.
- Keep your child’s nails short at all times.
When to See a Doctor?
You need to see a doctor if you have severe symptoms or symptoms that are worse than usual.
In this case, your doctor can help by changing the dosage of the medication or switching to another treatment option.
In addition to worsening symptoms, see a doctor if you experience the following conditions:
- Feeling so uncomfortable that you lose sleep or are unable to carry out your daily routine.
- Makes you feel embarrassed or anxious.
- Think your skin is infected.
- You have tried self-care steps, but the symptoms you are experiencing do not go away.
- Has a very red area.
- I have a very painful area.
- Have areas that are oozing pus, fluid, or hardened.
Know the Difference: Dandruff or Seborrheic Dermatitis?
Does your scalp often feel itchy and flaky? You might think that your head has dandruff. However, make no mistake: you could be experiencing seborrheic dermatitis.
Although they look the same, dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis are actually different. To make it clearer, try reading the following review.
Know the Difference Between Dandruff and Seborrheic Dermatitis
Dandruff is a very common condition experienced by anyone. Generally, dandruff is caused by an oily scalp, dry scalp, contact dermatitis, to Malassezia fungal infection on the scalp.
In addition, atopic dermatitis is one of the skin diseases that can also attack the scalp area. Although until now it is not known for sure the cause of seborrheic dermatitis, but the Malassezia fungus is also considered to be the main cause of this condition.
Not only that, seborrheic dermatitis can also occur when there is an immune disorder. Seborrheic dermatitis is generally prone to occur in people with conditions such as weak immune systems, experiencing mental health disorders, using certain medications, and being exposed to extreme weather temperatures.
So, what is the difference between the two? You can see the difference from the symptoms you experience. When you have dandruff, you will usually experience flaking scalp and itching that is very disturbing. Usually, this condition can be overcome by maintaining cleanliness of the hair and scalp.
While seborrheic dermatitis occurs when dandruff appears on the scalp and is accompanied by other symptoms. Starting from scaly, oily, reddish, and swollen skin patches. Not infrequently, dandruff can spread to the mustache, beard, and eyebrows.
Immediately visit the nearest hospital and get checked if this condition does not improve and you have an infection on your scalp. Proper treatment makes your health condition better.
Seborrheic Dermatitis and Dandruff Treatment
Even though they are caused by the same fungal infection, dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis have different ways of handling and treating them.
Generally, you can get rid of the dandruff that bothers your head by diligently cleaning your hair with shampoo. The content of zinc, sulfur, selenium, and salicylic acid contained in shampoo will be able to clean dandruff while refreshing your scalp.
To prevent it from bothering you again, you might want to reduce the use of hair oil, hairspray, or other hair styling products.
Meanwhile, for seborrheic dermatitis sufferers, the medication commonly used to reduce it is to use a cream containing antifungal ingredients, such as ketoconazole.
Seborrheic Dermatitis Prevention
Both dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis can affect anyone. However, you can prevent it by doing the following tips:
- Clean your scalp regularly. Generally, the recommended time to wash your hair is once every two days. However, washing your head every day is also okay, especially if you do a lot of outdoor activities.
- Do not scratch the body parts affected by seborrheic dermatitis because it will only cause irritation and worsen the infection.
- Especially for men, relieving the symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis can be done by shaving the beard or moustache regularly.
- If it attacks other body skin, excessive irritation can be reduced by wearing clothes made of cotton.
