What is seborrheic dermatitis?
Seborrheic dermatitis or seborrhoeic eczema is a disease of the scaly skin. The skin cells divide much faster than usual and dead cells get into small slices dry loose: the flakes. Usually there are one or a few spots on the head which are quite sharply demarcated from normal scalp well. It can be itchy but is otherwise harmless. The symptoms manifest themselves in visible places (such as the face) which can be very annoying.
Seborrheic dermatitis symptoms
When seborrheic dermatitis occurs sometimes itching. The affected skin is reddish. By scratching the skin can be damaged and can possibly cause a secondary infection. Also, it can spread to other places on the skin, for example, next to the nose wings or to the eyebrows.
Seborrheic dermatitis causes
Seborrheic dermatitis may be caused in part by a yeast (fungus), oval Malassezia (formerly known under the name Pityrosporum ovale). Even in 'normal' rose (medical name pityriasis capitis) this yeast likely plays a role.
Seborrheic dermatitis treatment
The best medicine (if known) is ketoconazole. This is available as shampoo and ointment. The shampoo in a light concentration at the drugstore and pharmacy, in higher concentration and as ointment only through the GP at the pharmacy. Other shampoos, for example based on zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide coal tar or salicylic acid are less effective and help only mild forms of dandruff. Corticosteroïdlotions help quite well but have their own drawbacks.
Related Conditions
Dandruff may be a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis. It is a known condition, especially through the advertisements of shampoo manufacturers.
Newborn children have sometimes mountain, yellowish thick flakes on the scalp. This is also probably related to seborrhoeic eczema. After a few months or years, it usually resolves spontaneously.
Incidentally, do these two disorders nothing "just" eczema. Also it is sometimes confused with psoriasis some time, especially if it is particularly in the face. Seborrheic eczema and psoriasis, however, have no relation.