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Seborrhoeic
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About Seborrhoeic Dermatitis |
Seborrhoeic dermatitis is a common, harmless, scaling rash
affecting the face, scalp and other areas.
Dandruff (also called pityriasis capitis) is seborrhoeic
dermatitis of the scalp. Seborrhoeic dermatitis may also occur
on the eyebrows, eye lid edges, ears, the skin near the nose and
skin-folds of the armpits and groin. Sometimes seborrhoeic
dermatitis produces round, scaling patches on the middle of the
chest or on the back.
Seborrhoeic dermatitis is believed to be related to a
proliferation of a normal skin inhabitant, a yeast called
Pityrosporum ovale (also known as Malassezia). Patients with
seborrhoeic dermatitis appear to have a reduced resistance to
the yeast. It is not contagious or related to diet, but it may
be aggravated by illness, psychological stress, fatigue, change
of season and reduced general health. Those with neurological
disorders including Parkinson's disease and stroke are
particularly prone to it.
Seborrhoeic dermatitis may appear at any age after puberty. It
fluctuates in severity and may persist for years. It may
predispose to psoriasis.
It is uncertain whether infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis is the
same condition. This arises in newborn babies up to the age of
six months. It usually presents as cradle cap, but infantile
seborrhoeic dermatitis may also affect skin creases such as
armpits and groin (when it presents as a type of napkin
dermatitis). Non-itchy salmon pink flaky patches may appear on
the face, trunk and limbs in severe cases. Severe seborrhoeic
dermatitis in infants that are unwell with diarrhoea and failure
to thrive may be Leiner's syndrome.
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Image description: |
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Seborrhoeic dermatitis |
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Source |
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http://www.dermnetnz.org/index.html |
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Image description: |
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Seborrhoeic dermatitis |
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Source |
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http://www.dermnetnz.org/index.html |
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Image description: |
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Seborrhoeic dermatitis |
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Source |
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http://www.dermnetnz.org/index.html |
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| What to avoid |
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Reduce contact
with irritants
- Keep cool: have tepid baths,
wear loose cotton clothing, and keep bedding to a minimum
- Avoid direct skin contact
with rough fibres, particularly wool
- Avoid dusty conditions
- Use gloves when handling
chemicals, solvents and detergents
- Choose cosmetics carefully;
make-ups, perfumes and creams can all irritate
- Bathe without soap: use water
alone or add a soap-free cleanser. Make sure that none of the
products used contain SLS.
Reduce exposure
to allergens
Allergic reactions can occur to
materials touched, inhaled or ingested. Responsible compounds
(detected by prick tests) include house dust mite, moulds, grass
pollens and animal danders, such as cats and horses. The home,
especially the bedroom, should be kept as free of dust as
possible. It is controversial whether it's better not to have
any pets or whether regular exposure to them reduces the
reactions.
Most individuals will not helped
by special diets (eg. dairy-free etc.). It is particularly
important that growing children have a broad range of
nutritional foods. But, if a particular substance consistently
aggravates the skin problem, it is reasonable to avoid it for a
while. Professional advice can be obtained from a registered
dietician. Children are seldom allergic to dairy products and
eggs although occasionally they may aggravate their eczema or
result in hives, vomiting, diarrhoea, nasal stuffiness or
wheezing. Others have flare-ups with wheat, nuts, food additives
or other items. Fortunately, most affected children grow out of
their food intolerance. |
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| Risk Indicator |
Seborrhoeic dermatitis is not
normally a dangerous condition. It can however vary in severity
from one individual to another, in certain instances, requiring
hospitalisation. Always consult your Doctor if you are in doubt
as to symptoms or severity. |
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Treatment |
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Seborrhoeic dermatitis in adults
may be very persistent. However, it can generally be kept under
control with regular use of antifungal agents and intermittent
applications of topical steroids.
Infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis
usually clears up completely before the baby is six months old
and rarely persists after one year. If treatment is required,
mild emollients, hydrocortisone cream and / or topical
ketoconazole are useful.
Treatment of seborrhoeic
dermatitis depends on which part of the body is involved. It is
likely to need repeating from time to time.
Scalp
- Medicated shampoos containing
ketoconazole, selenium disulphide, zinc pyrithione, coal tar,
and salicylic acid, used twice weekly for at least a month.
- Steroid scalp applications
reduce symptoms, and should be applied daily for a few days
every so often.
- Tar creams can be applied to
scaling areas and removed several hours later by shampooing.
Face, ears, chest &
back
- Cleanse the affected skin
thoroughly once or twice each day.
- Ketoconazole or ciclopirox
cream once daily for 2 to 4 weeks, repeated as necessary.
- Hydrocortisone cream can also
be used, applied up to twice daily for 1 or 2 weeks.
- Severe cases may receive a
course of ultraviolet radiation.
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