Seborrheic dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic skin condition characterized by red, scaly, greasy patches, and dandruff. It primarily affects sebum-gland rich areas of the skin, including the scalp, face, and trunk. The exact cause of seborrheic dermatitis is unknown, but it's believed to involve a variety of genetic and environmental factors.

Symptoms[edit | edit source]

The most common symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis include:

Redness
Greasy, swollen skin
White or yellowish crusty scales
Flakes (dandruff) on your scalp, hair, eyebrows, beard or mustache
Patches of greasy skin covered with flaky white or yellow scales or crust on the scalp, face, sides of the nose, eyebrows, ears, eyelids, chest, armpits, groin area or under the breasts
Red, itchy rash

Causes[edit | edit source]

The exact cause of seborrheic dermatitis is unknown. However, it's believed to be due to a combination of an overproduction of skin oil (sebum) and irritation from a yeast called Malassezia. Other risk factors include:

Neurologic and psychiatric conditions, such as Parkinson's disease and depression
A weakened immune system
Recovery from stressful medical conditions, such as a heart attack
Certain medications
Cold, dry weather

Treatment[edit | edit source]

Treatment for seborrheic dermatitis focuses on loosening scale, reducing inflammation and swelling, and curbing itch. This may include:

Antifungal products
Corticosteroid lotions
Sulfur products
Prescription-strength medicated shampoos
Light therapy

References[edit | edit source]

Seborrheic dermatitis Resources
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