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

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

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

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

See also

• Dandruff
• Psoriasis
• Eczema

References

Seborrheic dermatitis Resources
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