SEBORRHEA

SYMPTOMS

The symptoms for seborrhea include:

• Itching
• Red skin
• Skin flakes on the scalp, eyebrows, beard, or hair
• Skin patches covered with flaky yellow or white scales
• Crusts on the face, scalp, sides of the nose, ears, eyebrows, eyelids, armpits, chests, groin area, or under the breasts.

These signs and symptoms get worse if you are stressed or during cold and dry seasons.

See a doctor if you have sleep disorders, skin infections, and failed self-care steps.

DIAGNOSIS

Seborrhea goes away on its own, but sometimes, it requires repeated treatments. The doctor will conduct a biopsy to rule out conditions that mimic seborrheic dermatitis symptoms, such as:

• Psoriasis. A skin disease that causes dandruff and red skin coated with flakes and silvery-white scales;
• Atopic dermatitis (eczema). A form of dermatitis that causes itchy, inflamed skin of the elbows, backs of the knees, and front of the neck;
• Tinea versicolor. A type of rash that occurs on the trunk;
• Rosacea. A condition that appears on the face and has tiny scales;
• Allergic reactions in the form of an itchy rash
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).

TREATMENT

The main treatments for seborrhea are creams, medicated shampoos, and lotions to prevent inflammation. Also, the doctor will suggest home remedies and over-the-counter dandruff shampoos.

• Corticosteroids, such as hydrocortisone, fluocinolone (Capex, Synalar), clobetasol (Clobex, Cormax), and desonide (Desowen, Desonate), are easy and practical to use on the scalp.
• Creams and lotions contain calcineurin inhibitors tacrolimus (Protopic) and pimecrolimus (Elidel), which are effective.
• Antifungal gels, creams, or shampoos with alternative medications.
• Antifungal medication in pill form.

Talk with your doctor before trying these treatments because you might suffer from severe side effects.

In some cases, seborrhea goes away on its own without treatment. Make sure to follow good skincare to get rid of this condition.