How to treat seborrheic dermatitis

Who is affected?

It usually begins at puberty, and is most common in the third and fourth decades of life, and in people with lighter and oily skin. People who have seborrheic dermatitis in adulthood may have had infantile forms. The call is one of them, and it is manifested by yellowish and fatty crusts on the scalp in the newborn and during the first year of life.

Another form is false amantacea, a later form of cradle cap that forms flaking patches that weigh down hair in children.

What symptoms does it cause?

The lesions of seborrheic dermatitis are red plaques with fatty scaling that affect very typical areas: the nasolabial fold, the areas of the eyebrows and eyelashes, the skin behind the ears, the center of the chest or back, and the scalp in general. In some cases it only causes flaking (dandruff) and in others there is inflammation, redness and itching that are very annoying. The aesthetic impact can also be important. The course of the disease is chronic and recurrent with periods of exacerbation and remission.

What triggers do you have?

Patients suffering from the disease explain that outbreaks are related to physical and emotional stress, seasonal changes, or the application of greasy cosmetics. Many patients have a flare from any serious illness that triggers alterations in the immune system. Most patients tend to get better in summer and worse in winter.

How is it treated?

Seborrheic dermatitis responds well to topical corticosteroids, because they reduce inflammation and itching, and also to antifungals, both topical and oral. This is because, although the disease is not a fungal infection, the lesions are colonized by a microorganism called Pityrosporum that increases inflammation and scaling. If we treat the Pityrosporum, we will improve the dermatitis. antifungals are often used in the form of a shampoo, cream, or lotion.

The disadvantage of controlling the disease with corticosteroids cream is that the skin gets used to them and more and more quantity and application are required to obtain the same result. If they are abruptly abandoned they can cause a “rebound effect”. In addition, corticosteroids can cause other facial dermatoses such as rosacea or perioral dermatitis if they are used in excess on the face.

Therefore, a good alternative for patients who must treat their seborrheic dermatitis very frequently are topical immunomodulators such as tacrolimus or pimecrolimus. There are also many cosmetic products that improve seborrheic dermatitis, such as those that contain mild cleansers such as keluamide or salicylic acid.

What is your prognosis?

Seborrheic dermatitis is not curable, but if the patient follows the instructions of his dermatologist and learns to treat the flare-ups with the therapeutic options available, the disease is easily controllable.

• Although it does not carry serious problems, it is an annoying dermatological disorder for those who suffer from it.
• It causes red patches with oily scaling that affect the nose, eyebrows, eyelashes, behind the ears, center of the chest or back, and the scalp in general.
• It is not curable, but if you follow the dermatologist's instructions and learn to treat outbreaks, it is manageable.