Seborrheic dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis is a very prevalent cutaneous disorder in the population. It is characterized by the appearance of scaly and redness, unctuous looking, in the more fat areas of the body: around the nose, in the forehead, eyebrows and/or chest, mainly. A special form, particularly frequent, is the seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp, popularly known as “dandruff“.

Although we do not know the exact cause, seborrheic dermatitis is due in part to excess production of cutaneous sebum and an increase in the fungal flora of the skin. It usually worsens in times of psychological stress.

Usually it is an asymptomatic disorder, although it can cause pruritus, especially in the area of the scalp.

It should be noted that seborrheic dermatitis should be considered as a chronic tendency that have some types of skin, rather than a definite point disorder that is definitively resolved.

The usual treatment is simple, although you have to keep it (at least one day a week) to keep the skin uninjured. Seborrheic dermatitis benefits from different therapeutic options, such as the antifungals to regulate skin flora, anti-inflammatories (corticoids, calcineurin inhibitors), keratolytics (salicylic acid, urea) or reducing agents (coalter saponins). This last group of treatments, the reducers, are especially useful for seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp, since they exist in the form of shampoo and, applied two or three times a week, allow to eliminate the dandruff in most occasions.

Very often, a more intensive shock treatment is required over a period of two or three weeks, followed by another of maintenance, of indefinite duration, applied occasionally during the week. Although the treatment is simple, seborrheic dermatitis usually causes notable aesthetic problems to the patient who suffers it, then it appears in areas especially visible as the face, as previously mentioned. For this reason, it is worth consulting with your dermatologist to find the simplest and most effective treatment for your case, to make the redness and scaling disappear.