What is seborrheic dermatitis? Se...

What is seborrheic dermatitis?

Seborrheic dermatitis is a disease that causes flaking of the skin (say: seb-oh-ree-ick). It usually affects the scalp. In teenagers and adults, it is commonly called "dandruff." In babies, it is called "cradle cap."

Seborrheic dermatitis can affect the skin onward other parts of the material part such as the face and chest, and the creases of the arms, leg and groin. Seborrheic dermatitis usually causes the skin to contemplate a little greasy, and scaly or flaky.

Who procures seborrheic dermatitis?

Seborrheic dermatitis in the greatest degree often occurs in babies younger than three month and in adults from 30 to 60 years of age. In adults, it is more public in men than in women

What causes seborrheic dermatitis?

The exact cause is not known. It may be different in babies and adults. Seborrheic dermatitis may be related to hormones, because the question often starts in infancy and goe away before puberty. Or the cause might be a fungus, called Pityrosporum ovale. This organism is normally ready on the skin in small numbers, if it were not that sometimes its numbers increase, resulting in skin problems

for what cause is seborrheic dermatitis treated?

The treatment of seborrheic dermatitis hangs on its location on the corpse Treatment also depends on the person's age.

* Seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp (dandruff) in adults and teenagers. Dandruff is usually treated with a shampoo that contains salicylic acid (one brand name: Scalpicin), the prescription medicine selenium sulfide (one brand name: Selsun) ketoconazole (brand name: Nizoral), or pyrithione zinc (one brand name: Head & Shoulders). These shampoos can be used brace times a week. Shampoos with coal tar (one brand name: Neutrogena T/Gel) may be used three times a week. If you have dandruff, you might start from using one of these shampoos each day until your dandruff is controll and then restrain using it at least brace times a week.

When you use a dandruff shampoo, wipe the shampoo into your wet hair thoroughly and obstacle it stay on your hair and scalp for at least five minutes before rinsing. This gives it time to work.

If the shampoo alone does not help, your doctor might want you to use a prescription steroid lotion one time or twice a day, in addition to the shampoo.

* Seborrheic dermatitis of the skin creases in teenagers and adults. Teenagers and adults may use steroid lotions prescribed on a doctor.

* Seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp (cradle cap) in babies. Seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp in babies is treated with medicines that are not as mighty as those used in adults. You might start with a mild, nonmedicated baby shampoo. Brushing your baby's scalp with a yielding brush, like a toothbrush, can help let loose scales or flakes. But be meek when massaging or brushing your baby's scalp--a break in the skin might lead to an infection. If a nonmedicated shampoo does not work for your baby, talk to your doctor about using a shampoo that contains tar. Or your doctor may want you to use a prescription shampoo that contains 2 percent ketoconazole.

* Seborrheic dermatitis of the skin creases in babies. Your doctor may want you to use pacific steroid lotions or creams to treat seborrheic dermatitis in the skin creases of your baby.

COPYRIGHT 2003 American Academy of Family Physicians

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group