Are you tired of persistent dandruff and hair loss affecting your confidence? Flaking and increased shedding can be worrisome, especially for young people.
Seborrheic dermatitis has often been linked with similar symptoms of hair loss. In this article, we will explore seborrheic dermatitis in detail along with effective management, causes, symptoms and treatment tips.
What Is Seborrheic Dermatitis?
Seborrheic Dermatitis is a common skin condition that predominantly affects the scalp. ‘Seborrheic’ refers to sebaceous glands while ‘derm’ refers to skin and ‘itis’ means inflammation. All these terminologies combined together means inflammation of sebum producing glands in the skin.
This lifelong condition can be managed with treatments but never be cured. It is non-contagious and can be easily managed with proper precautions and regular treatments.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Seborrheic Dermatitis?
The increased activity of sebum producing glands can lead to a wide variety of signs and symptoms, including:
- Oily and scaly skin
- Flaking dandruff
- Itching and scratching
- Scalp pain
- Rash or redness of scalp skin
- Hair thinning
- Hair loss
Apart from scalp, seborrheic dermatitis can affect other parts of the body as well like;
- Eyebrows
- Eyelids
- Lips
- Nose creases
- Around ears
- Middle of chest
- Creases of arms
- Legs and groins
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Seborrheic Dermatitis – Causative Factors
This disease is multifactorial, meaning several factors can create an environment that causes these symptoms. It is generally believed that a type of yeast called Malassezia furfur, naturally present on everyone’s skin, can overgrow.
- Yeast overgrowth
- Increased androgen hormone
- Excessive production of oily secretions
- Increased skin lipids
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Seborrheic Dermatitis – Who Is At Risk?
If surveys are to be believed, 11% of the entire population has seborrheic dermatitis. The following individuals are more at risk:
- Infants under 3 months old and adults aged 30 to 60 are more likely to get it. It’s called a cradle cap in infants.
- Men are more prone to developing this condition than women.
- It occurs more often in Caucasians than African Americans.
- Naturally oily skin can make you more vulnerable to get this condition.
- A positive family history puts you at higher risk.
- Immunosuppressive conditions such as HIV, lymphoma, organ transplantation increase risk.
- Environmental factors such as living in cold dry regions can worsen this condition.
How Is Seborrheic Dermatitis Diagnosed?
It is generally easy to diagnose due to its characteristic signs and symptoms.
- Clinical diagnosis
- Biopsy of the skin lesion if unresponsive to treatments
- No blood, urine or allergy test
How Is Seborrheic Dermatitis Treated?
Generally, symptomatic treatment doesn’t work effectively unless the root cause is managed first. Therefore, a number of treatment options are available to manage this condition.
Treatment In Infants
Cradle cap in infants usually resolve on its own.
- Use a mild baby shampoo
- Gently brush the scalp with a soft brush multiple times a day
- Consult a doctor, if its persists or the baby scratches the scalp
Treatment In Adults
In adults, use the following medications under a doctor’s prescription to manage seborrheic dermatitis effectively.
Antifungals
Multiple antifungal options available including oral tablets and shampoos, such as:
- Pyrithione Zinc: This has both antifungal and antibiotic properties. It is included in shampoos to eliminate fungi and can also be found in creams and face washes for facial skin involvement.
- Selenium Sulfide: Available in shampoos, creams, face wash and body wash. It eliminates the fungus and reduces skin inflammation.
- Ketoconazole: One of the most effective agents for treating fungal infections. It reduces the frequency of flare-ups as well.
Most of these can be used as over the counter medicated shampoos, specifically designed to treat dandruff. For mild cases, a few weeks of shampoo use can treat the condition.
Salicylic acid
This helps soften scales and gently remove them. It is often included in medicated shampoos for dandruff, though its exact role isn’t known.
Steroids
Highly effective in treating seborrheic dermatitis., steroids reduce inflammation, redness and itching. They can be used as creams, ointments or shampoos. But make sure you don’t use it for a long time as it can cause skin thinning. They are available on prescription only.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does hair loss from seborrheic dermatitis grow back?
Hair loss due to seborrheic dermatitis is usually temporary and the hair grows back if the treatment is done early and properly.
Should I wash my hair often if I have seborrheic dermatitis?
It is advisable to wash your hair often with seborrheic dermatitis but not everyday as it is linked with worsening of symptoms. Washing your hair every other day or a few times a week is sufficient but make sure to use a medicated shampoo.
Which vitamin deficiency causes hair loss?
There are multiple vitamin deficiencies linked with hair loss such as vitamin B, C, D. Apart from vitamins other minerals such as iron and zinc deficiency has also been correlated with hair loss.
What foods trigger seborrheic dermatitis?
No specific correlation between seborrheic dermatitis and food has been found at the moment.
Which shampoo is best for seborrheic dermatitis?
Any medicated shampoo for dandruff should be good for seborrheic dermatitis. While buying a shampoo, you can look for the following substances, such as, pyrithione zinc, selenium sulfide, and ketoconazole etc.
