Seborrhoeic dermatitis (also know as Seborrheic Eczema) is simply a common inflammation of the skin. The inflammation occurs as a result of excessive secretion of sebum present in your sebaceous gland lying beneath your skin. This inflammatory skin disorder is normally confined to the upper part of the body. Most patients report its occurrence in the face, scalp and trunk.
Check out some of the symptoms and causes of seborrhoeic dermatitis in detail.
Features of Seborrhoeic Dermatitis
Most people confuse dandruff with seborrhoeic dermatitis. Dandruff is restricted only to your scalp, whereas if the same becomes unmanageable and spreads to other parts of your body like eyebrows, forehead, ears, eyelids, middle area of chest, groin, armpits and the skin folds under your breasts, it’s a sign of seborrhoeic dermatitis.
A very characteristic feature of this skin disorder is its spreading nature, which can be distinctly seen on the eyebrows. The cause for this condition is excessive secretion in the sebaceous glands. The excessive secretion of oil leads to its accumulation on the scalp, causing a fungal infection.
This is a temporary condition and it’s likely to disappear on its own. High stress levels, hormonal changes and genetic factors play an important role in aggravating this problem. Androgen, a male hormone can trigger seborrhoeic dermatitis.
Some more features of Seborrhoeic Dermatitis:
- Under this condition, your dull and lanky hair will turn greasy instantly after a wash
- Even after treating your scalp for dandruff, thick scales will remain
- Your scalp will emanate an unpleasant odor and you’ll experience a lot of itchiness causing lesions and inflammation
Treatment of Seborrhoeic Dermatitis
This condition can be treated in many ways, but it’s essential to maintain good health and hygiene for good results. Consult a dermatologist for medication or try out some home remedy treatments.
A dermatologist would prescribe an anti-dandruff shampoo to help clean up your scalp effectively and get rid of bacteria and fungus. Medicated shampoos containing salicylic acid, ketoconazole, selenium sulfide, zinc pyrithione, climbazole, tar, piroctione olamine, and isotretinoin are recommended for its treatment.
Creams and lotions containing corticosteroids and anti-fungal topical like ketoconazole and ciclopirox can help in treating Cradle cap and Seborrhoeic Dermatitis. Cortisone in skin creams and gels help in preventing itching. There are other medications like coal tar, succinate, gluconate, and topical steroids which are not prescribed by doctors.
Natural Treatments for Seborrhoeic Dermatitis
You can also try natural treatments that are also effective in the treatment of this skin disorder. Homeopathy has much to offer for the treatment of this skin disease. There are many tissue salts like Kalium Muriaticum, Natrium Muriaticum and Kalium Sulphate that help in hydrating the skin and maintaining skin health.
More people are turning to natural herbal remedies as not only are these effective, they have no side effects as well. Herbs like Cleavers or Galium Aperine and Red Clover or trifolium pretense have wonderful therapeutic effects.
They act as blood purifiers and lymphatic cleansers. Trifolium pretense or red clover has anti-inflammatory, anti spasmodic properties and it’s a wonderful skin cleansing product. It helps in detoxifying the system and helps reduce lymphatic swellings as well.
Home Remedies for Seborrhoeic Dermatitis
Home remedies include the usage of herbal extracts of different plants and fruits. These include aloe vera, honey mixed in warm water, tea tree oil, avocado, viola tricolor, and a plant extract called Monarda Fistulosa which is all used in many topical treatments.
Garlic is an excellent component that can be used in home remedies for seborrhoeic dermatitis and dandruff, and its paste needs to be applied on the scalp. A mixture of garlic and tomatoes is known to be an excellent remedy for this skin infection. Milk of Magnesia also works wonders in the treatment of Seborrhoeic Dermatitis.
Seborrhoeic dermatitis is a skin disorder than can be prevented with the help of effective treatments that are both clinical and herbal. Herbal home remedies are easy and have no side effects. Try them and maintain a clean and healthy scalp forever.
