Seborrheic Dermatitis: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

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What causes seborrhoeic dermatitis?

Conditions that are associated with increased rates of seborrhoeic dermatitis include individuals with HIV, hepatitis C, alcoholic pancreatitis, Parkinson's disease, and alcohol abuse. Seborrhoeic dermatitis is common in people with alcoholism, between 7 and 11 percent, which is twice the normal expected occurrence.

What is seborrheic dermatitis?

Seborrheic (seb-o-REE-ik) dermatitis is a common skin condition that mainly affects your scalp. It causes scaly patches, inflamed skin and stubborn dandruff. It usually affects oily areas of the body, such as the face, sides of the nose, eyebrows, ears, eyelids and chest.

What is the difference between psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis?

Psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis can mimic each other. Both are patches of red skin with flakes. Both can be found on your scalp and back. Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease that affects 2% to 4% of the population. The scales of psoriasis are often thicker than that of seborrheic dermatitis.

What is seborrhoeic eczema?

It’s also known as seborrhoeic eczema. Seborrhoeic dermatitis causes inflammation in areas of your skin that have a lot of sebaceous glands. These glands make an oily fluid called sebum, which keeps your skin supple. Areas of skin where you have lots of sebaceous glands include your face, scalp and chest.

Where does seborrhoeic dermatitis occur?

These include your armpits, under your breasts and your groin. These are areas that tend to stay moist. Seborrhoeic dermatitis affects up to 5 in every 100 adults. Around half of adults have dandruff, which is a mild, non-inflammatory form of seborrhoeic dermatitis that affects your scalp.

What is the difference between dermatitis & seborrhoeic dermatitis?

‘Dermatitis’ is a red, itchy, flaky (inflamed) skin complaint; ‘seborrhoeic’ means that the rash affects greasy (sebaceous) skin zones such as the face, scalp and centre of the chest. Seborrhoeic dermatitis is very common and many people don’t even know they have it.

Are there different types of seborrhoeic dermatitis?

There are infantile and adult forms of seborrhoeic dermatitis. This benign inflammatory condition is sometimes associated with psoriasis and is known as sebopsoriasis. Seborrhoeic dermatitis is also known as seborrhoeic eczema (“seborrheic” in American English).

Is seborrhoeic dermatitis a life threatening condition?

As an adult, seborrhoeic dermatitis is something that you will have for life. However, your symptoms may come and go over time. You can often deal with mild symptoms such as dandruff by yourself. You can also get advice from a pharmacist. But if your symptoms are severe or cover a lot of your skin, contact your GP for advice.

What Is Seborrheic Dermatitis

1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seborrheic-dermatitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20352710
2. https://nationaleczema.org/eczema/types-of-eczema/seborrheic-dermatitis/
3. https://www.bupa.co.uk/health-information/healthy-skin/seborrhoeic-dermatitis
4. https://dermnetnz.org/topics/seborrhoeic-dermatitis
5. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14403-seborrheic-dermatitis
6. https://patient.info/skin-conditions/seborrhoeic-dermatitis-leaflet
7. https://www.verywellhealth.com/seborrheic-dermatitis-7105838
8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seborrhoeic_dermatitis
9. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/scaly-skin/seborrheic-dermatitis

Seborrheic Dermatitis Information

1. https://www.bad.org.uk/pils/seborrhoeic-dermatitis/
2. https://cdn.bad.org.uk/uploads/2021/12/29200252/Seborrhoeic-Dermatitis-Update-April-2018-Lay-reviewed-April-2018.pdf
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551707/