Seborrhoeic dermatitis

Seborrhoeic dermatitis is a fungal infection, occasionally linked to AIDS.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis tends to cause great flakiness of the scalp and the snow-like fallout can be very distressing.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis is a red, scaly, itchy rash that commonly occurs on the face and the scalp, where it causes flaking of the skin. It is a fungal infection and outbreaks may also be triggered by stress or illness.

The red skin and thick patches of yellowish scales on top of a baby's head are typical of cradle cap. The condition is harmless and usually disappears of its own accord without any treatment but you can prevent build-up of scale by washing the hair and scalp regularly.

Dandruff (also called ‘pityriasis capitis') is an uninflamed form of seborrhoeic dermatitis. Dandruff presents as scaly patches scattered within hair-bearing areas of the scalp.

Cause of Seborrhoeic dermatitis

Its cause is unclear, but may be related to a fungal infection. The Malassezia species of yeasts have been implicated in several skin conditions including seborrhoeic dermatitis. Tiredness and stress can sometimes trigger a flare of seborrhoeic dermatitis. It is not related to diet. It is more common in cold than in warm weather.

Symptoms of Seborrhoeic dermatitis

The areas of the body that tend to be affected are where there are the most skin glands which make the sebum. Therefore the condition mainly affects the more 'greasy' areas of the skin such as the scalp, the forehead and the central parts of the face. Other areas which are sometimes affected are the front and back of the chest, the armpits, under breasts, and the groins.

Treatmnet and Cure of Seborrhoeic dermatitis

There is no cure for seborrhoeic dermatitis. However, it can be kept under control. The treatment depends on which part of the body is involved. Treatment will need to be repeated from time to time. If the problem is mainly affecting your scalp then shampoos containing Ketoconazole or tar based preparations should be effective and your pharmacist can advise about suitable preparations.

Generally, you would need to treat the problem twice weekly for 1 month. It often takes 2-4 weeks to completely clear the dandruff or rash. Keep using the treatment for a few days after the dandruff or rash have cleared.

Test tube research indicates that tea tree oil may also be effective against seborrhoeic dermatitis, but it is not known how this would translate into dosage of the essential oil

Home remedy for Seborrhoeic dermatitis

Gently rubbing some olive oil into the scalp, leaving it overnight, and then washing the hair the following morning helps to loosen the scales from the scalp. Using a medicated anti-dandruff shampoo that contains zinc or selenium is usually the first recommendation by doctors. Often infection with a fungus is present so it's worth using an anti-fungal shampoo instead of your usual shampoo two to three times a week.