Seborrhea, or seborrheic dermatitis, is a itchy, scaly skin condition that mainly affects the scalp. While not harmful, seborrhea can be very uncomfortable and cause very stubborn dandruff.
What are the symptoms of seborrhea?
You likely have seborrhea if you have thick crusting on your scalp, or flaky scales on your skin. You may also experience itchiness, soreness, and excessive dandruff.
What causes seborrhea?
Seborrhea cannot be limited to one exact cause, but there is a fungus called malassezia that grows with bacteria in the sebum – a secretion found on the skin. Stress can cause inflammation, as well as the changing of the seasons and some neurological conditions.
How do you treat seborrhea?
While seborrhea cannot be cured, there are certain treatments that can keep symptoms under control. For the scalp, certain dandruff shampoos can help curb the flaking and scaling of your scalp. Use daily until you have the symptoms under control, and then reduce usage to 2-3 times per week. If this does not work, see a doctor to have a prescription shampoo. On the rest of your body, you may find success with antifungal or anti-itch creams. Again, if this does not work, talk to your doctor about getting a prescription.
How do you prevent seborrhea?
Unfortunately, because there is no exact cause, there is nothing that can be done to prevent seborrhea.