Seborrheic dermatitis refers to a chronic inflammatory skin disease that causes itching, eczema, and dandruff, as well as red spots, in various areas with well-developed sebaceous glands, such as the forehead, scalp, and hair, as well as the facial skin. Seborrheic dermatitis, also called seborrheic eczema, occurs most frequently within the first 3 months of life and between 40 and 70 years of age. There is no difference between the sexes, but it is known that it occurs more often in men in adults.
Although the main cause of seborrheic dermatitis has not yet been clearly identified, it is estimated that several factors, such as genetic factors due to family history, infections caused by fungi and bacteria, and the influence of hormones, influence the occurrence. In addition, various factors such as mental stress, sleep disturbance, smoking, excessive drinking, and irregular eating habits disturb the immune system and cause a decrease in the function of immune cells in the skin.
In addition, changes in temperature and humidity are also among the main factors affecting the occurrence and worsening of seborrheic dermatitis. For this reason, it is reported that the skin becomes dry due to low temperature and humidity, which occurs a lot in autumn and winter, and the symptoms worsen. Now, let’s learn about the main symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis, and various information about treatment and prevention.
Main symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis
When symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis occur, erythema, a red spot of various shapes and sizes, appears on the scalp, around the nose, eyebrows, and ears. It can also be accompanied by erythema, keratin, eczema, and severe itching. In severe cases, balance occurs in the area where the skin overlaps, and thick crusts and oozes may form at the same time. In addition, if seborrheic dermatitis occurs on the scalp, dandruff may occur due to the loss of the epidermis, and if the symptoms get worse, the symptoms will spread not only to the face and scalp but also to the whole body, but also severe odors due to secondary bacterial infection. It may happen.
It is easy to be mistaken for seborrheic dermatitis because the initial symptoms are similar to acne caused by the accumulation of sebum in the hair follicles. If the treatment is delayed or neglected because it is confused with acne, the symptoms will worsen and cause great inconvenience in life, as well as secondary infections and chronic diseases, making treatment more difficult. . In addition, in the case of seborrheic dermatitis occurring on the scalp, it can lead to hair loss, so early diagnosis and treatment are very important.
Treatment and prevention of seborrheic dermatitis
1. Diagnosis and treatment using drugs
For seborrheic dermatitis, an accurate examination is performed to identify characteristic lesions and differentiate it from other skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. After the diagnosis of seborrheic dermatitis, drug treatment is performed in consideration of age and symptoms. Since seborrheic dermatitis has no concept of a cure, treatment is carried out with the concept of controlling and managing symptoms. Medication is treated with primary drugs such as topical steroids, antifungals, and topical calcineurin inhibitors, and other drugs are considered for treatment depending on whether symptoms improve. Even if the symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis have improved after treatment with these drugs, if excessive stress, fatigue, or scalp irritation occurs, relapse easily occurs and the symptoms may worsen. The implementation of lifestyle habits to reduce it can be said to be as important as treatment.
2. Keep skin and hair clean
In the prevention and management of seborrheic dermatitis, it is important to keep the skin and hair clean at all times. In particular, keeping the area that secretes a lot of sebum clean is the most important part in preventing seborrheic dermatitis. However, it is recommended to control the use of oily ointments, cosmetics, and products with too strong cleansing power, as they can cause skin damage. In addition, excessive use of soap with strong cleaning power can also cause worsening of symptoms, so it is recommended to reduce the number of uses, and it is recommended to limit the use of alcohol-based shaving lotions used after shaving. In addition, it is recommended to limit the use of products such as gels or sprays applied to the hair as they may cause irritation to the scalp and cause worsening of symptoms. It is recommended to wash it off quickly.
3. Implementation of lifestyle to enhance immunity
As immunity weakened by various environmental factors is known to be the main cause of seborrheic dermatitis, it is also very important to implement various lifestyle habits such as sufficient rest and sleep to enhance immunity. In addition, as immunity is most directly related to the foods you consume every day, it is important to consume a variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, such as vitamins C and B, and various vegetables, fruits, and blue-green fish on a regular basis.
In addition, various factors such as excessive intake of various foods containing stimulant simple sugars and artificial seasonings, excessive mental stress, smoking, and excessive drinking also lower immunity and act as the main cause of aggravation of symptoms as well as recurrence. It can be said that reducing and controlling is important.
