Appearing on many people’s skin or scalp area, it causes redness, dandruff and itchy patches of scaly skin that may look greasy but can flake, especially when scratched. Let our expert providers help you diagnosis and control it.
Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin condition that causes a red, scaly, itchy rash typically on the scalp, eyebrows, or folds around the mouth and ears. Sometimes it appears near the belly button, armpits, breasts or groin. It’s not contagious, can clear and flare without any warning and occurs most often in infants and older adults. It’s more common in patients with a family history of this skin condition, or those with oily skin and hair.
Causes for seborrheic dermatitis have been believed to be from the yeast that lives on our skin. Excess oil on the skin encourages the yeast to grow, which causes inflammation, redness, and swelling, irritation, scaling, and flaking. The yeast is present on everyone’s skin, but only some patient’s bodies react to the yeast causing the rash. Common triggers for seborrheic dermatitis include stress, hormonal changes or illness, harsh detergents, solvents, chemicals and soaps, and cold, dry weather.
There is no cure for seborrheic dermatitis, but it can improve over time with treatments that help loosen scales, calm inflammation, reduce swelling, and curb itching. Over the counter topical treatments can help calm symptoms and keep skin clear. Prescription topical medications, such corticosteroid or anti fugal, can be prescribed by themselves or in combination for some patients. Oral antifungal medications are also available. Finally, immune system modifying creams can be beneficial. A combination of treatments might be needed to help maintain clear skin.
Get an appointment with one of our expert providers for seborrheic dermatitis treatment by calling 360-459-1700 or schedule online in our patient portal. We look forward to helping you create a skincare regimen that works and will lead to healthier, clearer skin.
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