Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin condition that mainly affects the scalp. It causes scaly patches, red skin and persistent dandruff. It can also affect other parts of the body where the skin produces fat or oil, such as the face, nose, eyebrows, ears, eyelids, and chest. Not only that, but it is easy to confuse with dandruff, but that is not entirely correct. Dandruff is actually a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis. With seborrheic dermatitis, the flakes are often somewhat yellowish and have a waxy/greasy feel. It is estimated to affect 5% of the population. Different names are used for seborrheic dermatitis, such as eczema seborrhoicum and seborrhoeic eczema.
If seborrheic dermatitis persists, it can have a negative effect on scalp health
Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin condition that mainly affects the scalp. It causes scaly patches, red skin and persistent dandruff. It can also affect other parts of the body where the skin produces fat or oil, such as the face, nose, eyebrows, ears, eyelids, and chest. Not only that, but it is easy to confuse with dandruff, but that is not entirely correct. Dandruff is actually a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis. With seborrheic dermatitis, the flakes are often somewhat yellowish and have a waxy/greasy feel. It is estimated to affect 5% of the population. Different names are used for seborrheic dermatitis, such as eczema seborrhoicum and seborrhoeic eczema.
If seborrheic dermatitis persists, it can have a negative effect on scalp health
Seborrheic dermatitis usually develops at the beginning of puberty and is not contagious. The eczema occurs because the skin fat, or sebum, changes. When this sebum changes, the yeast cells on the skin are likely to grow faster. Everyone has yeast cells on the skin. But if there are many, they can cause inflammation of the skin. The course of seborrheic dermatitis is variable, alternating quiet periods with times when it is more active.
Causes and prevention
It is not known exactly what causes seborrhoeic dermatitis. However, it is known that the yeast Malassezia furfur plays an important role. This yeast is found on the skin in many people, but it causes an inflammatory reaction in some. Other causes may include:
Stress
Genes
Specified medical conditions and medications
Cold, dry weather
An immune system response
Not only can stress and cold be a cause, it can also make dermatitis worse. So it is important to be mindful of these causes and counteract them whenever possible, so at least you don't make it worse. It is also common in babies. About 70% of all newborns can suffer from it.
It is important to note that seborrhoeic dermatitis is not caused by allergies or poor hygiene.
Seborrheic dermatitis and hair loss
Seborrheic dermatitis is generally a chronic condition. You will always have to monitor and treat it. As indicated earlier, it can flare up in periods. If it persists for a long time, it can also have a negative effect on scalp health. It is herein where hair loss is associated with dermatitis. Increased oil production causes irritation and inflammation of the scalp, leading to severe itching. Scratching the skin can damage hair follicles, hindering natural hair growth and leading to hair loss.
Happily, there are plenty of ways to tackle the flaking and itching caused by seborrheic dermatitis. The most well-known drug that works well against it is called ketoconazole. This is an antifungal drug with a proven effect against dandruff and fungi. It does mention mild side effects when using this drug in shampoos. In some cases, people experience skin complaints such as itching, burning, redness and flaking. It is also not wise to discontinue treatment abruptly. This again causes irritation because the skin has become accustomed to the drug. Another option is called Piroctone olamine. It has a similar action to ketoconazole and is also known under the brand name 'Octopirox'.
In addition to the above remedies, corticosteroids are often recommended for treating various scalp problems due to their anti-inflammatory properties. While corticosteroids can be effective in treating various scalp problems, it is important to use them properly and under the supervision of a doctor. This is because prolonged or excessive use of corticosteroids can lead to serious side effects, such as thinning of the skin.
Effective treatments for scalp problems
Neofollics shampoo is a shampoo that contains Piroctone olamine and also promotes hair growth. Besides 12 hair growth-stimulating ingredients, this shampoo also tackles scalp problems such as seborrhoeic dermatitis. It soothes the scalp, is effective against dandruff and lays the foundation for healthy hair growth.
The Scalp Therapy package from Neofollics offers relief to various scalp conditions, including seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, dandruff, flaking and irritated scalp. This package includes an Exfoliating Shampoo, a Nourishing Mask and a Peeling Serum.
The Peeling Serum is designed for severe scalp problems.
The shampoo with nourishing ingredients is specifically designed to provide relief for a number of scalp conditions.
The leave-in nourishing mask provides complete care.
Do you only suffer from itching? Then using the shampoo is enough. The Exfoliating Shampoo is clinically proven to bring relief due to its high concentration of active ingredients.
Any doubts about the severity of your scalp disorder? Please feel free to contact our customer service team. If we cannot work it out together,then we will refer you to your GP.
The Exfoliating Scalp Therapy Shampoo is clinically proven to bring relief due to its high concentration of active ingredients.
The shampoo is suitable for both men and women.
Neofollics exfoliating shampoo is part of a scalp treatment
The Peeling Serum is designed for severe scalp problems.
The shampoo with nourishing ingredients is specifically designed to provide relief for a number of scalp conditions.
The leave-in nourishing mask provides complete care.
The Scalp Therapy products can be used as a course of treatment, often achieving the desired results within 3–4 weeks. After this initial period, you can switch to a maintenance dose. For example, instead of using all products several times a week, you can use only the Exfoliating Shampoo once a week to maintain the good condition of your scalp. If the scalp problems have disappeared after the cure and using the maintenance dose, they usually stay away. If the issues do return, you can consider another course of treatment. In fact, the products can be used for a long time due to the mild ingredients.
Pieter has been working for Hairgivers as a content writer for several years. He writes daily about hair loss, scalp...
Pieter has been working for Hairgivers as a content writer for several years. He writes daily about hair loss, scalp problems and best treatments for thinning hair. As a result, he closely follows news about the hair growth industry.
