What is it?
Seborrhoeic dermatitis (also spelt seborrheic dermatitis) is a form of skin inflammation that usually occurs on the scalp, face or torso, in or around areas that naturally produce an oily substance known as sebum. It is also called dandruff, seborrhoeic eczema, seborrhoeic psoriasis, and in infants it’s often called cradle cap.
What are the symptoms?
Seborrheic dermatitis signs and symptoms may include:
- Skin flakes (dandruff) on your scalp, hair, eyebrows, beard or mustache.
- Patches of greasy skin covered with flaky white or yellow scales or crust on the scalp, face, sides of the nose, eyebrows, ears, eyelids, chest, armpits, groin area or under the breasts.
- Red skin.
- Itching.
The signs and symptoms may be more severe if you’re stressed, and they tend to flare in cold, dry seasons.
What to expect?
The main treatments for seborrheic dermatitis are medicated shampoos, creams and lotions. These are often prescribed by your doctor. However, you can try the following:
- Over-the-counter dandruff shampoos.
- Soften and remove scales from your hair. Apply mineral oil or olive oil to your scalp. Leave it in for an hour or so. Then comb or brush your hair and wash it.
- Wash your skin regularly. However, avoid long hot showers, as this causes your skin to dry, making your condition worse.
- Avoid using harsh soaps or hair products with alcohol.