Red dandruff (full name red follicle dandruff) refers to the mouths of the hair follicles. So far, no cause of this disease has been known, so it is referred to as idiopathic. What are the symptoms of red dandruff and how is it treated?

Red follicular dandruffcan affect anyone, but most often it affects two age groups: young children and adults.

Sometimes the disease is family type. Most often it is revealed from an early age. Due to the pervasive nature of the disease, it is believed that red follicle dandruff occurs when keratosis is disturbed.

Red dandruff varieties

In adults, more than half of the cases of red follicular dandruff occur in the classical form. It usually lasts up to five years, and suddenly appears as typical follicular lesions of an erythematous and exfoliating nature, accompanied by fragments of completely he althy skin.

Dandruff is a disease that primarily affects the scalp. It consists in exfoliation of the callous layer of the epidermis and may be accompanied by seborrhea.

In addition to the classical form, a small percentage of adult patients suffer from atypical red dandruff. Then the skin disease is chronic, with a mild and slow onset, and may also be accompanied by alopecia areata.

In children, in addition to the classic and atypical variants, there is also the restricted form, which is probably the most common in this age group. The limited form of red follicular dandruff is located near the joints (elbows and knees) and is chronic. The classic form resembles the same character in adults, and the atypical form is limited only to the hands and soles and is the least common.

Red dandruff: characteristics and location

Typically red follicular dandruff appears as numerous follicular papules and erythematous spots. These lesions are scaled and surrounded by at least a few tiny islands of he althy, smooth skin. Red dandruff can be found in many areas of the body. It often begins on the scalp, nasolabial folds and browbones. It is characterized by an intense red colorin color and is covered with coarse crusts. Due to its appearance and location, it can sometimes resemble changes occurring in seborrheic dermatitis.

In other areas of the body, red follicle dandruff initially presents as pinkish salmon patches, which then develop into lumps and crusts.

Red follicular dandruff very often also attacks the surfaces of the palms and soles and then appears as hyperkeratotic salmon-colored eruptions.

The accompanying pruritus is also characteristic of red dandruff.

This disease can also affect the area of ​​the nails, causing various discoloration and thickening of the nail plate.

In extreme cases, red follicle dandruff can develop into erythroderma, that is, a generalized disease process that covers the entire area of ​​the skin, where redness and peeling appear on more than 90% of the body surface.

Red dandruff diagnosis

The key element in the diagnosis of red dandruff is the clinical picture and its correct interpretation. Red dandruff changes can often resemble seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, and lichen planus, while in children it can be misdiagnosed as atopic dermatitis. The most common key elements in the diagnosis of red dandruff are islets of he althy skin, salmon-colored lesions, involvement of the hands and soles, and the initial nature of the lesions that appear in the form of exfoliating papules. In the event of diagnostic difficulties, histopathological examination of the pathologically changed skin section may be helpful. This makes it possible to distinguish red follicle dandruff from psoriasis, which is very important as the treatment and course of these two diseases are very different.

Treatment of red follicle dandruff

Red follicle dandruff makes the skin very sensitive to external factors and can be irritated more quickly, so it should be properly protected. The key aspect in the treatment of red follicle dandruff seems to be proper lubrication and hydration of the skin, because then it regains its proper protective barrier, making it less prone to any damage.

Red dandruff treatment can be local and systemic.

Local therapy is based mainly on the use of ointments containing glucocorticosteroids and various types of dressings. Oral acitretin remains the treatment of choice, however. It is a drug that regulates the renewal, differentiation and keratinization of the epidermis. It enters ininteraction with many substances and can cause various side effects, therefore such therapy should always be selected individually to the patient's needs and constantly monitored by a doctor. This drug is absolutely contraindicated in pregnant and breastfed women as it crosses the placenta and into breast milk.

Patients treated with acitretin should have regular monitoring of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism and liver function. In children, it is necessary to monitor the parameters of growth and ossification, as acitretin may interfere with these processes. Other systemic drugs that can be used in patients with red follicle dandruff are methotrexate and cyclosporine.

The course and prognosis of red follicular dandruff

It should be remembered that the treatment of red follicle dandruff is a long-term process and a long time must pass before the effects of the therapy are satisfactory. The classic form is usually treated in children after about a year, while in adults, improvement is most often noticed after a few years. The remaining forms of red follicle dandruff are more resistant to treatment, and their chronic nature means that a complete cure is practically never achieved.

Category:

Dermatology