Seborrheic dermatitis is a disease that can lead to hair loss. Seborrheic dermatitis most often affects people whose sebaceous glands produce excess sebum. But not only. Seborrheic dermatitis also happens to people with normal skin.
Seborrheic dermatitisin itself is not a he alth hazard, although it can be a signal of a serious illness. Most of all, however, seborrheicdermatitisof the head causes great discomfort associated with its ugly appearance andhair loss .
Symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis
The disease manifests as red itchy patches with a yellowish oily scales. The stains tend to blend together and widen towards the perimeter. In the middle, a yellow-brown discoloration is formed. Changes can also appear on the forehead, around the eyebrows and behind the ears. They are often accompanied by unpleasant itching and burning.
Seborrheic dermatitis - where does it come from
The causes of the disease are not fully understood. It most often affects people with seborrhea, i.e. an overproduction of sebum, so doctors assume that it is a risk factor. The development of the disease is also associated with the multiplication of Malassezia spp. Yeasts that normally live on the skin. When their amount increases significantly, the toxins produced by fungi and aggressive enzymes digesting sebum contribute to the inflammation of the skin.
Who gets seborrheic dermatitis
People in the puberty are the most vulnerable to the disease. Many people between the ages of 18 and 40 also get sick - 1-3 percent of the population. It attacks men more often than women.
Seborrhoeic dermatitis is promoted by immune and hormonal disorders, especially overproduction of androgens.
The disease often happens to people who are HIV-positive and suffer from AIDS and malignant neoplasms. It also affects people with mood disorders, depression and severe stress. Staying in overheated, air-conditioned rooms favors seborrheic dermatitis.
The disease worsens in autumn and winter. If you develop seborrheic dermatitis in someone with normal sebum production, the skin may have been irritated by contaminated air orcosmetics.
What are the consequences of seborrheic dermatitis?
The disease, if it occurs once, has a tendency to recur. It often includes parts of the body, besides the scalp, with sebaceous glands.
Frequent bouts of seborrheic dermatitis and severe symptoms may cause hair loss leading to focal or diffuse alopecia.
Fortunately, this kind of alopecia is reversible. After curing the skin disease and with proper care and changing the lifestyle to prevent its recurrence, hair grows back.
Treatment of seborrheic dermatitis
Treatment of this type of dermatitis requires the administration of anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal agents.
It is best to go to a dermatologist with the problem, who will make a proper diagnosis excluding, for example, tinea versicolor or psoriasis, which have similar symptoms. It will decide whether to administer appropriate topical agents to diseased skin or, if required by the severity of the disease, oral medications.