It is said that skin diseases are taboo diseases, because for many patients they are still an embarrassing topic. When skin lesions appear on the arms, legs or stomach - they can be hidden under clothes and avoid irritating glances and questions. Those that attack the skin of the face and scalp cannot be effectively hidden. However, they can be treated effectively and their symptoms can be relieved. Which diseases of the face and scalp are the most common and how to deal with them?
What does the skin suffer from?
Let's start with the fact that skin diseases are one of the largest and most diverse groups of human diseases. This is indicated by the very definition. Because really: skin diseases (otherwise: dermatoses) are primarily skin diseases. But skin diseases can affect both the surface of the epidermis and the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, as well as the so-called appendages, i.e. sweat glands, sebaceous glands, hair follicles and nails. (1) Moreover, in the course of dermatoses, the disease process can also involve blood vessels, lymph vessels and nerve endings.
In order to systematize all dermatoses, they were divided into subgroups in terms of such parameters as:
- etiology, i.e. the cause of the disease - and here it is distinguished, among others, by bacterial, fungal, viral, parasitic, allergic, genetic, autoimmune dermatoses etc.,
- localization of lesions - it is about diseases such as sebaceous glands, sweat glands, hair and nails, mucous membranes, etc.
- type of skin lesions, e.g. erythematous, follicular, bullous diseases, psoriasis etc.,
- characteristic microscopic image, e.g. malignant neoplasms and granulomas,
- human life cycle - skin diseases typical of the newborn, infant and senile period,
- additional symptom in the course of childhood viral disease - e.g. skin changes in measles, chickenpox and rubella. (2)
The diagnosis of skin diseases is based on the correct assessment and differentiation of the main symptom of dermatoses, i.e. skin lesions. These changes are called eruptions and are divided into: primary and secondary (3), as well as the so-called imposed skin conditions, i.e. those eruptions that cannot be classified as either primary or primary eruptionssecondary. (4)
Epidemiological studies show that every third adult Pole is currently ill or suffered from a skin disease in the past. (5)
What is the most common disease of the face and scalp?
Although skin diseases are among the most common, written about and much talked about, this topic is rarely raised in private conversations. These diseases often lead to a reduction in the quality of everyday life and a sense of stigmatization.
This is especially true when the disease affects the scalp and face. And the dermatoses that show up in such visible places are one of the most common. Among them, the infamous leader are the so-calledseborrheic diseases .
Where do seborrheic diseases come from?
Skin sebum , otherwise known as:sebum , is a natural protective barrier of the epidermis produced by the sebaceous glands on the entire surface of the skin except for the hands and Stop. (6) It happens, however, that the sebaceous glands secrete too much sebum and instead of protecting it, it becomes the cause of serious skin diseases - the so-called seborrheic diseases.
Excessive sebum production is called seborrhea. It is most pronounced in the parts of the skin with the most glands (7), i.e. on the face, scalp and upper torso. As much as 99% of lesions are located in the exposed areas of the skin of the face, neckline and arms. (8) The skin at seborrhoea is oily, shiny, with dilated openings of the sebaceous glands, filled with sebaceous masses. (9)
The tendency to seborrhoea is a genetic trait, but it also depends on the influence of sex hormones, and more precisely on the adverse effect of androgens and progesterone, and on the beneficial effect of estrogens. Seborrhea is especially intense in the period of puberty and menopause, with hormonal disorders and metabolic disorders. (10)
The regulation of sebum secretion is influenced by factors such as (11):
- stress,
- androgen excess
- and vitamin deficiency: A, E, B2, PP, C.
The most common seborrhoeic diseases include:acneandseborrheic dermatitis , which is mild in formdandruff.
Acne: what is it and how is it treated?
Acne as a disease occurs in many varieties, but most often in the form of acne vulgaris and rosacea.
Common acne(from LatinAcne vulgaris ) affects approx. 80 percent of population, and it most often affects adolescents in the period of sexual maturation, i.e. around 11-17 years of age. The most common causes of acne vulgaris are in facthormonal changes that occur in the body during this period of life. Boys suffer from this disease more often than girls. (12)
Common acne is defined as chronic sebaceous glands and hair follicle mouths. The main symptoms of this disease are: seborrhea, formation of blackheads, pimples and papules, as well as scars remaining after skin lesions. (13)
Rosaceais a chronic and incurable disease, affecting approx. 10 percent. of the population, mostly in the 30-60 age range. (14)
The cause of this disease is not fully known. It is suspected that its sources may be autoimmune factors and the so-called vasomotor disorders, as well as infections with arachnids living on the skin. There are also many factors that can stimulate the symptoms of the disease. These include, among others :
- moisture, wind, solar radiation,
- stress and strong emotions,
- hormonal changes,
- smoking and drinking alcohol. (15)
In the course of rosacea, unsightly erythematous, lumpy and pustular eruptions appear on the face. Additional possible symptoms are: swelling of the eyelids and conjunctival hyperaemia, as well as subjective feelings of patients, e.g. burning, stinging, itching. (16)
Dandruff: what is it and how is it treated?
Dandruff(otherwise:seborrheic eczema ) is the mildest form of the disease called:seborrheic dermatitis (PsA) , therefore these three names are often used interchangeably.
PsA is a common inflammatory disease with a cyclical course, appearing in the seborrheic areas, and consisting of superficial, fine-flaked exfoliation or the formation of yellow, oily scales. (17) When the disease takes the form of white scales, small like fluff or snow, it is called dry dandruff, and when it manifests with oily scales - it is called oily dandruff.
The typical location of dandruff is on the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, face, the auricles, the area of the sternum and the area between the shoulder blades. (18)
The disease is caused by excessive activity of the sebaceous glands and concomitant infection with the yeast-like fungus Malassezia furfur ( Pityrosporum ovale ). (19)
There are also many triggers for this disease, which are:
- stress, fatigue,
- weather extremes,
- infrequent washing of the head,
- using cosmetics containing alcohol,
- seborrhea and acne vulgaris,
- obesity, malnutrition,
- abusealcohol,
- neurological diseases, e.g. Parkinson's disease,
- HIV infection. (20)
Seborrheic diseases: management and skin care
Seborrhoea and the consequent seborrheic diseases cannot be completely eliminated, but it is possible to reduce their severity through appropriate treatment.
For the treatment to be more effective, we should respond appropriately when the first symptoms of the disease appear. It is then recommended:
- diet modification - one with a lot of vitamins, proteins, mineral s alts, with a limited amount of fats, sugars, spicy spices and stimulants,
- lifestyle change - avoiding stressful situations. (21)
If the above efforts are not effective, we should consult a dermatologist. Adequate nutrition is also part of the treatment of seborrheic diseases, so your doctor will most likely advise you to continue the changed diet. It can also introduce vitamins, oral medications and antifungal preparations into the therapy. (22) These preparations are various types of creams and therapeutic shampoos dedicated to seborrheic acne care or to treat dandruff at various stages of its advancement.