What is Seborrheic Dermatitis? Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

If you or any of your loved ones are experiencing inflammation, flaking, and crusty scaling on the scalp or skin, they may be experiencing seborrheic dermatitis. The reason you have landed on this blog is most probably because you are looking for the best seborrheic dermatitis shampoo.

Before discussing which shampoo would be a great option, it is important to understand seborrheic dermatitis itself.

Understanding Seborrheic Dermatitis

Yes, we know how difficult it is to pronounce this word, and you might be thinking, what is seborrheic dermatitis pronunciation? Here is how you say it, seb-o-REE-ik der-muh-tie-tis. It is a common inflammatory skin condition that may cause scaly patches on the skin along with redness and inflammation.

It is a severe form of a common scalp issue, dandruff. Seborrheic dermatitis usually affects the oily areas of the body, or, you can say, body parts that have overactive sebaceous glands, such as the nose, eyebrows, and chest. However, it is most common on the scalp. 

Pictures of Seborrheic Dermatitis

In babies, seborrheic dermatitis usually appears as thick, greasy, white, or yellow scales that look quite similar to honeycomb. While in adults, the flakes are greasy but a little thinner than those in babies. 
As we discussed earlier, this condition usually affects the oily areas of the body. It is most common on:

Seborrheic Dermatitis Affected Areas

• Scalp 
• Behind the ears
• Eyebrows
• Around nose
• Neck
• Back
• Chest
• Armpits
• Diaper area

Common Symptoms of Seborrheic Dermatitis

This condition may flare up from time to time. The most common symptoms that you may experience during these flare-ups are:

• Flaky skin
• Dry skin
• Greasy patches of skin
• Crusty white or yellowish scales
• Rashes 
• Redness and inflammation 
• Itchy skin 
• Hairlessness where scaling occurs

The redness associated with this condition may vary depending on your skin tone. For example, it may appear purple or light brown on darker skin tones and pinkish on lighter skin tones.

What Causes Seborrheic Dermatitis 

The precise cause is yet unknown, though various studies have linked the condition to hormone levels, nutritional deficits, and neurogenic factors, as well as fungal infections and overactive sebum production. 

Most researchers believe that there are two main factors that trigger or play a part in developing seborrheic dermatitis. First is the production of oil or sebum on the skin. Sebaceous glands are present on our skin and produce sebum to keep the skin moist. 

However, when there is excess oil production on the skin due to any factor, such as hormonal changes or genetics can result in flaking and scaling of the skin.

You might wonder how oily skin can cause seborrheic dermatitis. The second contributing factor is your answer: the overproduction of Malassezia yeast on the skin. 

Malassezia, also known as pityrosporum, is naturally present on our skin. Excess oil production on the skin provides a breeding ground for Malassezia. When yeast and sebum combine, they can lead to inflammation, itching, and flaking.

Learn more about Seborrheic Dermatitis and Cradle Cap from award winning pediatrician Dr. Eddie Valenzuela.

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Infantile Seborrheic Dermatitis

When seborrheic dermatitis presents in babies, the condition is known as “cradle cap” or “pityriasis capitis” due to the appearance of scaling that extends from the baby’s scalp down to the eyebrows, much like a cap. 

This irritating condition affects roughly 42% of newborns. It most commonly arises during the first three months of life and disappears before the baby’s first birthday. However, it can reoccur during adolescence and into adulthood, especially during periods of sleeplessness or stress.

Learn everything you should know about cradle cap here.

Who’s at Risk?

Seborrheic dermatitis can affect anyone at any age. However, it is most common in babies under the age of 12 months and adults above the age of 50 years. According to the researchers around 11% of the population experiences seborrheic dermatitis at some point in their life. 

Even though this condition develops because of everything happening naturally on your skin, there are a few people who are more prone to developing it than others. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, some of these are:

• People who have oily skin type
• Men are more likely to experience it than women
• People with darker skin tone
• Those who have HIV infection
• People that have eczema, psoriasis, or rosacea
• Those with Parkinson’s disease, down syndrome, and neurological disorders. 

Can Seborrheic Dermatitis Cause Hair Loss?

No, seborrheic dermatitis can not directly cause hair loss and it has no connection with alopecia. However, the inflammation and itching caused by this condition may give you an urge to scratch your scalp.

This scratching can damage the hair follicles and make it easier for the hair to fall out. So if you have seborrheic dermatitis or dandruff, avoid scratching or picking on scales if you don’t want to lose hair. 

The good news is that hair loss is usually temporary, and your hair will grow normally once you soothe the symptoms. 

Atopic Dermatitis Vs Seborrheic Dermatitis

Both conditions may sound the same and belong to the family of eczema, yet they are very different from each other. Atopic dermatitis usually causes dry, itchy, inflamed patches of skin, while seborrheic dermatitis appears as greasy or oily scaly patches on skin. 

The treatment for both conditions is also quite different. For seborrheic dermatitis a medicated shampoo containing pyrithione zinc is usually advised. But for atopic dermatitis you need to follow a proper skin care routine.

Your eczema skincare routine must include an eczema shampoo and body wash to keep the skin clean and an eczema cream to moisturize the skin. If you are unsure which type of eczema you are experiencing, then it is best to consult a doctor. 

Tinea Capitis Vs Seborrheic Dermatitis

Tinea capitis, commonly known as scalp ringworm, is an infection that causes redness on the scalp and hair loss. It is caused by a fungus naturally present on the skin. It is more common in children. However, one can experience it at any stage of life. 

Ringworm is also often confused with seborrheic dermatitis due to its redness, inflammation, and scaly appearance. The most prominent differences between both conditions are that tinea capitis causes visible hair loss, usually in the shape of a ring and is contagious, while seborrheic dermatitis does not cause hair loss and is not contagious. 

Seborrheic Dermatitis Treatment

Although this condition can not be completely cured, proper treatment can easily tame its symptoms. In some cases, the condition gets better on its own by keeping the scalp clean with a medicated shampoo. 

While in severe seborrheic dermatitis cases, you may need to contact a doctor, and they may prescribe certain medications. 

Pyrithione Zinc Shampoo

With its well-documented antifungal and antibacterial properties, the pyrithione zinc compound is among the most common active ingredients used in dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis treatments. 

This ingredient has been used for decades to reduce the inflammation and scaling associated with seborrheic dermatitis. It helps control the production of Malassezia yeast on the skin and scalp, aids in eliminating the existing symptoms and prevents future scale build-ups. 

• Use pyrithione zinc seborrheic dermatitis shampoo twice or thrice a week. 
• Apply it to your scalp and let it rest for a few minutes.
• Gently rub your scalp or use a cradle cap brush to remove the excess scales. 
• Rinse your scalp thoroughly to remove the shampoo without leaving any residue behind.
• Pat dry your hair with a towel. 
• The doctor may prescribe its use daily when the scaling and flaking are severe. 

Medications

Most seborrheic dermatitis symptoms are reduced with the help of an over-the-counter medicated shampoo, but in more severe cases, prescription medications may be needed along with shampoo. Some common medications to control and reduce inflammation are corticosteroid creams, ointments, and gels that can be directly applied to the skin. Make sure that you only use them as advised by your doctor. Excess use can cause skin discoloration and skin thinning. 

Other options available to treat seborrheic dermatitis symptoms are anti-fungal medications, oral pills, calcineurin inhibitor, and PDE4 inhibitors like roflumilast or crisaborole. 

Medicated Shampoo For Seborrheic Dermatitis

Pediatricians regularly recommend adult anti-dandruff shampoos for this condition because they contain an FDA-approved active ingredient to control seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff. Until now, there has been no anti-seborrheic dermatitis shampoo or body wash for children.

Adults with sensitive skin also found their options limited regarding effective treatment options for seborrheic dermatitis. The sulfates (lathering ingredients), SLS and SLES, commonly found in popular dandruff shampoos, can be too harsh to use on many adult’s faces.

Practicing Houston Pediatrician Dr. Eddie Valenzuela was tired of prescribing these harsh anti-dandruff shampoos. He understood that patients and parents were not just looking for how to treat seborrheic dermatitis but how to do it safely.

So he developed a special Medicated shampoo and body wash for seborrheic dermatitis that can be used on the face, body, and scalp and by people of all ages even babies. This OTC shampoo and body is made with FDA-approved active ingredient pyrithione zinc, and other natural ingredients licorice root and apple fruit extract to soothe redness and with moisture infusing glycerin to smoothe skin.

Dr. Eddie’s Happy Cappy Medicated Shampoo and Body Wash is free from any skin-irritating chemicals such as fragrance, paraben, sulfate, and phthalates. It provides relief of skin and scalp itching, irritation, redness, flaking, and scaling associated with seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff.

Conclusion

If you or anyone around you are experiencing seborrheic dermatitis, also known as cradle cap in babies, then don’t worry it is a common skin condition that causes inflammation, redness, scaling and flaking on the scalp, behind the ears, on the back, chest, and in skin folds.

It is not contagious and harmful to the health. It can be managed by keeping the skin clean with a seborrheic dermatitis shampoo and cleanser that contains pyrithione zinc. Use a shampoo for seborrheic dermatitis on a daily basis when the symptoms are severe, and use it two or three times a week when the flaking subsides. 

If the scales are bothering you then use a cradle cap brush while shampooing your scalp to remove the excess scales. If your condition is not getting better with the use of a medicated shampoo, consult a dermatologist they may prescribe the use of other OTC medications along with the shampoo. 

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