What is seborrheic dermatitis?

Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
Updated on September 25, 2024
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Seborrheic dermatitis, also known as seborrheic eczema, is a chronic, papular, scaly, superficial inflammatory skin disease that occurs in areas of sebaceous secretion. It commonly affects the head, face, chest, and back—areas rich in sebaceous glands—and is more frequently observed in adults and newborns. It may be accompanied by varying degrees of itching. The onset of this disease is generally believed to be related to increased sebum secretion or changes in its chemical composition. Additionally, colonization and infection by Malassezia yeast, as well as factors such as stress, diet, deficiency in B vitamins, and alcohol consumption, also variously influence the occurrence and development of the disease.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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How to Treat Seborrheic Dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis, also known as seborrheic eczema, is a chronic papular scaly superficial inflammatory skin disease that occurs in areas with excess sebum secretion. It can be accompanied by varying degrees of itching and typically occurs in areas with abundant sebaceous glands such as the scalp, face, chest, and back. The treatment generally includes three aspects: The first aspect involves advising patients to maintain a regular lifestyle, get sufficient sleep, avoid various mechanical stimuli, use less hot water and soap with high alkalinity for bathing, and pay attention to their diet by limiting and reducing the intake of polysaccharides and fats, alcohol, and spicy and irritating foods, while consuming more fruits and vegetables. The second aspect is the treatment with topical medications. Commonly used medications include mixed preparations containing corticosteroids and antifungal drugs, such as compound miconazole and compound econazole. If the effect is unsatisfactory, topical calcineurin inhibitors such as pimecrolimus or tacrolimus can be used. If there is exudation or erosion, zinc oxide ointment or erythromycin ointment can be chosen. For scalp lesions, shampoos containing ketoconazole or selenium sulfide can be used. The third aspect is the treatment with oral medications, which generally includes supplementation with B vitamins such as vitamin B2, vitamin B6, and compound vitamin B, or zinc-containing preparations. For severe itching, antihistamines can be taken orally. In cases of fungal infection or widespread lesions, oral itraconazole can be administered, and for bacterial infections, tetracycline or erythromycin can be prescribed.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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What department should I go to for seborrheic dermatitis?

Seborrheic dermatitis, also known as seborrheic eczema, is a chronic, papular, scaly superficial inflammatory skin disease that occurs in areas where sebum is excessively secreted. It is more common in adults and newborns, but can occur at any age. The main symptoms include follicular papules appearing on the scalp, face, chest, and back, which then merge into large, yellowish-red or dark red patches. These patches are covered with greasy scales and crusts, and may be accompanied by exudation, crusting, erosion, and eczema-like changes. In severe cases, it can spread throughout the body, causing diffuse erythema and significant scaling all over, along with varying degrees of itching. This disease is a chronic condition that can recur repeatedly. It is one of the most common diseases in dermatological practice. Therefore, patients with seborrheic dermatitis should consult a dermatologist.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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Why does seborrheic dermatitis keep recurring?

Seborrheic dermatitis, also known as seborrheic eczema, is a chronic, superficial, papular, scaly inflammatory skin disease that occurs in areas where sebum is excessively secreted, and can be accompanied by varying degrees of itching. The causes of the disease are generally believed to be related to an increase in sebum secretion or changes in the chemical composition of sebum, as well as colonization and infection by Malassezia yeast. Additionally, factors such as mental stress, diet, alcohol consumption, deficiency of B vitamins, fatigue, emotional stress, and infections can all affect the occurrence and development of the disease to varying degrees. Due to the complex causes and numerous triggers of seborrheic dermatitis, it has a chronic course and can recur repeatedly.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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Is seborrheic dermatitis eczema?

Seborrheic dermatitis, also known as seborrheic eczema, is not actually eczema. It is a chronic, papular, scaly superficial inflammatory skin disease that commonly occurs in areas rich in sebaceous glands, such as the head, face, and trunk, and can be accompanied by varying degrees of itching. The causes of this condition are primarily believed to be associated with increased sebum secretion or changes in the chemical composition of the cortex. It is also related to the colonization and infection of Malassezia, stress, diet, deficiency of B vitamins, alcohol consumption, and other factors. The characteristic rash consists of follicular papules that expand and merge into dark red or yellow-red patches, covered with oily scales or crusts. Exudation, crusting, and erosion can occur, resulting in eczema-like changes.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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What fruits to eat for seborrheic dermatitis?

Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic papular and scaly superficial inflammatory skin disease that occurs in areas of the skin where sebum is secreted, often accompanied by varying degrees of itching. The causes are generally believed to be related to increased sebum secretion or changes in its chemical composition, as well as colonization and infection by Malassezia. Other factors such as stress, diet, alcohol consumption, deficiency of B-complex vitamins, fatigue, emotional stress, infections, etc., can all influence the onset and development of the disease to varying degrees. Clinically, patients are advised to maintain regular life habits, ensure sufficient sleep, adjust their diet, limit polysaccharides and fats, avoid spicy and stimulating foods, avoid alcohol, and consume more vegetables and fruits. As for what types of fruits to eat, it is generally better to choose fruits rich in B-complex vitamins, such as tomatoes, bananas, grapes, kiwis, pears, walnuts, chestnuts, oranges, etc.