What should pregnant women do about seborrheic dermatitis?

Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
Updated on September 13, 2024
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Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic papular and squamous superficial inflammatory skin disease that occurs in areas where sebum is secreted, and it can be accompanied by varying degrees of itching. Pregnant women diagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis are generally treated primarily with topical medications. It is advisable to choose mild, safe ointments with low irritability for external application. Safe antibiotic ointments, traditional Chinese medicine ointments, or ointments primarily for moisturizing and repairing the skin barrier can be used. Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor. Additionally, pregnant women should be informed to maintain a regular lifestyle, get enough sleep, limit diets high in polysaccharides and fats, avoid spicy and irritating foods, eat more vegetables and fruits, avoid various forms of mechanical irritation, and use less hot water and strongly alkaline soaps for bathing.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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How to treat infant seborrheic dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis, also known as seborrheic eczema, is a chronic papular squamous superficial inflammatory skin disease that occurs in areas of sebum secretion. It is more commonly found in adults and newborns and can be accompanied by varying degrees of itching. In infants, seborrheic dermatitis generally occurs from the 2nd to the 10th week after birth, with common sites being the scalp, face, nasolabial folds, nasal hair area, around the ears, and in skin folds. The rash typically appears as greasy red patches, or may be covered with greasy gray-yellow or brown-yellow thick crusts. In severe cases, there might be erosion and exudation. The condition generally diminishes or even heals within two months, though in very rare cases, the rash may suddenly spread throughout the body, causing diffuse erythema and significant desquamation. This is known as seborrheic erythroderma, which represents a severe stage of the disease. Treatment mainly involves the use of topical medications, focusing on mild, safe, and low-irritant drugs for application. Commonly used medications include zinc oxide oil, antibiotic ointments, traditional Chinese medicine ointments, tacrolimus ointment, and pimecrolimus cream. Additionally, it is important to advise the parents to ensure the baby has a regular lifestyle with sufficient sleep and to avoid various mechanical irritations. It is also recommended to use less hot water and harsh alkaline soaps for bathing.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
1min 4sec home-news-image

What should pregnant women do about seborrheic dermatitis?

Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic papular and squamous superficial inflammatory skin disease that occurs in areas where sebum is secreted, and it can be accompanied by varying degrees of itching. Pregnant women diagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis are generally treated primarily with topical medications. It is advisable to choose mild, safe ointments with low irritability for external application. Safe antibiotic ointments, traditional Chinese medicine ointments, or ointments primarily for moisturizing and repairing the skin barrier can be used. Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor. Additionally, pregnant women should be informed to maintain a regular lifestyle, get enough sleep, limit diets high in polysaccharides and fats, avoid spicy and irritating foods, eat more vegetables and fruits, avoid various forms of mechanical irritation, and use less hot water and strongly alkaline soaps for bathing.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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What are the symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis?

Seborrheic dermatitis, also known as seborrheic eczema, is a chronic, superficial inflammatory skin disease characterized by papular and scaly inflammation that occurs in areas of sebum secretion. It can be associated with varying degrees of itching and is commonly seen in adults and newborns. The main symptoms include hair follicle papules appearing in areas of sebum secretion such as the scalp, face, chest, and back, which then merge into dark red or yellow-red patches. These patches are covered with greasy scales and crusts, which can lead to exudation, crusting, and erosion, manifesting eczematous changes. In severe cases, the lesions can spread throughout the body, leading to diffuse erythema and significant desquamation. At this stage, it is referred to as seborrheic erythroderma. This condition is chronic and may have recurrent episodes.

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Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
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How to deal with seborrheic dermatitis?

For seborrheic dermatitis, topical application of some corticosteroid medications like desonide ointment or hydrocortisone butyrate cream can be utilized. However, it is important to avoid prolonged, excessive use on the more delicate facial skin. In cases of oozing or erosion, treatments such as boric acid solution or saline can be used for wet compresses. Additionally, for seborrheic dermatitis, one may also choose calcineurin inhibitors like tacrolimus ointment or pimecrolimus cream. If severe itching occurs with seborrheic dermatitis, symptomatic itch relief should be provided, primarily through oral antihistamines such as desloratadine dispersible tablets or cetirizine hydrochloride tablets. Treatment can also include traditional Chinese medicine based on differential diagnosis.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
1min 52sec home-news-image

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.