Seborrhea: Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Remedies

If you have oily skin on the face or elsewhere on your body, then you are at risk of suffering from what’s referred to as seborrhea. It is actually a form of eczema, and it can affect people of any ages including infants. Seborrhea is not contagious even though it may look like it.

Continue reading to know some of the most important things you need to know about seborrhea. Make sure that you repost this article on your various social media sites afterwards so that you family members and friends, too, may get to know seborrhea more.

Causes

Basically, seborrhea appears on areas of the face and body where there are lots of oils. It can definitely show up on parts where there’s a lot of hair, such as on the scalp and chest of men. It’s for the fact hair strands each come with its own sebaceous gland that secretes sebum or what’s known to many as skin oil. Seborrhea can be caused by excessive amounts of sebum.

Aside from too much sebum, skin experts say that yeast can also be blamed for seborrhea. Yeast, which is actually a type of fungus, is normally found on the human skin. However, the presence of excessive amounts of sebum can cause the microorganism to multiply uncontrollably.

It is said that the genes and hormones are role players in the development of seborrhea as they can have a direct effect on sebum production. The climate can be blamed, too, as evidenced by the fact that seborrhea is more commonly experienced during months of the year when the air is cold and dry as it prompts the sebaceous glands to churn out more sebum in order to keep the skin from drying up.

Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of seborrhea may vary slightly, depending on where it is found. Basically, it causes the skin to appear red and inflamed. The presence of pink-colored patches is commonly observed in individuals sporting dark skin. Seborrhea is commonly characterized by the presence of crusty scales that can be white or yellowish in color.

Other than looking nasty, seborrhea can feel awful as well. Such can cause itchiness and sometimes a burning sensation, too. Scratching is a terrible idea as it may break the skin and cause an infection, something that is referred to by doctors as a secondary infection which requires treatment.

Just like what’s mentioned earlier, seborrhea can affect various areas of the body where there’s a lot of sebum. It’s for this reason why it commonly seen on the scalp. It also commonly affects the scalp of infants, and it is what’s known as cradle cap.

Remedies

Instead of reducing sebum production, dealing with seborrhea focuses on reducing inflammation, itchiness and those crusty scales. Mild cases of seborrhea usually entail the application of OTC antifungal cream since yeast, which is partly to blame for the skin condition, is a form of fungus. In softening the scales, cream containing coal tar, sulfur or salicylic acid may be used.

Seborrhea that affects the scalp may be treated with the use of medicated dandruff shampoo. It is recommended for the product to be used alternately with regular shampoo until the signs and symptoms of seborrhea go away.

A doctor may prescribe topically used steroids in severe cases of seborrhea in order to put inflammation and most of the other signs and symptoms under control. It’s important to note that topical steroids should only be used when there is a flare up. Since steroids are not meant for long-term use and not all people can use them, other topical medications may be prescribed as well.

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