Seborrheic dermatitis, popularly called dandruff, is a skin disorder that causes scaling and reddening of the skin that is very common in the first few weeks of the baby's life but may also appear in adulthood, especially in people with skin problems.
Although seborrheic dermatitis is more common on the scalp, it can also appear on the face, especially in the more fatty places like nose, forehead, corners of the mouth or eyebrows, for example.
Seborrheic dermatitis, in some cases, may have no cure, so it often occurs several times throughout life. However, the symptoms can be controlled with some special hygiene care, such as avoiding to wash the hair with very hot water, or use some remedies or shampoos indicated by the dermatologist.
Check out 7 habits that may be making dandruff worse and avoid it.
What shampoos and ointments to use
The best shampoos to treat seborrheic dermatitis are anti-dandruff shampoos that can be bought in pharmacies and in some supermarkets. Generally, this type of shampoo should contain ingredients such as:
- Tar from coal : Plytar, PsoriaTrax or Tarflex;
- Ketoconazole : Nizoral, Lozan, Medicasp or Medley Ketoconazole;
- Salicylic acid : Ionil T, Pielus or Klinse;
- Selenium Sulfide : Caspacil, Selsun or Flora Selenium;
- Zinc pyrithionate: Payot or Pharmapele with zinc pyrithione.
In the most severe cases, where these shampoos fail to prevent the onset of seborrheic dermatitis seizures on the scalp, one should consult a dermatologist to assess the need to use corticosteroids, such as Betnovate capillary or Diprosalic solution, for example.
When dermatitis appears in other places of the body, such as the face, it is always recommended to consult the dermatologist because it is usually necessary to use an antifungal ointment such as Ketoconazole or a corticoid ointment such as Desonide or Hydrocortisone.
See also some natural remedies that you can prepare at home to combat excess dandruff.
What to do in the baby's case
Seborrheic dermatitis in the baby is called the crust and is not usually a serious condition. This type of dermatitis appears before three months of age and never after the first year of life, occurring on the scalp and eyebrows as well as in the folds of the legs, for example.
The treatment for seborrheic dermatitis in the baby consists of humidifying the crusts with slightly warm oil and removing them with the help of a proper thin comb. After the procedure, an ointment based on petroleum jelly or zinc oxide should be passed.
In rare cases, a secondary infection with the formation of pustules and yellowish crusts with secretion may develop at the dermatitis site. In these cases, one should consult the pediatrician because it may be necessary to use some antibiotic antibiotics.
How to speed up the treatment
Although the treatment can be done with shampoos or ointments prescribed by the dermatologist, there are some precautions that help to accelerate the process and that prevent dermatitis from recurring so frequently. Some of these care include:
- Keep the skin always clean and dry, as well as the hair;
- Remove the shower gel, shampoo and conditioner after bath;
- Do not use too hot water to bathe;
- Decrease your intake of alcohol and fatty foods such as fried foods, sausages, cakes or chocolate;
- Avoid stressful situations like fighting with someone or leaving important work to do.
In addition, it may be still beneficial to bet on a diet with anti-inflammatory foods that help strengthen the immune system and eliminate dermatitis, such as salmon, almonds, sunflower seeds or lemon, for example. Learn about the best diet for treating seborrheic dermatitis.
