RED, FLAKY SKIN PATCHES:
LEARN MORE ABOUT SEBORRHEIC DERMATITIS AND HOW TO CURE IT

Article Read Duration 4 الدقائق المستغرقة للقراءة

Seborrheic dermatitis affects areas rich in sebaceous (oil-producing) glands: The face, scalp and chest. It causes patches of red, flaking skin with surface white or yellow scaling. In infants, it is known as cradle cap. Where does seborrheic dermatitis come from? It is caused by a yeast, pityrosporum ovale, which fuels inflammation in the skin.


To cure seborrheic dermatitis:

• Use gentle cleansers such as micellar waters

• If skin feels tight, use a moisturiser designed for sensitive skin

• Your doctor can prescribe an anti-fungal cream

• Try to minimise use of topical steroids

• For seborrheic dermatitis on the scalp or cradle cap in babies, use very gentle shampoos

SEBORRHEIC DERMATITIS:
DERMATOLOGIST INSIGHTS

What causes seborrheic dermatitis?

Doctors have not identified a single cause of seborrheic dermatitis; the condition is thought to be caused by several factors acting in combination. These include:

  • Stress
  • Oily skin or scalp
  • Overgrowth of yeasts that naturally occur on the skin
  • Certain medical conditions or medications
  • Dry, cold weather
  • Genetics (it is thought to run in families)
  • In babies, the cause of cradle cap is thought to be excess sebum production (an oily scalp) associated with the overgrowth of yeasts, resulting in inflammation. Read on to find out more.

    In babies, seborrheic dermatitis is known as cradle cap

    Cradle cap is essentially seborrheic dermatitis in babies up to 3 months. The signs and symptoms are similar to adult seborrheic dermatitis but the distribution is different since it is usually confined to the scalp, although it sometimes occurs on the ears, eyelids, eyebrows, nose, neck, groin, or armpits too. The baby’s scalp develops redness, itch and thick yellow or brown flaking. Click HERE to learn more about cradle cap.

    Where does seborrheic dermatitis occur?

    Seborrheic dermatitis manifests itself in patches of red, flaking skin on the face, around the sides of the nose and above the eyebrows. An examination of the scalp often reveals sticky flakes around the hairline. There is sometimes a round, flaking patch in the middle of the chest. The facial skin is easily irritated. The scalp itches. The problem patches flare up from time to time, often during periods of tiredness and stress.

    HOW TO TAKE CARE OF SEBORRHEIC DERMATITIS
    ON THE FACE

    The skin of people suffering from seborrheic dermatitis is easily irritated by simply washing the face. Use gentle cleansers such as Micellar Waters but never soap, which aggravates irritation. Moisturisers are not always well tolerated. However, if the skin is tight, it needs moisturizing. Choose dermo-cosmetic products that are designed for tolerance and which contain active agents that work their magic on seborrheic dermatitis.

    HOW DO I GET RID OF SEBORRHEIC DERMATITIS
    ON MY SCALP?

    For seborrheic dermatitis on the scalp, choose an anti-fungal shampoo such as ketoconazole in the first instance to clear up the itch. Then, for maintenance, use a very gentle shampoo specifically designed for sensitive scalps.

    WHAT IS THE TREATMENT
    FOR CRADLE CAP?

    Did you know? Cradle cap is essentially the same as seborrheic dermatitis, but in babies. As with scalp dermatitis in adults, the mainstay of treatment is using a very gentle shampoo combined with gentle massage. Click HERE to learn more about cradle cap.

    IS THERE A CURE
    FOR SEBORRHEIC DERMATITIS?

    Medical treatments for seborrheic dermatitis

    If possible, topical steroids should be avoided in seborrheic dermatitis. While they are effective, they may produce small lesions resembling acne in these areas, which are rich in sebaceous glands. They can also result in rosacea if used too regularly. Your dermatologist can prescribe anti-fungal creams (containing ketoconazole or ciclopirox olamine) that act on pityrosporon ovale. Local, lithium-based treatments are also effective. Prolonged maintenance treatment is recommended to stabilise outbreaks.

    TRUE
    OR FALSE

    TO PUT AN END TO DRY SKIN, IT'S IMPORTANT
    TO KEEP HYDRATED.

    TRUE

    Eczema is caused by a deficiency in skin’s natural protective layer of lipids (its barrier function). That’s why it’s important to keep dry eczema-prone skin hydrated using a targeted moisturiser regularly and consistently, with appropriate skincare products such as Lipikar Baume AP+ or Lipikar Fluide.
    لمعرفة المزيد

    SCRATCHING ECZEMA
    STOPS IT FROM ITCHING.

    FALSE

    Scratching triggersthe vicious circle of atopy: fingernails damage the already fragile skin,allowing more allergens and irritant agents to penetrate, leading to even more scratching and more damaged skin. LIPIKAR Baume AP+ replenishes skins’ surface lipids, helping to space out flare-ups and reducing night-time scratching byhalf.
    لمعرفة المزيد

    DRYING YOUR SKIN WITH
    A HAIRDRYER CAN HELP YOUR ECZEMA.

    FALSE

    This is highly NOT recommended.Drying with a hair dryer is a potential eczema trigger that can cause flare-upsby “attacking” the skin and destroying the lipid film that protects it, furtheraggravating dry skin eczema. Worse still, it could burn your delicate skin.
    لمعرفة المزيد

    ATOPIC DERMATITIS
    CAN BE CONTAGIOUS.

    FALSE

    Atopic dermatitis or eczema is a genetic disease and is in no way contagious. The treatment for atopic dermatitis symptoms is based on soap substitutes, emollients and topical corticosteroids.
    لمعرفة المزيد

    ?هل كنتم
    تعلمون

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    100% of the Shea Butter in LIPIKAR products is solidarity-sourced from communities in Burkina Faso.

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    PRODUCTS OF THE RANGE

    The KERIUM range harnesses a variety of high-performance active ingredients and micro-exfoliants that target dandruff and other issues of flaking skin at the root.

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