What is seborrheic dermatitis and treatments?

What you are exhibiting are classic symptoms of a medical condition known as seborrheic dermatitis. It is a skin disorder that is usually called ‘dandruff’ when it happens to adults and adolescents, it affects parts of your face like the corners of your lips and chin and causes the skin on these parts to become dry, scaly and can also result in a discoloration, due to inflammation. If the inflammation is spreading rapidly, visit a dermatologist to ascertain the extent of the infection and chalk out a treatment plan compatible with your skin. Your skin type also plays an important role in determining the treatment method considering different skin types react differently to the same substance. In most cases, seborrheic dermatitis occurs due to an abnormality in the functioning of the oil glands present in your skin. Another cause is a fungal infection. At other times it is caused due to a diet deficient in essential nutrients.

Unfortunately, there is no specific cure for seborrheic dermatitis. What your doctor prescribed the last time must most probably have been an antifungal medication. You can choose to take another course of the same medicine if your skin had reacted positively to it the last time. However, the first step is to modify your diet. Drastically reduce, if not avoid, the intake of saturated fats and processed sugars. Replace these with an increased intake of fiber. Fiber helps prevent fungal growth. Also increase your daily intake of nutrients like essential fatty acids and vitamin E. These nutrients help the skin to better retain moisture thus reducing the dryness and the resultant dark spots. This means you should eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and whole grains and stay away from ice cream, confectionery, and red meat.

Use an anti dandruff shampoo that contains selenium sulfide, salicylic acid, pyrithione zinc or ketoconazole as one of its active ingredients. For best results use shampoos that contain these ingredients on a rotational basis. Another important step is to avoid using harsh soaps or detergents on your skin. When choosing skin care products like soap, it is best to go for herbal ones as they tend to be free of harsh chemicals. Also rinse the soap off your skin thoroughly after bath and pat dry using a soft towel. Remember to moisturize your skin regularly using a mild moisturizer. Gently massage your skin, especially the dark spots with moisturizer each night before going to bed.