Dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis are chronic skin disorders that produce skin scaling and itching, which may or may not be present. Dandruff is a milder type of seborrheic dermatitis that affects only the scalp, unlike seborrheic dermatitis that affects the entire body.
What is Dandruff?
Dandruff is a very prevalent skin condition. Flakes that fall from your scalp and adhere to your hair or settle on your clothing may be noticed. Your scalp may itch as well.
Several factors, including trigger dandruff
- Seborrheic dermatitis: The skin on your scalp is greasy, itchy, and inflamed, and it flakes off. It can also happen to the hair on your brows, crotch, or chest.
- Haircare products such as shampoo, gel, or color can irritate your scalp, causing redness, itching, and flaking.
- Malassezia is a yeast that grows on your scalp’s oil.
- Oily skin might fall off if you don’t shampoo your hair frequently enough.
- Small flakes on your scalp might be caused by dry skin, and your skin will most likely be dry all over.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
It is a common skin disorder that mostly affects the scalp. Scaly spots, inflamed skin, and tenacious dandruff are among the symptoms. Some oily parts of the body, including the face, sides of the nose, eyebrows, ears, eyelids, and chest, could be affected by seborrheic dermatitis.
Alternatively, you may require several treatments until the symptoms diminish, and you can experience them at a later time. Oiliness and dead skin buildup are easy to reduce by cleansing daily with gentle soap and shampoo.
Seborrheic dermatitis manifests itself as itchy, inflamed areas with dull, yellowish, greasy big scales. It primarily affects areas with more oil glands, such as the scalp, face, upper chest, and upper back. It’s also possible that the armpits and pelvic area get affected.
We see that cradle cap is a kind of seborrheic dermatitis that affects babies. Thick yellow crusts form on the forehead and neck, behind the ears, in the creases of the skin, and as a persistent diaper rash. Itching is not common with cradle caps.
Dandruff vs Seborrheic Dermatitis
Dandruff is a dry skin condition that generates white or yellow flakes on the scalp. Flaky skin is another symptom of seborrheic dermatitis. Scaling, itching, redness, edema, and inflammation of the skin can also occur due to this illness.
Seborrheic dermatitis can affect other seborrheic areas such as the face, ears, and upper chest, whereas dandruff is always found only on the scalp.
Seborrheic dermatitis is more common at particular stages of life, with a peak in childhood and adolescence. Seborrheic dermatitis causes cradle cap, a common skin ailment affecting babies’ scalps.
Seborrheic dermatitis affects around 42% of babies and can be detected on the face and diaper region.
In teenagers, seborrheic dermatitis frequently affects the scalp, face, upper chest, underarms, inguinal folds, or groin folds. It affects more males than women.
Dandruff is also more prevalent in men than it is in women. Dandruff normally appears throughout adolescence, peaks around the age of 20, and fades after 50.
How can I treat dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis?
Seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff are chronic illnesses that are difficult to cure. However, numerous efficient over-the-counter and drugstore therapies are available to keep the symptoms under control.
It is not suggested to go for self-treatment if the patient is under two years of age, except in the case of cradle cap. Contact the doctor for further treatment when the symptoms do not improve or worsen after two weeks of over-the-counter and pharmacy medicines.
1. Cradle Cap
The cradle cap is addressed by regularly bathing the scalp with non-medicated baby shampoo. Apply a tiny quantity of baby oil or olive oil to release the scales.
To remove the scales, gently massage the scalp with a gentle toothbrush, then shampoo with non-medicated baby shampoo. Repeat every day until the heavy scale is gone.
2. Topical Medications
Medicated shampoos are used to cure dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. Allow 5 minutes after massaging the shampoo into the scalp before rinsing thoroughly and repeating the process.
It is critical to leave the shampoo on the scalp for the prescribed amount of time to guarantee that the therapy is successful. A new medicated shampoo is good to use if one kind of shampoo does not improve the condition after 4 to 6 weeks.
In medicated shampoos, zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide, coal tar, salicylic acid, and ketoconazole are some of the drugs found in medicated shampoos.
Seborrheic dermatitis is treated with steroid creams to relieve itching and irritation. In addition to ketoconazole, the other medications can be used on children two years and older.
Conclusion
With the assistance of a medical practitioner, both disorders are addressed. While both have similar symptoms, the harm to the head and body caused by dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis is different. Learn the indications to figure out which one is the problem.
Both conditions have no known cures. Dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis can have a societal influence. Seeing the correct best dermatologist can help to alleviate symptoms and keep people healthy and happy.
FAQs
1. Is it possible for dandruff to develop into seborrheic dermatitis?
It’s possible that what you think is dandruff is seborrheic dermatitis. The disease affects almost one out of every three people on the planet. If dandruff is a minor response, seborrheic dermatitis is the worst-case scenario. The inflammation intensifies, resulting in a scaly scalp, severe redness, flakiness, and flakiness.
2. Can dandruff spread to your face?
Dandruff, is also defined as seborrheic dermatitis, is a flaky, itchy skin ailment that affects people of all ages. It usually appears on your scalp, but it can also appear on other parts of your body, such as your ears and cheeks.
3. Does sun exposure help with seborrheic dermatitis?
Although sunlight is assumed to be advantageous in seborrheic dermatitis because it inhibits Pityrosporum ovale and suppresses Langerhans cells in certain individuals.
