Treatment options for both adult seborrhoeic dermatitis

Adult seborrhoeic dermatitis

Use a medicated shampoo to treat seborrhoeic dermatitis on the scalp. Those designed to treat dandruff may be sufficient if the scaling is mild. They work by reducing the number of yeasts living on your scalp.

Shampoos containing tar, and sometimes salicylic acid, are often more effective, these include Capasal, Alphosyl 2 in 1 shampoo and T/Gel shampoo.

For a shampoo to be effective you should use it regularly, following the instructions on the bottle or sachet – this often means leaving the shampoo on the scalp for a few minutes before washing it off. Do not rub your scalp too hard when washing your hair as this can aggravate the condition.

Nizoral shampoo is a powerful anti-yeast treatment which is often used if scaling does not improve after using a medicated shampoo for a few weeks. For the best results, it should be left on the scalp for three to five minutes before rinsing off and used twice a week for two to four weeks.

Once the course of treatment is finished it is best to use a medicated shampoo to help prevent the condition from returning. Nizoral is available from the pharmacy and can also be obtained on prescription from your GP.

A mild steroid cream or ointment may be prescribed if the eczema is very inflamed and itchy. If scaling is severe, an ointment containing a combination of mild steroid plus sulphur or salicylic acid may be prescribed.

Several antifungal creams, with or without a mild steroid, are also available to treat seborrhoeic eczema on other parts of the body. In severe cases, when a rash won’t clear, your doctor may give you an anti-yeast medicine to be taken by mouth. A factsheet on adult seborrhoeic eczema by the National Eczema Society is available to download from the related documents to the right of this page.
source: http://www.eczema.org/

Read More

Causes & Triggers

The exact causes of eczema are unknown. You might have inherited a tendency for eczema. You may have a family member who has eczema or who has hay fever (allergic rhinitis) or asthma. Many doctors think eczema causes are linked to allergic disease, such as hay fever or asthma. Doctors call this the atopic triad. Many children with eczema (up to 80%) will develop hay fever and/or asthma.

There are many triggers of eczema that can make it flare or get worse. Below are some of the common triggers. You should learn what triggers your eczema to flare, and then try to avoid it.

IRRITANTS:

Irritants can make your symptoms worse. What irritates you may be different from what irritates someone else with the condition, but could include:

• Soaps and detergents,
• Shampoos, dish-washing liquids
• Bubble Bath
• Disinfectants like chlorine
• Contact with juices from fresh fruits, meats, vegetables

ALLERGENS:

If your genes make you more likely to develop atopic eczema, the condition will develop after you are exposed to certain environmental factors, such as allergens.

Allergens are substances that can cause the body to react abnormally. This is known as an allergic reaction. Some of the most common allergens that can be causes of eczema include:

• House dust mites
• Pets (cats > dogs)
• Pollens (seasonal)
• Molds
• Dandruff

 MICROBES:

Some types of microbe can be triggers of eczema:

• Certain bacteria like Staphylococcusaureus
• Viruses
• Certain Fungi

HOT OR COLD TEMPERATURES:

• Hot weather
• High and low humidity
• Perspiration from exercise

FOODS:

Atopic eczema can sometimes be caused by food allergens, especially before the age of one. Some studies of children and young people with atopic eczema found that one-third to nearly two-thirds also had a food allergy. Food allergies associated with eczema causes are typically:

• Dairy products
• Eggs
• Nuts and seeds
• Soy products
• Wheat

source :nationaleczema.org

Read More