Seborrhea in Hair: What You Should Know About It and Its Treatment

Seborrhea in the Hair or seborrheic dermatitis is a relatively common condition. Although it is not a serious illness, its symptoms can pose a social problem for patients.

In this article, we will take a closer look at its typical manifestations, the reasons for its occurrence, and also the effective treatment options that currently exist.

Seborrhea of the Hair - Basic Characteristics of the Condition

The term seborrhea refers to a chronic inflammatory skin condition. It manifests primarily in areas of the body with a high density of sebaceous glands – namely the scalp, eyebrows, area behind the ears, armpits, torso, and groin.
  • It is not infectious – it is not transmitted from person to person.
  • It can occur at any age.
  • Men are more susceptible to this condition (in connection with higher levels of the hormone testosterone).
  • Overgrowth of yeast from the Malassezia genus also plays a role in its development.
  • It is one of the causes of dandruff.

How to recognize seborrheic dermatitis

One of the first manifestations of the disease is a change in the color of the affected skin. It may appear pinkish to salmon-colored. If its condition worsens, yellow-brown greasy flakes or crusts of varying thickness may begin to form on it.

As time progresses, the lesion may also become very itchy. In addition, the patient may observe excessive hair loss or increased oiliness of the hair.

Dandruff or seborrhea?

You may have noticed that the symptoms mentioned do not appear to differ significantly from common dandruff at first glance. In reality, these manifestations are also common to other skin conditions, such as psoriasis, atopic eczema, or allergies, and therefore it may not always be easy to determine the nature of the disease.

An accurate answer can be obtained through a trichological examination, during which the specialist will perform an analysis of your hair and scalp, establish an accurate diagnosis, focus on the causes of the issues, and suggest possible solutions.

You can undergo a comprehensive trichological examination at our premium hair clinic in Prague. Find out what is causing your hair problems and address them together with renowned professionals.

phone-call BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

What not to do in the case of seborrheic dermatitis in the hair

Unpleasant itching can lead to continuous scratching of the skin. Try to avoid it to prevent the spread of infection. Do not peel off the skin flakes in any way. You could cause bleeding at the site and prolong the healing time.

What are the causes of seborrhea

Although it is a relatively common disease, the mechanism of its development remains a mystery to dermatologists. However, we know some indicators and can thus identify a group of at-risk patients in whom the onset of the disease is more likely. This primarily involves the interplay of the following conditions:
  • Higher levels of the male hormone testosterone
  • Congenital predispositions
  • Tendency towards oily skin
  • Weakening of the immune system
  • Unbalanced diet, primarily a deficiency of B vitamins
  • Unhealthy lifestyle, stress
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Disruption of the skin's protective layer maintaining acidic pH, for example, by inappropriate hair cosmetics.

How does this skin condition progress in the hair?

Let’s take a look at what happens when risk factors come together. Remember the mentioned yeast of the genus Malassezia. This microorganism is commonly found on the surface of our skin. It feeds on its sebum and produces fatty acids. However, when it proliferates excessively, it disrupts the balance, to which the scalp responds with inflammation and a faster formation of new cells in the outermost layer of the dermis. The result is a large amount of flaky dead skin.

Seborrheic dermatitis by age - does seborrhea in adults differ from that in children?

The manifestations and course of the disease are identical – on the head (particularly in the crown area), or potentially on the body, clearly defined pinkish lesions begin to appear, which in the later stage are accompanied by yellow-brown scales. However, we could observe certain nuances in the treatment method.

1. Treatment of Seborrheic Dermatitis in Young Children

The skin of infants and toddlers is extremely sensitive because its protective layer is not yet fully developed. Therefore, the products you choose to wash the affected skin should be very gentle, and you should also proceed with great caution.
  • Use exclusively children's cosmetics - shampoo and moisturizing cream.
  • Gently massage the skin while washing with a sponge, washcloth, or hairbrush. This will facilitate the loosening of skin flakes.
  • Brush off the flakes after bathing and repeat throughout the day.
  • If you do not notice any improvement, apply a wrap of sunflower or olive oil 3 hours before bathing.
  • In case of more serious symptoms, contact your pediatrician.

2. Seborrhea in the Hair and Treatment in Adults

To stop the inflammation, alleviate or completely eliminate unpleasant symptoms such as flaking skin and itching, it is essential to first consider the severity of the condition.

In the case of a more severe course, your treating physician will prescribe special medicinal products for local use that contain corticoids. While they have a bad reputation, are not suitable for long-term use, and many patients fear them, if you adhere to the principles of their proper use, there is nothing to fear. Their indisputable advantage is that they can quickly halt inflammatory processes and help the skin regenerate more rapidly.
  • The skin treated with corticosteroids is weakened and thinner.
  • Therefore, do not exceed the recommended duration of use and apply it only to the affected area.

Anti-seborrheic shampoos

Milder forms of this condition can be successfully treated with the help of over-the-counter shampoos, gels, and creams that contain antifungals and anti-inflammatory agents.
  • Lather the shampoos gently and leave them on the scalp for 3-10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
  • Use them twice a week; when improvement occurs, once a week is sufficient, and subsequently once every two weeks.
  • When used long-term, it is advisable to alternate these antifungal shampoos.

Treatment of seborrhea in areas other than the hair.

If the occurrence of seborrheic dermatitis bothers you in other areas of the body, you can also use the mentioned shampoos for their treatment. An alternative is special cleansing foams and gels containing tar or sulfur. These are also available over the counter in regular pharmacy chains.

Seborrhea in the hair and natural treatment

Patients with a milder course may benefit from natural peat wraps. Even those with a more severe form of the disease can try to support their treatment with the following tips and “home remedies.”
  • To alleviate symptoms, spending time in fresh air and sunlight is beneficial - UVA and UVB radiation can actually inhibit the growth of yeast. The ideal locations for this are in the mountains or by the sea.
  • Yeasts thrive very well in damp environments. Therefore, after washing your hair, use a hairdryer, which will significantly accelerate their drying and greatly reduce the time of exposure of water to the skin. Avoid using excessively hot air, as it irritates the affected scalp just like water does.
  • A properly adjusted diet also contributes to positive change. It should include plenty of raw vegetables. Conversely, eliminate fried and fatty foods from it. Limit milk, cheeses, white flour, sugars, chocolate, peanuts, and seafood. It is also essential to adhere to proper hydration.

Do you want to address issues with baldness or thinning hair? Are you interested in the conditions, process, and cost of hair transplantation? You can find the price list of services available at our clinic on our website. For more information, please feel free to contact us and arrange a consultation.

phone-call MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

Monitor the condition of seborrheic dermatitis. Experience will assist you in treatment.

The treatment of seborrhea is lengthy and needs to be repeated. You will likely go through periods with minimal or even no symptoms, as well as periods that will require more intensive care for the scales. Therefore, try to observe for yourself which foods, hair products, or possibly your habits improve the condition and conversely, which worsen it.

Can seborrheic dermatitis cause your hair loss?

One of the accompanying symptoms of this condition is indeed excessive hair loss. However, this can be caused by a variety of other factors. Therefore, we recommend visiting a specialized hair clinic, undergoing a trichological examination, and choosing the next steps based on its results.

In some cases, the only solution to the problems is hair transplantation. Experiences of clients, pricing, and information about the procedure can be found on our website. We would be happy to discuss the details with you during a consultation.

phone-call SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

Related Posts

Zobrazit více