Seborrheic Dermatitis is a common chronic inflammatory condition of the skin. It is categorized as a type of chronic eczema, affecting the body area that has more sebaceous glands. characterized by red, greasy scaly patches.
Commonly, the rash manifestation of seborrheic dermatitis tends to affect the scalp, the center of the face, including the eye brows, the glabella, nasolabial fold, the skin over the front chest wall and upper back.
Seborrheic Dermatitis is a combination of both genetic and environmental factors. The surface of the sebaceous region of the skin is a conducive environment for a yeast(fungus) known as Malassezia to grow and thrive.
When there is overgrowth of Malassezia, the fungus triggers to immune system to react on the skin area leading to inflammation and manifestation of itch, flakes and scales and greasy red rashes.
Patients commonly experience
Commonly affected region includes the scalp, center of the face, the eye brows, glabella region, nasolabial fold, the chest wall and upper back.
Common triggers include
Seborrheic dermatitis can affect anyone, though it is more common in:
Risk factors:
Seborrheic Dermatitis is usually diagnosed clinically. Your doctor will review your rash history, known medical history and physically examine the rash to determine the diagnosis. Sometimes, when the diagnosis are uncertain, your doctor may offer you further tests such as fungal skin scrape test, bacterial swab tests, or skin biopsy sampling to evaluate and confirm the diagnosis.
Depending on individual presentation, severity, expectation, your doctor may offer you treatment with topical creams and shampoo.
In more recalcitrant and severe cases your doctor may advise for oral medication together with topical medication. Counselling on lifestyle measures to avoid triggers are important in a holistic approach for managing seborrheic dermatitis.
Common medications that are used in treatment of seborrheic dermatitis include topical steroid, antifungal topical and oral, topical calcineurin inhibitors, anti-fungal shampoo, coal tar shampoo.
Patients with Seborrheic Dermatitis may notice they have family members with similar skin contions. This is suggestive of seborrheic dermatitis to have a hereditary or genetic component in its cause/pathophysiology. The exact genetic link for seborrheic dermatitis still requires further clinical research evidence.
Lifestyle measurements to relieve stress are important. You are advised to obtain adequate rest and sleep, regular exercises, engage in activities to improve self care.
Your doctor will guide you through during your follow up on topical options that can be obtain over the counter such as certain antifungal cream, wash, or emollients. Speak to your doctor during your consultation on Seborrheic dermatitis.
Checking the skin or nail lesion with wood lamp involves shining a hand-held wood lamp device on the area of concern by your physician.
Cryotherapy or colloquially known as ‘cold therapy’ is a procedure that uses liquid nitrogen to deliver freezing cold temperature locally to destroy and remove abnormal skin lesion.
Electrocautery is a bedside procedure where your doctor will use an ‘electric pen’ to deliver high frequency electric current onto the skin to generate heat in order to stop bleeding or remove abnormal skin cells
A steroid injection is simple bedside procedure where your doctor will inject minute amount of steroid onto the skin.
Skin cancer screening is usually performed by your physician using a dermatoscope. Dermatoscope is a medical magnifying glass that allows your physician to visualize the size and shape of the mole that you are concerned of.
Fungal scrape and bacterial culture tests allow physician to confirm or debunk fungal/bacterial diagnosis of skin condition
Skin tags are benign. They are also known as acrochordons medically. They are small, soft overgrowth of the skin commonly located among the face, eyelids neck, armpit, groin, breasts and buttock folds.
An excision biopsy is a bedside procedure where your doctor uses a surgical blade to remove the entire skin lesion under the use of local anaesthesia.
A shave biopsy a bedside procedure where your doctor uses a surgical superficial shaving blade to remove the skin lesion under the use of local anaesthesia.
A skin biopsy, or punch biopsy, is a bedside surgical procedure where your physician will use a small knife ‘puncher’ to obtain a small skin sample under local anaesthesia.
Herpes zoster, commonly referred to as shingles, is a painful blistering rash caused by the varicella-zoster virus— the same virus that causes chickenpox.
Living in a hot humid climate of Singapore, fungal infection of the skin is common. The fungus thrives and favors body areas that are moist and warm such as the armpit, breast folds, groin, buttocks, feet, toes or even nails.
Eczema is a common inflammation condition of the skin. Although eczema can occur any time in one’s life, it typically starts presenting when one is a child.
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition. It is a common skin disease that can affect 1 in 50 people.
Nearly 20% of people will get hives at some point in their lifetime. While they may not be life-threatening, hives can potentially cause both physical and emotional issues, particularly if they occur frequently.
Your body’s natural reaction to pokes, cuts, and trauma to your skin is to heal. On most occasions, skin injuries heal up without any problems.
