Dermatitis of the scalp is a disease that many people suffer from. Most often, the disease manifests itself in the form of ordinary dandruff. Most people who have long suffered from pathology simply do not pay attention to it, considering dandruff the norm. This attitude to the disease is incorrect, since dermatitis of the scalp can lead to complete hair loss. To avoid this, you need to know exactly what type of disease a person suffers from and what methods the disease is treated with.
Why does dermatitis occur?
There are many reasons why a scalp disease occurs. It could be:
- Change in hormone levels, hormonal disruptions. Most often, this reason leads to the development of dermatitis of the scalp in adolescence. This is due to the fact that the level of hormones in the blood of rising girls and boys increases, which leads to increased work of the sebaceous and sweat glands. Due to the abundance of secret on the body of a teenager, various skin problems begin. Microorganisms love this environment, causing various disorders of the epidermis.
- Similar causes cause dermatitis of the scalp in infants. The baby receives hormones with breast milk. As a result, increased work of the sebaceous and sweat glands can occur, which causes dermatitis.
- Heredity. Scientists have proven that the principles of the sebaceous glands in relatives are similar, therefore, seborrhea is often called a family disease.
- Weakened immunity. This reason can cause a variety of ailments, including the development of dermatitis. Typically, a decrease in immune defense occurs only through the fault of the person himself, in rare cases due to pathologies.
Also, head washing with poor-quality shampoos, stresses, climate change, wearing various hats, intense sports and much more can lead to the development of pathology. Uncontrolled intake of certain medications, in particular antibiotics, used without prescribing a doctor, can lead to dermatitis.
Types of Dermatitis
Seborrhea of the scalp is divided into several types:
- Dry dermatitis. This kind is most often diagnosed in adolescents. The skin is dry, cracking.
- Fatty look. This kind is most often manifested in women. Fatty dermatitis is manifested in the form of excessive secretions by the glands of the scalp, leading to constant contamination of the hair and skin.
- Mixed view. It manifests itself in the form of dryness of some areas and fat content of others.
Other manifestations of the disease
Dermatitis of the scalp can affect symmetrically the borders of eyelashes and eyebrows. With this type of lesion, they appear diffusely or with focal plaques of various diameters. If there is no inflammation in the disease, then dermatitis is considered dry. Sometimes, due to dry skin, patients begin to wash their hair less and less. Because of this, scales begin to form, which increases dermatitis and aggravates the general situation.
In the oily variety of seborrhea, dense yellow flakes adjacent to the skin are observed. If you do not start treatment for seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp, then it becomes severe. Inflamed areas will be affected by sebum, causing thickening and thickening of the scales. As a result, erosion appears beneath them, the skin begins to itch, the infection joins. This phenomenon is called seborrheic eczema. To avoid this, you must consult a doctor. He will determine the exact form of the disease and prescribe the correct treatment for seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp.
Clinical manifestations
Symptoms of dermatitis are as follows:
- Dandruff. This is the main symptom of the disease, which signals that something is wrong with the scalp. Due to dandruff, hair loss is observed. Some scales may stick to the skin, and some may remain on the hair.
- Skin irritation. Spots with distinct edges appear on the head. As the disease develops, these islands gradually begin to dry out, heal, and crusts form on them. This phenomenon is caused by the activity of a fungal infection.
- Swelling. When the disease passes into those areas where there are folds, puffiness appears. With dermatitis of the head, such a manifestation is observed with skin lesions in the ear area.
- Peeling. As it heals, strong peeling begins on the skin. It is accompanied by an itch that does not stop even for a short time. This is due to the rapid rejection of cells.
- Flakes. This symptom is observed from the first days of the manifestation of dermatitis. Scales gather on the head like a crown. This clinical symptom is observed due to soaking in dry areas with sebum. With the onset of pathology, the scales are few, they are white. As the disease progresses, they become more, they turn yellow.
- Skin rashes. When an infection is attached, a rash appears on the scalp. Usually it has a watery content, but purulent pimples are not uncommon.
Treatment methods
Treatment of dermatitis of the scalp is reduced to the use of a variety of drugs, shampoos, folk remedies. In some cases, hormone therapy, the use of physiotherapeutic procedures may be required. Without fail, therapeutic nutrition is prescribed for seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp.
For the successful treatment of the disease, a scraping of the scalp is done to determine the type of pathogen. After this, an antifungal drug is prescribed. Successfully used antifungal shampoos. They help eliminate itching, burning, partially relieve dandruff. To get rid of atopic dermatitis of the scalp, apply various creams, oils and more.
Dermatitis Shampoos
Shampoo is an integral part of the successful treatment of dermatitis. It is used in the treatment of ailment in conjunction with other means. Shampoos for seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp are divided into the following groups:
- Selenium - have an antifungal effect.
- Ketonazole - inhibits the reproduction of the fungus.
- Zinc pyrithione - able to fight inflammation and accelerate the healing of damaged skin.
- Tar - eliminates peeling, itching.
- Cyclopirox - affects the causative agent of infection.
Shampoo Review
Pharmaceutical manufacturing companies offer a huge assortment of a variety of shampoos for dermatitis of the scalp, including the following:
- Keto Plus. Shampoo gives positive results in the treatment of the disease, but only if the use of the drug at the very beginning of the disease begins. The manufacturer recommends using it for at least a month. “Keto Plus” is a combined preparation: it is easy to apply and just as easy to rinse. It is an antifungal agent.
- "Nizoral." The tool has worked well in the treatment of dermatitis and other skin pathologies. Shampoo has a strong anti-inflammatory effect. After passing the treatment course, the causes of the disease are eliminated. This shampoo can be used to treat dermatitis of the scalp in a child, as well as for pregnant women.
- Skin Cap. Shampoo is recommended for the treatment of oily seborrhea. It dries the skin well, relieves itching.
- "Ducrey." Used to treat dry seborrhea. It helps to cope with itching, relieves skin irritation, and fights against dandruff.
- Friderm. It is highly effective in the treatment of oily seborrhea. Shampoo has a pronounced woody aroma, which passes after washing off the product with a strand.
Alternative methods of treatment
You can get rid of dermatitis by folk methods. They help relieve itching, burning, inflammation, cleanse the skin of scales. Such methods affect different types of disease in different ways. Here are a few traditional medicine recipes to help fight seborrhea:
- Flask of succession. This tool helps to cope with severe itching. Most often, a series is used for bathing children by adding infusion to the bath. It can also be used in the form of lotions.
- Infusion of the marshmallow root. To prepare the product, you need seven grams of the plant, pour a glass of boiling water and let it brew for an hour. After this, the gauze is moistened with infusion and applied to the affected areas.
- Sage tea. To prepare the product, take five grams of raw material, and pour a glass of boiling water. The product is boiled for five minutes, after which it is allowed to infuse for 30 minutes. Filter the finished product, add a little honey. The composition is used as lotions.
- Infusion of St. John's wort and burdock. To prepare the product, you need to take three tsp. burdock root, as much hypericum and elecampane. Mix all the herbs. Then 4 teaspoons of the mixture is poured with a glass of boiling water and insisted overnight. The resulting mixture should be rubbed into the head after each wash. Do not flush.
Other recipes
- Nettle broth. He will need half a liter of water, the same amount of vinegar, one hundred grams of nettle. The composition is put on fire for half an hour. Then the tool is allowed to cool. Apply in the form of lotions.
- Dandelion Juice. With dermatitis of the scalp, it is recommended to drink dandelion juice mixed with water at least three times a day (per tablespoon). From the leaves of the plant you can make an infusion. For him, take a spoonful of leaves and pour two glasses of boiling water. Then the remedy is allowed to infuse for an hour. It is taken in half a glass every three hours.
- Hypericum ointment. To prepare it, you need to take St. John's wort juice and evaporate it halfway, add butter to the resulting volume, approximately in a ratio of 1: 4, and mix everything. The product is put in the refrigerator. Ointment lubricate the affected areas.
- Ointment from plantain juice. Plantain juice is taken and mixed in half with petroleum jelly. Everything is mixed, covered tightly with a lid. The product is stored in the refrigerator.
- A decoction of oak bark, sage, chamomile infusion, which can effectively combat dandruff, helps to cope with dermatitis. When using this remedy, conventional shampoos should be discarded.
Features of nutrition with dermatitis
During any pathology, it is important to adhere to the correct daily routine. This applies not only to physical activity, but also to sleep, walking, and nutrition. Patients with seborrheic dermatitis are forbidden to eat fried, fatty, sweet. You should also abandon white bread, which can provoke a more severe manifestation of dermatitis. Low-carb, low-calorie foods should be in your diet. The use of sugar and salt is desirable to reduce to zero. Doctors recommend a protein diet by including boiled meat in your diet. It is useful to add more vegetables and fruits, dairy products to the menu.
Conclusion
Knowing how to treat dermatitis of the scalp, you can once and for all get rid of the pathology. For this purpose, two things must be done: firstly, visit a doctor, and secondly, strictly follow all his recommendations. After the doctor determines the type of causative agent of dermatitis, he will prescribe therapy, choose the right shampoo, and recommend broths, balms, masks, and other scalp care products. If necessary, a dermatologist or trichologist will select drugs for oral administration and prescribe other methods of treatment, such as hormone treatment, physiotherapy, and spa treatment methods.