Seborrhea is a dermatosis resulting from the excessive functioning of the sebaceous glands. Sebum is fatty acids, fats and proteins secreted by the glands. Pathology is often the result of impaired function of the neuroendocrine system. In our article, we will consider the main points regarding this pathology - the forms, causes, diagnosis and treatment of scalp seborrhea at home and medication (under the guidance of specialists).
Sebum - the secret of the sebaceous glands
Sebaceous glands act as generators of sebum, which is necessary for the normal functioning of the human body.
- Protects the skin from infections.
- It softens and protects the skin - thanks to sebum, the skin does not peel and does not crack.
- Protects skin from drying out.
Sebaceous glands are dispersed in the thickness of the skin of the human body. The arrangement of the glands is branched, resembling a tree. However, their distribution is uneven. There is the concept of “seborrheic zones” - areas in which the sebaceous glands are densely concentrated relative to other parts of the body. The forehead, face T-zone, ears, scalp, shoulders, chest are all seborrheic zones that are more susceptible to disease. Not all sebaceous glands are in an active state, their number depends on:
- gender
- age of a person
- hormonal state,
- climate.
In children, almost all sebaceous glands are not active until the moment the body enters the stage of puberty. With an increase in the volume of sex hormones, the action of the sebaceous glands is activated. In an adult healthy person, the activity of the sebaceous glands is stable for a long time, and begins to decrease only with age. If, for any reason, functional disorders occur in the body, a favorable soil is formed for the occurrence of the disease “seborrhea of the scalp”. Treatment at home is not an adequate measure, and if symptoms of the disease occur, you must always seek medical help from a specialist.
Seborrhea Forms
As noted above, seborrhea is dermatosis, which leads to disruption of the sebaceous glands. Depending on the causes of the disease, as well as signs of manifestation, distinguish:
- oily seborrhea,
- dry seborrhea,
- combined form of seborrhea.
Fatty seborrhea is a pathology that often occurs during the transition period, so to speak, during the hormonal “chaos”. Young women are more susceptible to this disease, however, men also suffer from oily seborrhea, a long course of which leads to pathological hair loss.
The occurrence of dry seborrhea is due to reduced salivation. Dry seborrhea is a consequence of a decrease in the barrier functions of the body as a result of many reasons - hard physical labor, unbalanced nutrition, psycho-emotional stress. In a healthy state, the life cycle of skin cells takes a certain period of time. In case of failures in the body, the period of cell renewal becomes less, dandruff forms. At the same time, the health of the hair is violated - they split, become thinner, break, can actively fall out.
Mixed seborrhea combines the manifestations of a dry and oily form in one area of the skin.
Children, as well as adults, are susceptible to this pathology. The disease can manifest itself in the first months of the life of a small person. As a rule, the disease has two forms - children’s seborrheic dermatitis and “adult” seborrhea of the scalp in children. Treatment mainly depends on which form of the disease prevails. Sometimes therapy is not required, the symptoms of the disease go away on their own as the child matures.
Symptoms of the disease
It is known that the disease not only leads to increased secretion of the sebaceous glands, but also to a change in the quality structure of sebaceous secretions of the skin. The main manifestations of the occurrence of the disease in humans can be called:
- itching accompanied by hair loss;
- profuse dandruff;
- oily sheen and peeling of the skin.
It should be noted that
peeling of the skin with seborrhea is accompanied by an inflammatory process. First, the disease occurs in the occipital part of the head, and then affects the boundaries of hair growth.
In addition to the appearance of white scales at the roots of the hair, another sign of dry seborrhea is itching. The prolonged course of the disease leads to the appearance of foci of inflammation - red spots covered with a crust. When combing these formations, bleeding is observed. Damage to the formations is fraught with the addition of a secondary infection. Treatment of dry seborrhea of the scalp is usually straightforward. However, if the disease is not treated, an advanced form of seborrhea of the scalp can affect the skin of the body. Irregular hygiene leads to the progression of pathology. Approximately 10% of patients are affected area of eyelashes, eyebrows, scalp - mustache or beard.
A pronounced sign of oily seborrhea is the appearance of large yellow scales covering the scalp. Exfoliating such formations does not lead to painful sensations. However, after removing the scales, after a short time, the skin is covered with them again. Increased sebum secretion leads to clumping of hair and, as a result, untidy appearance. Even regular shampooing does not solve this problem.
What are hormonal disorders in the body
Among the main causes leading to the onset of the disease, it is possible to distinguish:
- hormonal disorders
- consequences of other diseases
- long-term medication
- activity of yeast-like fungi.
Hormonal disorders are the main reason against which dermatitis occurs. In a healthy man’s body, the ratio of androgens to estrogens is in a balanced state. If the balance is disturbed in the direction of increasing the amount of androgens, there is an active generation of sebum. An increase in the level of the androgen hormone is inextricably linked with the acceleration of the processes of its metabolism, which can be caused by both hereditary factors and the presence of tumors that are triggered by the growth of androgens in the body (testicular tumor).
In women, the ratio of androgen to progesterone is decisive. Seborrhea occurs at any age, but mainly manifests itself in the transition period. This form of pathology is called physiological and usually passes after the completion of the indicated period.
Reasons for Seborrhea
The triggering mechanism for the occurrence of seborrhea can be various kinds of serious diseases, for example, Parkinson's disease. Mental disorders - schizophrenia, manic-depressive or infectious psychosis, epilepsy can also trigger the occurrence of pathology. Violation of the secretion of sebum is observed after prolonged use of medications - progesterone, glucocorticosteroids, testosterone.
Another important reason causing the formation of pathology is a decrease in the barrier functions of the body. The fact is that yeast-like fungi (Pityrosporum ovale) are constantly present on the skin of a person, the number of which in a healthy state is limited, and with an increased production of sebum, it increases sharply. This is due to the fact that microorganisms form a conditionally pathogenic microflora. For their livelihoods, they use the secret of the sebaceous glands. In violation of the protective functions of the skin, the body is not able to control the growth of fungal microflora. Mushrooms begin to multiply actively, while causing the development of skin pathology.
Seborrhea of the scalp: treatment (before and after photos)
It is known that many diseases are the result of disorders occurring in the body. Failure of the endocrine system, frequent stresses and constant psycho-emotional stress are a complex of factors contributing to the development of pathological conditions. Not an exception and seborrhea of the scalp. Medical treatment, physiotherapy, recipes of traditional medicine - a set of measures aimed primarily at normalizing the patient’s nervous system, restoring the balance of hormones in the blood, increasing barrier functions.
In the treatment regimen, a mandatory point is the appointment of antifungal agents. However, the drug is selected only after laboratory studies - bacterial culture and microscopy, which determine the type of fungus and the sensitivity of the body to it. As a rule, drugs from the azole group are prescribed to combat seborrhea. It can be Dermazole, Keto Plus, Nizoral, Bifon. The photo on the left is the condition of the skin after treatment.
Contraceptives are prescribed for women in order to regulate hormonal levels and restore ovarian function.
Among the general strengthening drugs, medications can be distinguished, which include vitamins of groups A, B, D, E; ascorbic and nicotinic acid; calcium, iron, zinc; Supplements, biogenic stimulants.
Oily skin requires constant special care, compliance with all hygiene standards. For external use, pharmacy shampoos for dandruff are recommended, for example, "Sebozol".
Physiotherapy treatment
In the treatment of dermatosis, physiotherapy has a good therapeutic effect - in combination with drug therapy, they have a stimulating effect on the hair follicles, to which the sebaceous glands are attached. The main medical procedures include:
- Cryomassage of the scalp is a complex procedure with the help of which massage is applied to the hair and cold therapy. Under the influence of cold, the vessels narrow, due to which the work of the sebaceous glands returns to normal, the process of inflammation is removed.
- Magnetotherapy is an alternative medicine method that is based on the use of a magnetic field for medicinal purposes.
- Electroporation - the impact on the skin of electric pulse currents.
- Darsonvalization is a procedure that, through exposure to the skin of a high-frequency pulse current, increases its tone, enhances blood circulation and lymph flow, and affects the nerve processes.
- Laser puncture - a procedure for influencing points of an organism with a low-energy laser beam. This is a fairly new physiotherapeutic method used in the treatment of seborrhea.
In addition, ultraviolet light has a positive effect on the restoration of the scalp after seborrhea.
Diagnostic methods for seborrhea. Diet and lifestyle recommendations
Seborrhea is a disease that occurs due to a whole range of functional disorders of the body. Therefore, when diagnosing a pathology, it is necessary to resort to a set of techniques, among which:
- The study of the patient's history, the study of past diseases.
- Conducting laboratory research - a biochemical blood test and a blood test for hormones.
- Examination of the scalp and hair.
- Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, thyroid gland.
With seborrhea, it is recommended to eat fermented milk products, vegetables and fruits, rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber. But from spicy and fatty foods, canned foods should be discarded. It is recommended to limit the intake of salt and flour.
Useful for seborrhea, and generally for health, hiking, sports, healthy sleep. Often, patients with a scalp disease are prescribed sulfur and mineral baths, sedatives.
Treatment of seborrhea of the scalp with folk remedies
In addition to physiotherapeutic methods and medical treatment, the secrets of traditional medicine help in the fight against seborrhea. They are quite diverse and suggest an external therapeutic effect on the affected areas of the scalp.
For example, a very common recipe in the fight against oily seborrhea is the use of a weak solution of drinking soda - 20 minutes before washing the hair, the prepared product is applied to the scalp.
But with dry seborrhea, ten percent sulfuric ointment is successfully used, which is also rubbed into the scalp. The manipulation is done for eight days, then the hair is allowed to rest. After the course, the head should be washed with boiled water using therapeutic shampoos, which include selenium or tar.
Our ancestors also prepared ointments, infusions, decoctions, masks from herbal raw materials. However, differentiated methods are used in the treatment of dry and oily seborrhea.
In addition, it is important to remember that recipes of alternative medicine are only additional treatment methods that are used in conjunction with medicines. The use of herbal therapy alone does not exclude the possibility of a relapse of the disease. It is important to periodically change the recipes used in order to avoid the body getting used to any of the components.
Decoctions for the treatment of oily seborrhea
Treatment of seborrhea of the scalp at home can be performed using decoctions of herbs. A good remedy is a burdock, popularly known as burdock. For medicinal purposes, use the roots of the plant. The multicomponent chemical composition of burdock root positively affects the activity of the sebaceous glands, regulating their activity and inhibiting the spread of fungal flora, and preventing the spread of inflammatory processes. To prepare the broth, you need to mix a few tablespoons of the roots with a small amount of boiling water (1 cup) and simmer over low heat for a quarter hour. Cool the broth and apply to the hair roots. Therapy is usually carried out for several weeks. In parallel with these, you can use a mixture of equal parts of a decoction of burdock, nettle and wormwood (2 tablespoons) three times a day for oral administration.
An effective and simple treatment for scalp seborrhea at home is performed with the help of a nettle leaf infusion.
It is useful for seborrhea for several months to wash your hair with a decoction of oak bark. To prepare the medicine, you need to pour two tablespoons of oak bark with hot water, boil, insist for about half an hour.
After washing, you can use birch leaves as a hair conditioner. Healing power also have decoctions of St. John's wort, chamomile, sage.
Masks for the treatment of oily seborrhea
The treatment of scalp seborrhea at home is also the use of all kinds of hair masks, the main component of which is egg yolk in combination with alcohol, yeast. The yolk has the ability to dry the skin, which is important in the inflammatory processes of the epidermis. Consider a few examples of popular hair masks.
A mask based on honey, aloe juice and castor oil. To prepare the remedy, you will need castor oil, honey and aloe juice in equal proportions (one teaspoon each). The components must be mixed to a homogeneous consistency and applied to the scalp to wrap the bath for a quarter of an hour. Wash off with warm water.
A mask based on badiaga and boric acid. According to the recipe, you need to mix a teaspoon of badiaga and a previously prepared solution of boric acid (half a teaspoon of acid, half a glass of water). Rub into the hair in a warm form until a slight tingling occurs. Wash off after 30 minutes.
Folk remedies for the treatment of dry seborrhea
A small amount of fat on the skin and hair - this is what characterized by dry seborrhea of the scalp. Treatment with folk remedies is aimed at filling the lack of sebum by rubbing oils and fatty creams into the scalp. It is important to remember that the oil is rubbed very carefully and thoroughly, as during such manipulations hair can break. In addition, an excess of oil leads to clogging of the pores of the skin, and as a result, a violation of its thermoregulation.
In therapy, oils of flax, sea-buckthorn, parsley, black poplar, and tricolor violet are used. Sea buckthorn oil is combined with olive oil - one part of sea buckthorn oil and nine parts of olive oil. The treatment mixture is recommended to be applied to the scalp. The course of treatment is a month. It is possible that the use of sea buckthorn fruit instead of oil.
For medicinal purposes, you can use pure burdock oil. The recommended procedure time is two hours no more than twice a week. The procedure is carried out for a month. Then the course is repeated after six months.
Dry seborrhea rubbing procedure
"Rubbing" is a manipulation that is often used in the diagnosis of dry seborrhea of the scalp.Home treatment involves a procedure similar to rubbing oils, however, extracts of various herbs are used as a therapeutic agent. Consider a few simple but effective recipes.
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To summarize all of the above, we can highlight the main points. From the materials of our article, the reader can learn that the disease caused by increased secretion of the sebaceous glands is called "seborrhea of the scalp." Symptoms and treatment of the disease are interrelated things, since the tactics of therapy directly depend on the form of the course of the disease, i.e., what signs are characteristic for it. In medicine, pathology is divided into dry, oily, and combined seborrhea. Mixed seborrhea combines the signs of oily and dry forms. Fatty seborrhea is manifested by the formation of yellow scales on the scalp; unkempt look of hair, their increased fat content, which is not eliminated even by frequent washing. Itching and white scales at the roots of the hair indicate that the person most likely has dry seborrhea of the scalp.
Treatment (shampoos, recipes of alternative medicine, medications) should be carried out only after consultation with a qualified specialist. In general, seborrhea responds well enough to treatment. As a rule, therapy is aimed not only at eliminating the symptoms of the disease, but also at increasing the barrier functions of the patient's body, stabilizing his hormonal background. This is understandable, because the main cause of the onset of the disease is the improper secretion of the sebaceous glands, caused, in turn, by functional disorders in the body. A good addition to traditional methods of treatment is physiotherapy.