Seborrhoeic dermatitis is a painful, embarrassing condition that is poorly understood by medical science and may have a wide range of causes. Patients often use one treatment product after another in an attempt to alleviate symptoms, with no luck. Read this article for a word of advice that could help you conquer dermatitis at last.
Products for Seborrhoeic Dermatitis
If you are one of the unlucky people who suffer from seborrhoeic dermatitis on the scalp, you have probably tried several different treatments already, perhaps with little effect. There are a wide variety of over-the-counter treatment options available, employing a range of different ingredients. Shampoos containing, for example, zinc, coal tar, salicylic acid, and antifungal agents are among the most popular over the counter treatments. Products containing “natural” ingredients such as tea tree oil and coconut oil are also available. Additionally, weak topical steroid liquids and creams are sold to alleviate the troublesome symptoms of seborrhoeic dermatitis.
Suffering Without a Cure
Seborrhoeic dermatitis on the scalp can be not only uncomfortable but also embarrassing, seriously decreasing the quality of life for sufferers. To make matters worse, the exact cause is not known and the condition is not seriously harmful to the health of the individual, which means that sufferers often don’t seek treatment or are not given serious attention by physicians if they do seek treatment. Some people live with painful itching and flaking for many years before they are able to get the condition under control. Unfortunately, the variety of products available to treat seborrhoeic dermatitis can prolong this process as individuals try every product, one at a time. One simple tip could help speed the recovery process, however.
A New Approach to Dermatitis Treatment
One thing that seborrhoeic dermatitis sufferers often do not realize is that there are likely to be multiple causes of the condition, and available remedies often only treat one specific cause. Thus, an individual with this stubborn skin condition may try antifungal shampoos for a time, find that the condition does not improve much, and may conclude that the condition does not have a fungal cause. The problem with this line of reasoning is that, although the majority of seborrhoeic dermatitis cases are related to a form of yeast or fungus naturally present on the skin, this is often not the only cause. Therefore, just because the dermatitis does not respond to antifungal shampoo alone does not mean that there is no fungal element to the condition.
Combining Treatments for Combined Causes
The truth about many cases of seborrhoeic dermatitis is that they are, in all likelihood, caused by a number of factors working in conjunction. For some people, a sensitivity to the naturally occurring forms of yeast can combine with excessive drying of the scalp, sensitivity to harsh chemicals in other shampoos or hair products, and even dietary allergies or vitamin deficiencies. As a result, effectively treating seborrhoeic dermatitis usually requires the use of more than one type of treatment.
For example, a physician might prescribe a strong form of antifungal shampoo in conjunction with a topical steroid for symptom relief and a moisturizing agent such as aloe vera or olive oil. Using these three things in conjunction could greatly reduce or eliminate symptoms, even if one of the products by itself failed to produce a significant change.
What, Exactly, Causes Seborrhoeic Dermatitis?
Understandably, many people are interested in learning as much as they can about their bodies and want to narrow down the causes of their seborrhoeic dermatitis as specifically as possible. If you fall into this category, you may be able to pinpoint the cause or causes of your condition via a long process of trial and error. The first step is to find a combination of treatments that works for you. Whether this includes antifungal shampoo, topical steroids, UV treatments, honey, or other alternative treatments, focus on eliminating symptoms first. When you have achieved relief you can begin removing the treatments one by one.
If symptoms do not worsen, you may be able to rule out certain causes. Remember, however, that medical science but poorly understands seborrhoeic dermatitis, and if you feel frustrated by embarrassing flakes and painful, persistent itching, you may want to stick with any treatment or combination of treatments that proves effective.
