There are numerous skin disorders which may cause severe itching and therefore, discomfort to certain areas in the body. Some body parts are more susceptible to certain kinds of skin disorders. Seborrheic dermatitis—seborrhea is one of those skin disorders which is not uncommon in newborns and 30 to 60 year-old adults. This disorder is often mistaken for eczema, psoriasis, or even allergies.

Causes and symptoms

Exact causes of seborrhea have not been scientifically determined. Despite this, some conditions are believed to have a significant role in triggering the occurrence of this skin disorder, such as:

• Stress and depression
• Eating disorders
• Psoriasis and rosacea
• Acne problems
• Yeasts living on skin
• Weather
• Genes
• Medical conditions, illness recovery, and medications

Those risk factors might thus be varied among people—a risk factor might be significant for a seborrheic dermatitis patient, while it is not for some others. Although triggered by many risk factors, seborrhea is researched to be more prone to women and men with oily skin. Newborns might also be susceptible to this disorder.

There are some symptoms developed from seborrheic dermatitis, such as:

• Severe itching and burning sensation occurring on the scalp and other susceptible body parts.
• Skin becomes over-sensitive and prone to allergic reactions.
• Developed rashes all over the susceptible areas.
• White or yellowish crusty scales which may flake off— will likely to always occur on the scalps.

Susceptible body parts

Identical with many other kinds of skin diseases, seborrheic dermatitis might infest various body parts. The scalp is the most frequently reported body part affected by seborrhea. However, some patients—who already develop psoriasis and eczema suffer from seborrhea in some other body parts, such as:

• some spots on the face
• on the back
• on the stomach and below the breasts
• on the arms and legs

In infants, seborrheic dermatitis is commonly developed on the face—both cheeks and on the upper tights. Hence, many parents often think that the rashes and itching come from the diaper rash, instead.

Will seborrheic dermatitis ever go away?

What becomes a concern with skin disorders is whether or not the problem will go away—or we need to endure it for the rest of our lives? This concern is also common in people with seborrhea. As a chronic disease which involves oil glands within our body, seborrheic healing might not be very simple. However, this skin disorder is curable—at least the patients are able to minimize its re-occurrence.

• With newborns, seborrhea is likely to vanish when they reach the age of 3 months. However, this skin disorder may reoccur when the children reach their puberty. This is triggered by the growth hormones which activate excessive work of the oil glands.
• With adults, seborrheic dermatitis might be difficult to treat. However, proper skin care and medications can be helpful in minimizing its effects and occurrence frequency.
  • Some patients are unable to get their seborrheic dermatitis eliminated, even with the strongest medications. Yet, some patients eliminate their problems about the skin disorder by only using simple home remedies.
  • The occurrence of seborrheic dermatitis is unpredictable, and it worsens if you are suffering from other skin disorders. However, many patient have observed that their seborrhea will likely to occur when the weather is extremely uncomfortable—too cold, too dry, too warm, or too humid.
  • Some adult patients experience quite often reoccurring if they stop the medications. However, the effective medications for seborrhea are usually the hydrocortisone ones, which in long period application may make your skin thinner and damage your vision. Hence, treating seborrhea using more natural remedies or by changing the lifestyle are more recommended than those prescribed medications.
  • Both newborns and adults have similar chance of developing the skin disorder, but the one in newborns will fade quicker than the one in adults. Hence, your persistency in keeping the triggers away and maintaining the right, helpful daily practices are required.
  • In some cases, however, seborrheic dermatitis will not vanish and therefore, is a life-long disease that clears and flares when triggered. However, good skin care will be helpful in preventing the flares.