What is seborrheic dermatitis?
Seborrheic dermatitis is a disease that causes flaking of the skin. It usually affects the scalp. In adolescents and adults, it is commonly called “dandruff.” In babies, it is known as “cradle cap.” Seborrheic dermatitis can also affect the skin on other parts of the body, such as the face and chest, and the creases of the arms, legs and groin. Seborrheic dermatitis usually causes the skin to look a little greasy and scaly or flaky.
Seborrheic dermatitis is a skin condition in which the skin becomes red and inflamed before developing scaly flakes of white, gray, or yellow skin. This condition is most common on areas of the body where sweat glands are abundant, such as the scalp and groin, and it can also appear in the folds of the skin, in areas such as the neck and armpits. This condition is not harmful, but it can be unsightly, and many people choose to seek treatment for it for this reason. The cause of seborrheic dermatitis is not understood. It has been linked with some conditions like Parkinson’s disease, and also with oily or dirty skin. The condition is extremely common, especially in the mild forms known as dandruff in adults and cradle cap in babies. One of the issues with seborrheic dermatitis is that it looks like many other skin conditions, making diagnosis important to ensure that the condition is addressed appropriately. When a patient presents with a condition which looks like seborrheic dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin disorder that mainly affects the scalp, causing scaly, itchy, red skin and stubborn dandruff. For infants, seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp is known as cradle cap. In addition to the scalp, seborrheic dermatitis can also affect the face, upper chest, back and other oily areas of the body. It’s neither harmful nor contagious, but seborrheic dermatitis can be uncomfortable and unsightly. You may be able to treat seborrheic dermatitis yourself by recognizing its signs and symptoms and by using a combination of self-care steps and over-the-counter (nonprescription) medications.
