Raechele Cochran Gathers, MD A dry, itchy, and flaking scalp is often caused by a common condition called seborrheic dermatitis. While may people suffer from mild occasional flakes and dandruff, others can develop a more serious condition that causes excessive flaking, itching, and inflamamation of the the scalp.
What is Seborrheic Dermatitis?
Seborrheic dermatitis causes excessive flaking, itching and inflammation on the scalp. Seborrheic dermatitis is caused by an abnormal response to a common yeast on the scalp, called Malassezia furfur. Seborrheic dermatitis often causes thick, caked-up, greasy scaling on the scalp. In seborrheic dermatitis, the dandruff may be all over the scalp, or in just certain areas. In addition to causing flaking an scaling in the scalp, people with seborrheic dermatitis commonly get flaking, scaling and inflammation around the ears and nose, in the eyebrows and along the hairline. Unlike ringworm of the scalp, seborrheic dermatitis is not contagious.
Causes
Seborrheic dermatitis is caused by an abnormal response to a common yeast on the scalp, called Malassezia furfur. All people can be susceptible to seborrheic dermatitis. While most people who develop seborrheic dermatitis are healthy, severe seborrheic dermatitis can sometimes be associated with HIV infection. Seborrheic dermatitis can also be seen in some people that take certain psychiatric medications or in those with certain central nervous system diseases like Parkinson’s disease.
In people with darker skin, seborrheic dermatitis can also cause unsightly discoloration (usually lighter than the normal skin tone) around the hairline, brows, creases of the nose, and sometimes in other areas. Some affected people may notice the discoloration from seborrheic dermatitis even more than the flaking.
Triggers of Seborrheic Dermatitis
- Stress
- Seasonal changes
- Humidity
- Scalp trauma/inflammation
Treatment
Seborrheic dermatitis is commonly treated with a medicated shampoo. Popular shampoos to treat seborrheic dermatitis include those with anti-yeast action, tar, zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide, sulfur or salicylic acid. A really common anti-yeast shampoo is ketoconazole, and it generally works well for controlling seborrheic dermatitis. Seborrheic dermatitis can also be treated with an anti-inflammatory topical oil or oil, commonly a topical steroid.
Some people also like to treat scalp inflammation with natural oils. Emu oil has been reported to help calm the dry, itchy and flaking scalp that can occur from seborrheic dermatitis. For some, tea rinses, which are rich in anti-inflammatory botanicals, can also be helpful for calming an inflamed and irritated scalp
Conclusions
Seborrheic dermatitis is a very common condition that causes scaling, flaking and itching on the scalp. It can also cause flaking and discoloration on the face and around the ears. Treatment options for seborrheic dermatitis include medicated shampoos and topical anti-inflammatory treatments.
