Skin inflammation is caused by various diseases. One of them is seborrheic dermatitis, which occurs in children and adults. It is also called seborrheic eczema, which most often appears at a young age, but can also occur after 40, and even in newborns. Men are most susceptible to the disease. The causes of dermatitis are varied and varied, depending on the geographic location of a person.
Seborrheic dermatitis occurs on the face (eyebrows, eyelids, nose, forehead, etc.), on the scalp, in the chest and interscapular areas. The causative agent of the disease is the fungus malassezia furfur, which chooses places with a large accumulation of sebaceous glands.
Scalp diseases: names and causes
Common skin diseases are considered to be:
- diseases of a dermatological nature (including seborrhea, eczema and hyperkeratosis);
- autoimmune diseases of the scalp (including psoriasis and scleroderma);
- infectious (formation of pustules, appearance of lice, etc.);
- fungal rashes.
Whatever the cause of the disease, it must be eliminated in time. It is important to start treatment as early as possible, because wasted time can have serious consequences.
Stages of psoriasis on the head
The disease lasts a long time, exacerbations are replaced by remissions. The frequency of exacerbations and the severity of symptoms depend on the presence of provoking factors.
Progressive stage
Rash and inflammation spread, accompanied by severe itching. In the initial stage, Koebner's symptom is present - the appearance of psoriatic rashes at the site of scratches and abrasions.
Stationary
The process is in the same state, not spreading, but not dying out.
Regressive
The process gradually subsides, the itching disappears, the rash turns pale, the inflammatory infiltrate decreases, gradually taking on the appearance of a spot; the color of the rash fades starting from the center, forming ring-shaped figures with a brighter border. Sometimes they begin to turn pale from the periphery to the center and then take on the appearance of whitish rings (a symptom of psoriasis on the head - Voronov's pseudoatrophy). The healing phase can take quite a long time and gradually only white depigmented spots remain on the skin.
Causes and signs of dermatological diseases
The appearance of dermatological diseases of the scalp in a patient occurs when the sebaceous glands work abnormally. For example, the well-known disease seborrhea occurs in people who constantly live in a stressful state, which leads to a malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, and constant snacking on fast food and sweets only worsens the clinical picture.
Seborrhea can occur as a result of hormonal imbalance. Moreover, it is observed equally in both the male and female populations in equal numbers. Rare causes of the disease include hereditary predisposition. It's rare, but it happens. At the moment, doctors cannot answer with certainty which link in the genetic code is responsible for the transmission of seborrhea in the family.
Self-medication is not recommended - it can only cause harm. To establish an accurate diagnosis, you need to contact a specialist in skin diseases, who will refer you to an andrologist/gynecologist to identify pathological processes in the reproductive system. Based on the results obtained, adjustments are made to the diet, physiotherapy is prescribed, and, if necessary, a diet and a course of medications.
What is seborrheic dermatitis?
The best environment for seborrhea is sebum, or rather the presence in its composition of certain fatty acids, where a number of microbes prefer to be active. Seborrhea can develop due to comedones, which appear when sebum is not completely and not promptly removed from the surface of the skin, resulting in clogged pores.
There are two types of seborrhea:
- oily (more often occurs in adolescents during puberty, as well as with gastrointestinal disorders or chronic infections and even caries): this type is characterized by acne and oily hair;
- dry skin is characterized by a decrease in sebum secretion, which causes complications such as comedones, acne and dandruff.
Sometimes mixed seborrheic dermatitis is diagnosed, which combines the signs of both forms of the disease.
Seborrheic dermatitis in infants and children of other ages
In infants, the disease most often manifests itself in the first weeks of life and is characterized by round, scaly spots of varying sizes. Treatment at this age is usually not required, since the dermatitis goes away on its own and leaves no traces.
Seborrheic dermatitis can appear in children aged 2–4 years (most often diagnosed at this age), but this does not mean that other age groups are not at risk, since the main factors that provoke the occurrence and spread of the disease are weak immunity , chronic or recent infections and genetic predisposition.
If in newborn children seborrheic dermatitis often goes away without treatment, then in an older child the disease cannot be left without control and a visit to a pediatric dermatologist. Treatment under the supervision of a doctor is necessary to get rid of the disease as quickly as possible and prevent the occurrence of exacerbations and undesirable consequences.
Fungal diseases: causes and symptomatic picture
Fungal diseases of the scalp partially or completely affect the scalp. They are transmitted through tactile contact and the use of shared personal hygiene products (towel, comb), clothing and hats.
A common fungal disease is ringworm. The superficial form most often affects children of preschool and school age due to curiosity and frequent contacts with animals - cattle and rodents. According to statistics, lichen more often affects residents of villages and villages.
In most cases, it is characterized by the appearance of small spots, pinkish with a pale edge. Despite its frequent distribution among children, trichophytosis can appear in men and women of different age categories.
Treatment of fungal diseases of the scalp can take an indefinite period of time. If the disease is chronic, treatment of the scalp disease in this case does not guarantee complete relief.
Main symptoms
Any inflammation of the scalp begins with a feeling of severe itching. It becomes almost constant, worsens when sweating or when the head gets dirty. Gradually, the hair follicles swell and turn red. Initially, the swelling is small, and then swells more and more.
Soreness begins to be felt even when touched, a feeling of discomfort and tightness appears. The wounds on the head gradually increase in size, and the resulting cavities are filled with pus.
Pimples can break out on their own, then scar. In addition, the pus may spread to other areas. In this case, the ulcers on the scalp become deeper and hair may begin to fall out. Often, rashes appear on the temples, partings, and forehead.
Autoimmune diseases: causes and methods of treatment
For healthy people, patients with psoriasis or scleroderma do not pose any threat; these diseases are associated with a deficiency of essential vitamins and minerals in the body. The patient must be protected from situations that cause depression, anxiety and stress, after which the doctor prescribes oral drug treatment, namely:
- take a course of medications with a high content of vitamins, amino acids and minerals necessary for the recovery of the body;
- sedatives (if the patient is unable to get rid of stress on his own).
Mixed seborrhea
Mixed seborrhea has characteristics of dry and oily varieties. In particular, patients note that the skin on the face in the middle part is oily, and on the cheeks it is dry. Especially a lot of fat is released in the areas of the crown, chin, forehead, and nose. In other places the fat content is moderate or insufficient.
Doctors also note that a person may be bothered by dry dandruff and oily skin on the face.
Symptoms of mixed seborrhea:
- inflammatory process on the cheeks, scalp, chin, forehead, chest, nose;
- in the area of inflammation, the skin becomes rough;
- redness, itching;
- increased secretion of sebum on the forehead, but decreased secretion in other areas of the face;
- peeling in the area of increased activity of fat-secreting glands, yellowish or gray scales;
- peeling of dry areas of skin.
All the factors listed above as causes of other types of the disease can provoke mixed seborrhea. Most often the problem is associated with hormonal changes or disruptions. Heredity plays an important role. Stress and anxiety can also contribute to the growth of fungi.
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Carrying out diagnostics
Depending on the cause of the sore on the head in the hair, treatment is selected separately for each person. Therapy begins with a diagnosis. Initially, you need to normalize your diet, and also abandon shampoos and other care products that were recently purchased. This will help determine whether the rash is due to an allergy. You need to not just wash your hair, but massage it.
If there is an infection, the hair roots should not be touched temporarily, as bacteria may spread. Then you need to treat the pimples with an alcohol-containing product so that the weeping sores on your head dry out.
If all this does not help, then you need to contact a dermatologist, who, after examination, will help make the correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment. To establish a diagnosis, you need to take a smear test from the affected area. Usually, these measures are quite sufficient to determine the pathogen.
It is also necessary to determine the provoking factor, which requires a comprehensive examination. To do this, they donate blood for biochemistry, hemoglobin, hormones, and sugar. Immune status may also need to be determined.
Folk remedies
When sores appear on the head, what to do and whether it is possible to get rid of them using folk remedies is of interest to many people. Skin diseases of the scalp can be cured using unconventional methods that help quickly and effectively get rid of pustules and itching. They are completely safe and therefore suitable even for treating children.
Mix tomato juice and vegetable oil in equal proportions. Apply the finished product directly to the pustules three times a day. A positive result is observed already on the second day.
Mix olive oil and lemon juice in a 2:1 ratio. Apply to the scalp, insulate with polyethylene and wrap in a towel. Leave for 30 minutes, then rinse with clean water and wash your hair with medicated shampoo. This product not only perfectly moisturizes the scalp, but also stimulates its restoration, promoting faster removal of dead cells, normalizes blood circulation and enhances hair growth.
A nourishing onion mask helps cope with severe flaking. It perfectly nourishes the scalp and helps eliminate itching. The composition has a pronounced antiseptic effect and prevents the development of infection in wounds. In addition, it is a powerful hair growth stimulator that can be used in case of severe hair loss.
Place the chopped onion in a gauze bag and squeeze out the juice. Rub it into the scalp until the desired result is achieved. After applying the product, wrap your head in a towel for 1 hour. Wash off the mask with shampoo, and to eliminate the smell of onions, you can rinse your hair with a decoction of chamomile or oak bark.
