SEBORRHEIC DERMATITIS & HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT

SEBORRHEIC  DERMATITIS & HOMOEOPATHY

Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic  skin inflammation that becomes worse and better spontaneously.

·      Dandruff. Cradle cap. That red, itchy rash with flaky scales could be seborrheic dermatitis, or seborrhea.

·      It's a common skin disease that looks similar to psoriasis, eczema, or an allergic reaction. And it can appear on  body as well as scalp.

Seborrheic dermatitis causes an eczema-type eruption  commonly affecting portions of the head and upper torso.

Seborrheic dermatitis is also known as seborrhea.(excessive production of sebum ).

SEBORRHEIC  DERMATITIS  FACT

·         Seborrheic dermatitis is probably the single most common inflammatory skin condition affecting humans aside from acne vulgaris.

·         Seborrheic dermatitis is highly treatable but incurable.

·         The course of seborrheic dermatitis is characterized by apparently spontaneous remissions and exacerbations.

·         Seborrheic dermatitis affects all ages.

SEBORRHEIC  DERMATITIS  CAUSE

The causes of seborrheic dermatitis are poorly understood. Since this condition tends to occur in areas of heavy sebum production, it is felt that oily skin may be a factor leading to seborrheic dermatitis.

 In addition, it seems that many patients with seborrheic dermatitis have excessive growth of a normal skin yeast (Pityrosporum or Malassezia) in the affected areas.

 Whether this common microorganism really leads to seborrheic dermatitis or is just a secondary phenomenon remains to be determined.

The causes of seborrheic dermatitis are poorly understood

Ø It seems to be a combination of things, including:

• Stress
•  genes
• A yeast that normally lives on skin
• Certain medical conditions and medicines
• Cold, dry weather

It doesn't come from an allergy or being unclean.

Newborns and adults aged 30-60 are more likely to get seborrheic dermatitis. It's more common in men than women and in people with oily skin.

·      medical conditions will also raise risk:

• Acne
• AIDS
• Alcoholism
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Epilepsy
• Heart attack or stroke recovery
• Parkinson's disease
• Psoriasis
• Rosacea

Certain factors increase the risk of developing seborrheic dermatitis:

· Affection of a close family member

· Obesity

· Oily skin

· Stress

· Fatigue

· Infrequent shampooing and use of hair-care products containing alcohol

· Skin disorders like acne.

· HIV infections

SEBORRHEIC DERMATITIS  SYMPTOMS & SIGNS

·      The rash itself is characteristically red and scaling but occasionally can become weepy and oozy

·      Dandruff and cradle cap are common names for seborrheic dermatitis.

Babies 3 months and younger often get cradle cap: crusty yellow or brown scales on their scalp. It usually goes away before they're a year old, although it can come back when they reach puberty.

 Common symptoms of this disorder are:

· Patchy scaling and thick crusts on scalp

· Plaques may include the scalp, eyebrows, nose, forehead, or ears.

· Sometimes it may affect your breastbone, your groin area, and your armpits.

· Scales may be white or yellowish and attach themselves to the body of the hair

· Greasy, red skin with white or yellowish, flaky scales

· Skin flakes or dandruff

· Small red-brown bumps on skin

· Itch or soreness

· Hair loss: this occurs in very long-standing cases having repeated inflammations of the sebaceous gland.

· Dandruff is thought to be closely related to seborrheic dermatitis, but is less severe.

Ø The distribution of this rash is often of great help in making the diagnosis

 seborrheic dermatitis on face, especially around your nose, on your eyelids, or behind your ears. It can show up on  body, too:

• In the middle part of the chest
• Around the navel
• On buttocks
• In skin folds under arms and on legs
• In the groin
• Below breasts

Ø On babies, seborrheic dermatitis might be mistaken for diaper rash.

Ø In babies, the rash causes a scalp eruption commonly called "cradle cap.

·      Skin can itch, burn, or look red. The scales that flake off could be white or yellowish and look moist or oily.

·      The scaling can be extensive enough to be called dandruff and can be the patient's major complaint

SEBORRHEIC  DERMATITIS  MANAGMENTS HOMOEOPATHIC TREAMENT

Treatment of hair-bearing areas, like the scalp, often includes the use of a shampoo.

· Shampoo daily.

Use an anti-dandruff shampoo that contains selenium sulfide, tar, pyrithione zinc, salicylic acid or ketoconazole as the active ingredient. Use a different shampoo with varying active ingredients each week for three weeks. Then repeat the rotation.

· Use an over-the-counter antifungal cream.

Daily application of nonprescription clotrimazole (Lotrimin) may be helpful.

· Apply an anti-itch cream or lotion to the affected area.

A nonprescription hydrocortisone cream, containing at least 1 percent hydrocortisone, can temporarily relieve the itch.

· Avoid harsh soaps and detergents.

 Be sure to rinse the soap completely off body.

· Wear smooth-textured cotton clothing.

This will help  avoid irritation.

· Avoid scratching whenever possible.

Cover the itchy area with a dressing, if  can't keep from scratching it. Trim nails and wear gloves at night.

HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICINE

The selection of remedy is based upon the theory of individualization and symptoms similarity by using holistic approach.

Homeopathy for Seborrhoeic dermatitis can help this increasingly common condition without harmful side effects of traditional medicines.

several remedies are available to treat S.dermatitis that can be selected on the basis of cause, sensations and modalities of the complaints

Homeopathy offers an excellent treatment for Seborrhoeic dermatitis during all stages.

·      Psorinum-

sebaceous gland secrete excessively; oily skin. Crusty eruption all over. Dirty ,dingy look. Dry lusterless , eruption on the scalp rough hair, . introlerable Itching.

·      LYCOPODIUM-

Violent itching, fissured erution, chronic eczema associated with urinary, gastric, & heptic disorder; bleed easily,

·      Mezerium-

scaly eruption, white scabs.head covered with thick, leathery crust, under which pus collect

·      Nat.mur-

 dry eruption, especially on the margin of the hairy scalp and bend of joint.

·      Petroleum-

 moist eruption on the scalp,worse, back and ear. Skin around eye dry & scurfy.

          Eczema, intertrigo etc in & behind the ear with                    intense itching

·      Phosphorus-

itching of scalp,dandruff,falling out of hair in large bunches.

·      Thuja-

white scaly dandruff ,hair dry & falling out. oily skin.

·      Sulphur-

scalp dry,falling of hair worse washing. Itching; scratching causes burning. Dry,scaly unhealyhy skin.

·      Ammonium carb-

scaly eruption in the bends of extremities, between legs, around the anus, and genital.

·      Antimonium crud-

moist eruption around the ear. Yellow crusty eruption on the cheeks and chin.

              Thick, hard, honey coloured scabs. Dry skin.

·      Ars.alb-

skin raw, and burning within.scalp itches intolerably, rough ,dirty, sensitive and covered with dry scales. Itching , & dandruff. worse cold& scrathinhg.

·      Ars. Iod-

dry scaly itchy.marked exfoliation of the skin in the form of large scales, leaving a raw exuding surface beneath.

                                               

·      Graphites-

dryness of lids.moisture and eruption behind ear. Scabs & fissured in nostril.

Other homoeopathic medicine

Belladonna

Ber. Vulgaris

Bryonia

Calendula

Cantharis

Dulcamara

Sarsaparilla

Merc sol

Sepia

Kali mur

Kali sulph

Mezerium

Nat. mur

Rhus tox

Psorinum

Etc.