What Is Seborrheic Eczema?

This disease is also called seborrheic dermatitis. It is a chronic pimple squamous, superficial inflammatory skin disease at the site of seborrhea. It occurs in areas rich in sebaceous glands such as the head, face, and trunk. It is more common in adults and newborns, with varying degrees of itching.

Basic Information

nickname

Seborrheic dermatitis

English name

seborrheic eczema

Visiting department

dermatology

Common symptoms

Skin lesions are greasy scaly yellow-red patches

Causes of seborrheic eczema

The cause of this disease is not very clear. This disease is an inflammation that occurs on the basis of seborrhea, which may be related to increased sebum secretion and changes in its chemical composition. It is also believed that the surface lipid secretion of patients with seborrheic eczema does not increase, but that cholesterol, triglycerides and paraffin increase, while squalene decreases. In recent years, some scholars believe that Malassezia symbiosis with the normal population may be related to the onset and exacerbation of seborrheic eczema. Malassezia antigens can sensitize patients with seborrheic eczema and induce the body to produce specific IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies. It is also believed that the excessive growth of Malassezia and its metabolites enter the epidermis, leading to an immune inflammatory response. Patients susceptible to seborrheic eczema can be induced by fatigue, emotional stress, or infection. Patients with AIDS often present with severe disseminated seborrheic eczema, which may be related to the excessive growth of Malassezia caused by immune deficiency.

Clinical manifestations of seborrheic eczema

The disease is often localized, beginning in the head. Aggravated people can develop to the face, ears, armpits, upper chest, interscapular region, umbilical fossa, vulva and groin. The initial skin lesions are inflammatory pimples around the hair follicles. As the disease progresses, the pimples fuse into yellow-red patches of varying sizes, with clear boundaries and covered with greasy scales or scabs. In severe cases, it can show mild exudative eczema-like dermatitis, which is confined to a certain part or widespread, and even develops erythroderma. Due to the location and severity of the damage, clinical manifestations also differ.

The mild damage to the head is a small piece of white pityriasis or greasy scaly patches, which later expand and fuse into large, well-defined patches, with a reddish base and mild itching, which can expand and fuse into a greasy scaly round Patches, severe cases can involve most of the scalp, can be accompanied by exudation and thick palate, accompanied by fishy odor.

Facial skin lesions often spread from the head. The forehead, eyelids, and nasolabial folds are heavier, with yellow-red or greasy white scales and scalp skin. Diffuse erythema and desquamation around and around eyebrows, and eyebrows scarce due to scratching. Eyelid involvement is manifested as blepharitis, which is covered by red, fine white scales. Nasolabial folds and nasal wings are mostly yellow-red scaly greasy patches. In addition to skin lesions on male beards, flaky greasy scaly patches are often associated with folliculitis. Erythema, swelling and cleft palate may occur behind one or both ears. Seborrheic external otitis is more common in elderly patients.

Trunk skin lesions occur between the chest and the scapula. They are initially small red-brown hair follicle papules with oily scales, and later merge into round, oval, or irregular yellow-red or pale red oily patches, sometimes visible. The center of the patch subsides and a peripheral or polycyclic lesion is formed on the periphery.

Axillary, groin, sub-breast and umbilical fossa lesions are present in the form of disseminated rubbing erythema, with greasy scales on the edges, and the boundaries of the erythema are clear and often show acute eczema-like changes.

The severity of seborrheic eczema varies from person to person. There are varying degrees of itching. Scratching due to itching can cause secondary infections. Improper topical drugs can cause contact dermatitis or eczema-like changes, and severe cases can develop erythroderma.

Infant seborrheic eczema occurs from 2 to 10 weeks after the birth of the baby. Circular erythema appears on the scalp, forehead, ears, eyebrows, nasal cheek grooves, and wrinkles, with clear boundaries and scales. There are sticky greasy scutellaria baicalensis, there is erosion and exudation, the inflammation is more prominent, symmetry occurs, and itching slightly. Generally children can be cured within 3 weeks to 2 months. If it does not heal, it is often complicated with atopic dermatitis in infants, and it can also be followed by bacterial infection or candida infection.

Seborrheic Eczema Diagnosis

According to the disease, it is common in adults and infants. It has seborrhea constitution, which occurs on the basis of seborrhea. Typical skin lesions are greasy scaly yellow-red patches, which often spread from the head and occur in seborrhea. The diagnosis is not difficult.

Differential diagnosis of seborrheic eczema

The disease should be differentiated from scalp psoriasis, pityriasis rosea, eczema, ringworm, erythematous pemphigoid, and so on.

Seborrheic Eczema Treatment

Law of life

Eat less fat and spicy foods. Wash your hair with less hot water and alkaline soap. Avoid scratching.

2. Systemic treatment

Oral administration of vitamin B ₂ , B ₆ , multivitamin B, and retinoid capsules can be taken with antibiotics such as tetracycline antibiotics and erythromycin when the inflammation is obvious or the range of inflammation is enlarged. When itching is severe, a first-generation antihistamine with a sedative effect or a second-generation antihistamine with an anti-inflammatory effect can be used.

3. Local treatment

Mainly to dissolve fat, exfoliate, anti-inflammatory and itching. Commonly used drugs are coal tar, sulfur, salicylic acid, and selenium sulfide. Different dosage forms can be selected according to different parts and different skin lesions. For erythema and scaly skin lesions, those with a small area can choose a weak to medium glucocorticoid cream. If there is erosion or exudation, use furancillin solution, isoxacridine solution, potassium permanganate solution to wet the dressing, and then choose the appropriate dosage form. You can also choose compound preparations containing glucocorticoids and antibiotics, such as compound miconazole cream and compound econazole cream.