What Is Seborrhoeic Eczema?

Eczema is a common problem that many have had to deal with. There are several different forms of eczema, but they all seem to be related and the condition may have its roots in a problem with the immune system. It is thought that eczema may be triggered by the body responding to an outside irritant that causes the body to over react and respond with inflamed skin that appears as a red rash.

Atopic dermatitis is a common form of eczema that many babies have. This red and itchy rash appears on the face, scalp behind the knees and elbows and can even develop small sores that will open and weep.

There are other forms of eczema including seborrhoeic eczema and these may appear on different parts of the body. Seborrhoeic eczema begins on the scalp and then can spread; although the disorder is not contagious to other people it can move on an infected person.

Looking At Seborrhoeic Eczema

Seborrhoeic eczema may first appear on the scalp and look like a case of dandruff. It most often appears in people between the ages of 20to 40 and men are more likely to develop seborrhoeic eczema than women. Many that develop seborrhoeic eczema can control the condition with a medicated shampoo, but in the more extreme cases the disorder progresses.

As seborrhoeic eczema spreads it can appear as the dandruff is getting worse and getting thicker on the scalp, the skin underneath becomes red and irritated and hair loss can also occur in the areas affected, but will usually re-grow once the condition is brought under control.

Seborrhoeic eczema can then spread onto the face and even behind the ears where it can become extremely severe. The area behind the ears can develop a crusted appearance with scaly patches that flake off. The area around the eyes can also become infected and eyebrows can develop more of the patchy thick scale.

There are medications that can help treat seborrhoeic eczema and a physician should be consulted if there is a concern that this is a condition that a person has. Medicated shampoos can help keep the condition in control and help keep it from spreading. Because the disorder is associated with an auto-immune response, there may not be a cure for seborrhoeic eczema but there are ways to keep the condition in control.

Seborrhoeic eczema is a condition that can be controlled and if this is a suspected problem contact a physician to begin treatment as soon as possible.