Medical Encyclopedia

Seborrheic Dermatitis is a skin disorder which commonly affects the scalp but can also appear on areas being abundant in oil cells such as face, chest, back or in the folds of the skin. Infants are also predisposed to seborrheic dermatitis which reveals itself in infants in patches of thick, yellow crusty or greasy skin mostly on their scalp.

The signs and symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis are the reddish swollen patches of the skin accompanied by continuous itching and burning which are mostly common when the skin infection develops with the skin being extremely inflamed.

Generally seborrheic dermatitis tends to begin in infancy, puberty or between 40 and 70 years. The exact causes of seborrheic dermatitis are not defined. It is widely believed that a number of factors interact to cause this skin disease. Among these factors there are genes that we inherit and yeast that normally lives on human skin. The dominant reason for seborrheic dermatitis lies in the abnormal production of oil by oil glands and hair follicles. The disease progresses in people who are constantly under stress and fatigue, under certain hormones, in people who suffer from overweight, from neurological disorders such s Parkinson's disease, hand injuries or strokes.

There are many treatments available to manage seborrheic dermatitis. The aim of most of them is to reduce the yeast colonization of the skin and control inflammation and scaling while it is possible to control seborrheic dermatitis. It is generally considered to be a chronic disease that waxes and wanes over time. One treatment may be enough for some people to manage the disease while others have to undertake a combination of treatments to maintain an adequate control of the skin disorder.

Topical and oral corticosteroids are widely applied for curing seborrheic dermatitis. Among them there is Prednisolone. Prednisolone is a synthetic adrenal corticosteroid. What is so significant about this corticosteroid is that it possesses potent anti-inflammatory properties and is used in a wide variety of inflammatory conditions, for example, skin disorders. Prednisolone reduces the inflammation associated with seborrheic dermatitis. One should be very careful while taking Prednisolone and be ready for adverse side effects caused by the medication. It can lead to a rebound worsening of the seborrheic dermatitis. That is why the process of recovery under Prednisolone should be monitored by an experienced physician or a health care provider.