Seborrhoeic Eczema Treatments
Seborrheic eczema, also known as seborrheic dermatitis (or cradle cap in infants), is an extremely itchy, sometimes painful and often embarrassing condition. Not the same as dandruff, it's caused by inflammation in the upper layer of the skin leading to skin redness, whitish-yellow scaly skin flakes on the scalp, face and trunk. Sometimes hair loss occurs.
Things You'll Need
- Medicated shampoo
- Cortisone cream
- Non-soap cleanser
- Emollient body oil
- Supplements, such as zinc, selenium, biotin, folic acid and B12
- Aloe vera gel or borage oil
Instructions
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Conventional Treatments
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1
Get a checkup from your doctor to make sure your condition is indeed seborrheic eczema and not something different. If it is eczema, there are certain prescription-strength medicated shampoos that only a doctor can prescribe, as well as prescription-strength topical steroid creams, or an anti-fungal pill to be taken orally. In extreme cases, ultraviolet radiation can be prescribed.
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2
Try over-the-counter medicated shampoos, if your doctor says it's OK. These include products with ketoconazole (Nizoral), selenium sulfide (Selsun Blue), zinc pyrithione (Head and Shoulders, ZNP bar), or keratolytics such as salicylic acid or coal tar (Capasol, Alphosyl 2-in-1, and T/Gel). For these to work, massage the shampoo into the scalp and leave on for a few minutes. You may need to rotate different types of shampoos, to see which one works best for you.
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Use a prescription cortisone lotion once or twice a day as directed, if the shampoos don't work for the scalp area. For other areas, such as the face and trunk, you can start with an over-the-counter cortisone cream from the drugstore.
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Wash affected areas of the face, chest and trunk 1 to 2 times daily with a non-soap cleanser, as soap can be drying. You can also use an emollient bath oil after cleansing.
Alternative Treatments
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Obtain allergy testing to see if a food allergy might be an underlying problem.
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Supplement with zinc daily (start with 15 to 20mg going up to 50mg), biotin (10mg), B12 (1000mcg), folic acid (10mg), and/or selenium (150-200mcg).
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Use aloe vera gel or borage oil rubbed onto the affected area.
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8
Try a shampoo or lotion with tea tree oil.
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Change your lifestyle. Since stress has been associated with flareups of seborrheic eczema, try meditation. Cut down on alcohol, and avoid high-fat, high-calorie, fried, and fast foods which can contribute to inflammation and overall bad health.
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Tips & Warnings
Most treatments will need to be continued for several weeks or months during an acute flareup, and only periodically afterward.
If any treatment you try makes your condition worse or causes any additional problems or side effects, discontinue immediately and contact your doctor.
