Seborrheic dermatitis on the face: causes, signs and treatment methods

Seborrheic dermatitis on the face photo

Photo 1. Seborrheic dermatitis on the face of an adult

Photo 2. Seborrheic dermatitis on the face of an adult

Photo 3. Seborrheic dermatitis

Photo 4. Seborrheic dermatitis on a child’s face

Causes of seborrheic dermatitis on the face

The main cause of seborrheic dermatitis is the increased functioning of the sebaceous glands and a change in the composition of the fat they produce. A similar situation develops when the Malassezia fungus multiplies excessively (normally it is part of the skin microflora). In this case, it penetrates the sebaceous glands and produces a special secretion that forces subcutaneous fat to break down, forming fatty acids that irritate the skin and contribute to the occurrence of rashes.

Dermatitis affects men more often than women, which is explained by the action of androgen, a male hormone. This hormone stimulates the synthesis of subcutaneous sebum. In women, the disease usually manifests itself when estrogen levels decrease and androgen concentrations increase.

Seborrheic dermatitis on the forehead is especially often diagnosed in people whose close relatives have a similar problem, which is associated with a hereditary predisposition.

Other factors can also provoke the development of the disease:

• hormonal imbalances;
• disruption of the endocrine system (especially the thyroid gland);
• weakened immunity;
• hypovitaminosis;
• unfavorable environmental situation;
• improper facial skin care;
• excessive sweating;
• poor nutrition;
• lack of sleep;
• uncontrolled use of medications, especially hormonal ones;
• exacerbation of chronic diseases;
• presence of infection in the body;
• dysfunction of the nervous system, manifested in the form of epilepsy or schizophrenia;
• diabetes;
• pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract;
• frequent stressful situations;
• overwork;
• malignant tumors in the adrenal glands or genitals.

Who is most likely to have peeling skin under the eyebrows?

Women who actively use artificial cosmetics and do not properly care for their skin suffer more from peeling. However, similar problems also arise among males. Men rarely pay attention to facial dandruff, so advanced or long-term untreated forms of peeling are more common among them.

Infants and small children are also at risk due to their individual physiological characteristics and age.

Peeling skin on the eyebrows - what happens

Peeling of the skin is a special process that has certain characteristics:

1. Damage to the surface layer.
2. Rejection of it in certain areas.
3. Localization of exfoliating scales is mainly around the hair follicles.
4. It is because of the growing hair that the unpleasant peeling remains for a longer period than in any other place.
5. The severity of the process depends on the stage and neglect of the disease.

Only the skin of the eyebrow area, only the forehead, or all together, extending to the scalp, can be affected.

But do not despair, because regeneration of the epidermis is an extremely fast process that, when eliminating the pathological factor causing peeling, can completely restore the normal functional state of the epidermis, even without the help of auxiliary drugs.

Of course, if the cause of peeling is pathogenic microbes or problems with the internal systems of the body (intestines, blood vessels), then additional methods of therapy will be required.

Why does the skin on the eyebrows peel?

Peeling of dying cells of the surface layer of the skin - the epidermis, in most cases occurs due to several influencing factors:

• Innervation disorders.
• Blood supply disorders.
• Traumatic injuries.
• Stress.
• Metabolic pathologies.
• Gastrointestinal diseases.
• Diseases of the cardiovascular system.
• Inflammatory and bacterial skin lesions.
• Hypo- and avitaminosis.
• Contact with chemical reagents.

It often requires the influence of several factors on the human body for pathology to occur in the form of peeling of the face. With the complex influence of negative agents, “dandruff” of varying severity is ultimately formed.

Peeling affecting the forehead and eyebrows can be localized in a certain way, which provides a clue in diagnosing the causes of the unpleasant symptom. So, if “dandruff” appears on the skin of the nose (i.e., between the eyebrows), most likely the cause is demodicosis. It's definitely worth checking your eyelashes. The “dust” found on them (which is actually small mites) speaks in favor of this disease. You should consult a doctor immediately.

If the lesion is located above or between the eyebrows (on the bridge of the nose)? The reasons here are much more varied. Traumatic injuries, insect bites, reactions to cosmetics and simple washing with soap. The most important thing is to stop the harmful factor and make nourishing masks. Sometimes this is quite enough.

But flaky skin around the eyebrows is a direct signal of damage associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation, strong dry wind, frost or water with sea salt. Such impacts greatly weaken the protective surface, which affects the formation of pathological manifestations.

When only peeling of the eyebrows and forehead bothers you for a long time, you should think not only about your diet, but also about possible diseases. In this case, damage by bacterial or fungal flora is more likely. To clarify the diagnosis, you need to contact a specialist and undergo the necessary examination, usually including skin scraping.

Symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis on the face

With seborrheic dermatitis on the face, symptoms appear:

• the appearance of pink, red or burgundy spots on the skin;
• the formation of white or yellowish scales and hemorrhagic crusts;
• peeling of the skin;
• irritation and increased sensitivity of the skin;
• itching and burning of varying intensity.

The course of the disease worsens in the autumn. In summer, unpleasant symptoms usually disappear.

If the ducts of the sebaceous glands become clogged, acne appears.

The disease is especially severe in men who grow beards and mustaches. Large plaques form under the hairline, which eventually transform into papules. If an infection occurs, then erythroderma is also detected. When papules coalesce, swollen areas colored red form.

The symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis are similar to those of other dermatological diseases. Therefore, only a doctor can make a correct diagnosis after a thorough examination of the patient.

Other causes not related to illness

Sometimes itching and flaking of the scalp may not be associated with pathogens and internal diseases. Dry skin and flaking can result from:

• stress;
• vitamin deficiency;
• using incorrectly selected cosmetics;
• staining with permanent dyes;
• exposure to an aggressive environment;
• dehydration;
• metabolic disorders;
• poorly performed cosmetic procedures.

Since itching, flaking and redness of the scalp have many causes, it is worth consulting a doctor as soon as the problem arises.
The sooner a diagnosis is made, the easier it will be to eliminate unpleasant symptoms. It is useless to treat peeling on your own, because sometimes pharmaceuticals are needed, and in other cases it is enough to take vitamins. September 3, 2020
Author of the article: dermatologist Mak Vladimir Fedorovich

How to treat seborrheic dermatitis on the face?

If symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis appear on the face, treatment should be carried out by a specialist. Self-medication can only worsen the condition.

The dermatologist will examine the patient’s skin and refer it for laboratory testing. If necessary, he will advise you to consult a neurologist, endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, andrologist or gynecologist. Based on the diagnostic results, the doctor will select the optimal treatment, which should be comprehensive. First, the dermatologist prescribes weak drugs. If they do not produce the desired result, then he moves on to potent ones.

To effectively cope with the disease, it is imperative to identify and eliminate the cause of the disease. If dermatological problems are caused by disturbances in the digestive system, the patient is referred to a gastroenterologist. After the examination, he will prescribe suitable medications, most often enzymes, sorbents and choleretic agents. Enzymes and choleretic drugs will restore the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, and sorbents will remove toxic substances from the body.

Typically, treatment for nasal dermatitis includes:

• compliance with the diet prescribed by a specialist;
• drug therapy;
• physiotherapy;
• maintaining personal hygiene using gentle products.

Drug therapy involves taking:

• antihistamines - relieve itching;
• probiotics – restore intestinal microflora and normalize the functioning of the digestive tract;
• vitamin complexes – strengthen the immune system and increase the body’s resistance.

In addition to medications intended for oral use, external agents that have a moisturizing, anti-inflammatory and antifungal effect are recommended.

Both glucocorticosteroid hormonal ointments and non-hormonal drugs can be used. But you need to know that glucocorticosteroids, although they have an effective effect (relieve inflammation, swelling and redness), but they are addictive and, with prolonged use, provoke side effects (vasodilatation, the formation of rosacea and telangiectasia, the development of erythema).

Therefore, it is better to give preference to non-hormonal drugs, among which the products of the “Losterin” series (cream, ointment, gel, shampoo) have shown particular effectiveness. They are characterized by a neutral composition, do not contain hormones, do not irritate the skin and are not addictive. The drugs included in the “Losterin” line can be used not only by adults, but also by newborn babies. They are recommended for daily use both during remission and during acute inflammation. Active substances (naphthalan, salicylic acid, natural oils, medicinal plant extracts) are included in the composition of “Losterin” products in optimal proportions, which determines the most effective therapeutic effect. Even if seborrheic dermatitis has passed, Losterin should continue to be used to prevent a relapse.

Physiotherapeutic procedures can effectively complement drug treatment. Small doses of ultraviolet light will ease the course of the disease, restore the functioning of the sebaceous glands, and relieve redness, swelling and itching.

Peeling of the scalp

Signs of peeling skin are redness of certain areas, pain when touched, and a feeling of constant or periodic itching. Cracks often appear. The skin becomes rough to the touch and loses its usual smoothness and elasticity.

As practice shows, flaking of the scalp can be possible without itching. Itching is the neglect of the scalp peeling process. In order to get rid of peeling, especially obsessive itching, we need to treat our skin and use special medicinal and cosmetic products.

Causes of peeling skin

One of the first on the list of factors influencing skin condition is the environment. Although often flaking of the skin can be caused by serious skin diseases, which are quite common, for example, psoriasis. This disease is provoked by a fungus, which promotes the rapid death of skin cells, as a result of which they become keratinized and promote peeling. So, in this case, you need to fight not with the cosmetic defect itself, but with the problem that caused its appearance.

Often the scalp flakes due to chronic fatigue and a large number of stressful situations. Sometimes it is enough just to take care of the nervous system, and the condition of the skin will return to normal. We can also include unhealthy diet in this category. Indeed, if the body lacks vitamins and nutrients, flaking may occur along with other problems associated with vitamin deficiency. There is only one way out - to pay close attention to your diet.

Also causes of flaking of the scalp can be:

Dry skin caused by frequent washing with a product that is harsh on the skin.

Allergic reaction to cosmetic products for styling and washing hair. In this case, not only flaking of the scalp occurs, but also itching.

Dandruff caused by a fungus. Most often, this disease is accompanied by the formation of small scales, but in rare cases they can be large, which is why dandruff is mistaken for normal flaking.

People with dry skin are more likely to experience flaking.

Most often, flaking of the scalp is observed in those with dry skin, but there are exceptions. If you still have a dry skin type, you can try using special masks that will correct your skin type towards normal. You can use special creams and lotions for the head. They are quite easy to use, so it is quite easy to do this procedure at home.

As for peeling in infants, in this case there is no need to rush to prescribe treatment. Peeling of the scalp is a completely natural process for a newborn, which can be caused by renewal of the epidermis. It’s a completely different matter if your child constantly experiences discomfort and the skin is peeling all the time. In this case, you should immediately contact a specialist and begin treatment.

Peeling scalp - treatment

Today, there are various remedies that help get rid of flaking scalp. However, during treatment it is very important to determine the cause and eliminate it, since otherwise peeling will occur again, regardless of how effective the remedies used are.

Perhaps you just need to change the shampoo to one that suits your skin more correctly and the problem will go away by itself. Or you may need to see a specialist to treat a disease such as psoriasis.

Don't forget that the top brands on the planet are trying to give us an effective way to overcome flaking scalp. The best example of this is the Med-Planta antiseborrheic complex of drugs.

Antiseborrheic complex of drugs Med-Planta

It concentrates all the experience of the specialists of this brand.

So, effective ways to eliminate flaking of the scalp are as follows:

1. Replace your regular shampoo with a specialized anti-dandruff analogue. The shampoo should be truly therapeutic, and not just a highly advertised product, as is most often the case. In addition, avoid various means of fixing your hairstyle for a certain period - they greatly dry out the skin, thereby causing it to peel.
2. Completely cleanse your body of all kinds of toxins - flaking of the scalp can be a manifestation of general toxic pollution. To do this, it is best to temporarily go on a diet rich in fortified foods, in which alcoholic and tonic drinks, confectionery, fatty foods, etc. are prohibited. It is also very important to exercise so that your body naturally receives the necessary energy and directs it towards overall health.
3. Use special lotions based on medicinal herbs - this will help soothe the tissues, gradually relieve inflammation and normalize the process of secretion of the sebaceous glands.
4. Monitor the air humidity in the room where you spend the most time: office, home, etc. You also need to avoid sudden changes in temperature, as they greatly affect the flaking of the scalp.

Of course, all these methods should be used at your own discretion only if you are sure that your itching and flaking of the scalp are not caused by any infectious fungal diseases or other serious ailments of the body. Otherwise, the most correct decision would be to immediately consult a dermatologist who will prescribe you an individual course of treatment.

Take care of your health.

Prevention of seborrheic dermatitis on the face

To prevent dermatitis on the forehead from causing a relapse, it is recommended to follow several rules:

• strengthen the immune system;
• cleanse the body of waste and toxins;
• exclude from the diet salty and spicy foods, fatty and smoked foods, marinades, spices and condiments, sweets, chips and crackers, products containing preservatives, flavor enhancers and dyes;
• introduce fermented milk products into the menu, which include lacto- and bifidobacteria, animal proteins, bran, buckwheat, oatmeal;
• cook food with vegetable oil;
• restore the functioning of the digestive system.