It is a common inflammatory skin disease that was first described in 1887. Despite this, its causes are still unknown. In 5% of people, the symptoms turn out to be so severe that they need medical attention. The disease affects people of all ages – both adults – most often men and infants, regardless of gender. Unfortunately, it is a chronic disease that is prone to recurrence.
It happens that seborrheic dermatitis has a similar picture to psoriasis, therefore it is assumed that it may contribute to the exacerbation of psoriasis. Potential causes of this condition include:
- Excessive activity of the sebaceous glands – excessive secretion of sebum causes skin irritation and exfoliation. The lesions usually appear on the scalp and face, hence the claim that this hypothesis may be plausible.
- Association of the disease with the occurrence of Malassezia furfur bacteria and fungi – Some infants with this condition have been found to have fungi in their stool or have a yeast allergy.
- Immune causes – related to the immune system. Seborrheic dermatitis often occurs with HIV infection.
- Diseases of the nervous system – this suggests a tendency to develop the disease among people suffering from Parkinson’s or after a stroke.
Symptoms of PsA. How it starts
The first symptom is seborrhea of the scalp, over time, fatty scabs and inflammation appear. The next stage is the thinning of the hair and the spread of the disease to other parts of the body – it moves to the hairless skin adjacent to the head (forehead, behind the ears, nape), then successively to the sternum, axillary and inguinal folds, around the navel and the skin along the spine. The basic symptom of the disease is troublesome itching, which can have varying degrees of intensity.
Illness in infants. How to treat?
PsA is very common in young children in the first three months of life. The exact cause of this state of affairs has not been determined, but increased production of sebaceous glands is suspected. The disease manifests itself more often in infants who are prone to psoriasis and atopy, and in almost every case, the presence of yeasts in the stool is found. It is believed that this fungus may be involved in the occurrence of PsA in infants.
Treatment of the disease in young children must not be aggressive – patients are handled gently, changing diapers frequently and using mild cleansers during bathing. After washing, you should lubricate the baby with preparations that lubricate the skin. Skin lesions on the head in the form of scabs are removed by soaking the hair with baby oil, hydrophilic cream or ointment, and then gently combing them out with a soft brush. Antibiotics are sometimes used to treat PsA in infants to prevent re-infection.