What are the treatments for seborrheic dermatitis?
There is no treatment that can permanently eliminate seborrheic dermatitis, which is a disease in the field. There will always be relapses or flare-ups. The treatment is administered locally, in the form of creams or shampoos. In a few severe cases, the doctor may resort to oral forms, but this is a rare situation.
Treatment consists of using a antimycosic acting on the yeasts, making it possible to block the outbreaks of seborrheic dermatitis. The doctor takes into account the affected areas and the course of the disease in order to offer the most appropriate treatment.
For example, ketoconazole, or Ciclopirox olamine, or zinc pyrithione are used.
The treatment consists of a daily or twice daily application of cream or shampoo twice a week. Then, once the crisis is over, shampoo a week, then every two weeks for 2 months, which allows for maintenance treatment.
The lithium salts can also be used in local applications in the form of gels.
The corticosteroids (cortisone), even if they are very effective at the time, should be used as little as possible, because they cause significant side effects, much more annoying than the disease: depigmentation, acne, persistent skin atrophy and even rapid relapses and more severe than the initial thrust … They should therefore only be used for a period of time. very short and only in cases of very disabling seborrheic dermatitis in combination with antimycotic treatments.
In infants,almond oil can be used to treat cradle cap.
Our doctor’s opinion
I always warn patients that their disease is chronic and that it is necessary to insist on the elimination of the contributing factors: stress if possible, alcohol, fatigue … and to have local treatment on hand in order to be treated at the first signs. I also insist on the absence of aggression on the skin of the face and the scalp, by recommending washing the face with cold or lukewarm water, with a mild toiletry product or without soap and the hair with a shampoo. for frequent washing to avoid greasy hair. Finally, it is not uncommon to see patients arriving in consultation who have become dependent on topical corticosteroids which it is then difficult to wean: the use of corticosteroids must be exceptional and always of short duration, at the risk of no longer being able to do so. to pass. Dr. Ludovic Rousseau, dermatologist |