Dandruff represents a common type of skin eczema which affects in different body parts with high sebum (oil) release. Most often affected body areas are the following: the face, scalp, chest, ears and skin folds like the underarms and skin areas below breasts, and also abdominal folds. What causes seborrhea is still unknown, though it is considered that yeast, Malassezia furfur, which very often lives on different skin areas, might be responsible for this disorder.
One of the most common occurrences of seborrhea is the one that hits the scalp and this is nothing else but dandruff. Actually scalp seborrhea can manifest itself as flaky, thick, localized scale patches. When seborrhea affects the face it produces dry, reddish-brown, thick and greasy scales on the nose sides, on the eyebrows, and also behind the ears. Besides reddish, scaly patches might as well occur in the skin folds that were mentioned above in the given article. In spite of the fact that skin areas struck with seborrhea might feel dry, but different moisturizers will only make them worse and redder.
Neither dandruff nor scalp seborrhea can provoke permanent loss of hair. Scalp seborrhea very often does not even itch. It is worth saying that seborrhea can occur in infancy, beginning shortly after the birth and remaining for a couple of months. It can affect the scalp and can as well produce various scaly patches on your body. Adults of almost all age groups might develop seborrhea as well, particularly on such body parts as the face and the scalp.
Some patients with compromised immune system, including people who are on chemotherapy and individuals suffering from HIV disease and some neurological diseases, are likely to be affected by a very serious seborrhea type. However it is crucial to emphasize that seborrhea is a rather common condition that affects around 5 per cent of the population, especially men. A great number of people with seborrhea are absolutely healthy and they do not have any immune and internal problems.
Treatments
Generally treatment of dandruff (seborrhea) is aimed at combating skin inflammation. This aim can be achieved either directly, or by applying cortisone-based lotions and creams (they decrease inflammation), and by lowering the yeast which builds up on the scaly areas and in such a way aggravates the problem. Although you should always remember that seborrhea is not at all a yeast infection.