Symptoms
In areas with high sebum production and hair formation: scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, between eyelashes, beard and moustache region, behind the ear, on the ear, next to the nostrils, chest, around the belly button, genitoanal region
- Skin redness, typically symmetrical
- Greasy or powdery head dandruff
- Itching and burning
- Seborrhea
- Oily scaly skin
Comorbidities: Acne, abscess, blepharitis (eyelid margin inflammation), pityriasis versicolor.
Causes
Fungal infection with yeasts of the genus , e.g., and (formerly: ). The fungi occur physiologically on the skin.
Risk factors
- Occurs mainly in children and after puberty, from 30 to 60 years of age
- More common in men than in women because androgens control sebum production
- Genetics
- Stress, possibly nutritional deficiency
- Immunosuppression, e.g. HIV / AIDS
- Central nervous diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease.
Non-drug therapy
- Good personal hygiene for sebum reduction
- In men who grow a mustache or beard and dermatitis occurs, the disease recedes when they shave again.
- UVA and UVB light inhibits fungal growth: sunbathing.
Drug therapy
Antifungals and keratolytics to combat fungal growth and exfoliate the skin:
- Selenium disulfide (ectoselenium selsun).
- Zinc pyrithione (Squa-med), dipyrithione (Crimanex).
- Azole antifungals (various, e.g., ketoconazole).
- Terbinafine (Lamisil)
- Salicylic acid (various)
Fatty oils or mineral oils to soften the skin overnight and remove the dandruff Topical glucocorticoids in case of severe inflammation to reduce inflammation, following the removal of dandruff tar Last option: oral retinoids (isotretinoin) to inhibit sebum production
