How do you clean seborrhea
Seborrheic dermatitis: Self-care
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Find a DermatologistYou can search by location, condition, and procedure to find the dermatologist thats right for you.
What is a dermatologist?A dermatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in treating the skin, hair, and nails. Dermatologists care for people of all ages.
Seborrheic dermatitis: Self-care
Biosimilars: 14 FAQsFind answers to questions patients ask about this newer treatment option, including, Whats involved in switching from a biologic to a biosimilar?
Featured
Laser hair removalYou can expect permanent results in all but one area. Do you know which one?
Scar treatmentIf you want to diminish a noticeable scar, know these 10 things before having laser treatment.
BotoxIt can smooth out deep wrinkles and lines, but the results arent permanent. Heres how long botox tends to last.
Featured
Find a DermatologistYou can search by location, condition, and procedure to find the dermatologist thats right for you.
What is a dermatologist?A dermatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in treating the skin, hair, and nails. Dermatologists care for people of all ages.
Natural Treatment for Seborrheic Dermatitis: What Works?
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Seborrheic dermatitis, also known as dandruff, is an inflammatory skin disease.
It most often affects the scalp and causes scaly, red patches to appear. These patches may also appear on the face and upper body. These are areas with many sebaceous glands, which produce oil.
Seborrheic dermatitis is not contagious. Instead, its the result of an allergy or an autoimmune reaction. Its a chronic condition, which means treatment can manage but not cure it.
It may take several rounds of treatment to get rid of symptoms. Conventional treatments are effective, but they can contain strong chemicals.
Home remedies can limit this exposure, with fewer side effects. Used alongside medical treatment, they can help you find relief more quickly.
Psoriasis vs. seborrheic dermatitis: Whats the difference?
Seborrheic dermatitis can result from different factors, depending on your skin type and sensitivities. So theres no catch-all alternative treatment. Your dermatologist can help you find one thats suitable.
Fish oil
Fish oil supplements can help suppress flare-ups of dermatitis that allergies trigger, as well as provide other nutritional benefits. Its omega-3 fatty acids can help boost overall immune and cardiovascular health.
Aloe vera
Aloe vera is a plant with anti-inflammatory properties.
Supplements containing aloe vera gel or extracts can help suppress flare-ups. They can also help lessen the severity of flare-ups that do happen.
Probiotics
Probiotics may help treat different kinds of dermatitis, especially in children. But theres little research to link probiotics to effective results for seborrheic dermatitis.
Still, probiotics can promote a healthier digestive system. This can decrease inflammatory issues throughout your body.
Apple cider vinegar
An apple cider vinegar soak will loosen the scales on your scalp. It may also lessen inflammation in the area of the flare-up.
To use this treatment:
- Wash your hair with shampoo.
- Apply a diluted solution of apple cider vinegar to the area.
- Let the vinegar and water sit on your scalp for a few minutes.
- Rinse well.
Olive oil
Another option for at-home treatment is to coat your scalp with olive oil.
Follow these steps:
- Apply the oil to the scalp.
- Leave the oil on for about an hour.
- Brush thoroughly to remove scales from your scalp.
- Wash and shampoo your hair as usual.
MORE: Seborrheic Dermatitis: Best Shampoos for Treating Your Scalp
Seborrheic dermatitis is not directly linked to any dietary habits. But that doesnt mean your diet has no effect on your flare-ups.
Eat foods that support your immune system and focus on those with anti-inflammatory properties. You may find that your symptoms decrease.
To fight inflammation, eat a diet that includes:
- plenty of green, leafy vegetables
- tomatoes
- olive oil
- fruits that contain antioxidants, such as cherries, strawberries, and blueberries
- foods that are high in vitamin C, such as citrus and bell peppers
- almonds
- sweet potatoes
- foods with plenty of vitamin E, like wheat germ and avocados
Seborrheic dermatitis isnt life threatening, but it is chronic and can be uncomfortable. At times, you may find the scaling, itching, and redness distracting, especially if it happens on your face or upper body.
Talk to your doctor about your symptoms to ensure you get a correct diagnosis. You can connect to a dermatologist in your area using the Healthline FindCare tool.
Also, see your doctor if flare-ups are a persistent concern or if you also have other symptoms.
Your primary care physician may refer you to a dermatologist, who specializes in skin conditions.
They may want to order some tests to further evaluate your situation and talk to you about treatment options complementary to your condition.
Topical treatments are the most commonly recommended solution for seborrheic dermatitis outbreaks.
Corticosteroids. Creams and shampoos containing corticosteroids or hydrocortisone can help reduce severe inflammation. These are only suitable for short-term use, as they can cause side effects.
Keratolytics. Products containing salicylic acid, lactic acid, urea, and propylene glycol can help remove scales.
Antibacterial gels or antifungal creams. These can help in the case of a fungal or bacterial infection.
Light therapy. Exposing the affected area to ultraviolet light may help soothe the skin and reduce itching and redness.
Coal tar. Coal tar cream can help slow the process of skin cells dying and falling off. Apply it to scaling areas, leave for several hours, and shampoo later to remove it.
Medicated shampoos. Use a product containing ketoconazole, ciclopirox, selenium sulfide, zinc pyrithione, coal tar, and salicylic acid, twice a week for a month or longer. If necessary, you can use them indefinitely.
Supplementing these treatments with an alternative or natural treatment can help decrease side effects over the long term.
Although its unclear what causes seborrheic dermatitis, there appear to be some common triggers.
Stress can aggravate flare-ups for many skin conditions, including seborrheic dermatitis. Try to be mindful of what triggers you in particular.
Know your triggers
Its possible that your flare-ups are connected to an allergic reaction, so try to document if theres anything unusual or new to your environment when a flare-up happens.
To keep from triggering a flare-up, avoid wearing wool caps and sweaters. Instead, opt for fabrics like cotton and silk.
Self-care measures
The following may help
- Wash affected areas regularly with a mild shampoo.
- Avoid styling gels and hair sprays during a flare.
- Avoid alcohol-based products, as they may trigger a reaction.
Support your immune system
A weakened immune system can also contribute to how severe your symptoms are. Take care of yourself and make sure to eat a diet rich in vitamins E, C, and K.
Dandruff: What your itchy scalp is trying to tell you
Ways of managing seborrheic dermatitis include at-home treatments and topical creams.
With the help of a dermatologist, you can find a treatment that works for you.
A variety of alternative treatment methods can help you avoid possible long-term side effects of prescription and over-the-counter creams.
Seborrhea in Dogs
What Is Seborrhea in Dogs?
Seborrhea in dogs is a condition that affects keratin in the skin. Keratin is a protein that gives skin and hair its form.
In canine seborrhea, keratin is produced in the wrong amountseither too much or not enough. Seborrhea causes dogs to have a coat of hair thats dry and lackluster or greasy.
Seborrhea in dogs can be what veterinarians call primary or secondary.
Primary Seborrhea in Dogs
Primary seborrhea is a genetic disease that always causes the dog to produce abnormal keratin.
American Cocker Spaniels, West Highland White Terriers, English Springer Spaniels, and Basset Hounds are the most common breeds to have primary seborrhea, but any dog can have this condition.
Secondary Seborrhea in Dogs
With secondary seborrhea, an underlying issue is causing your dog to make abnormal keratin.
Health issues that can cause secondary seborrhea include:
Symptoms of Seborrhea in Dogs
Possible symptoms of seborrhea in dogs are:
Very dry, dull coat
Dandruff
Greasy, oily skin that smells bad
Crusted, plaque-like (rough and scaly) skin lesions
Itching that ranges from mild to severe
Large amount of earwax and ear debris
Generally, all the skin is affected by seborrhea, but the folds of skin between the toes, in the armpits, on the belly and perineum (the area under a dogs tail), and at the bottom of the neck are usually worse.
Dogs with lots of skin folds, like Basset Hounds, usually experience more affected skin in those folds.
Causes of Seborrhea in Dogs
The cause of a dogs seborrhea depends on whether its primary or secondary.
Causes of Primary Seborrhea in Dogs
Primary seborrhea is a congenital, genetic disease that typically starts at a young age and gets worse as your dog gets older. West Highland White Terriers, Basset Hounds, American Cocker Spaniels, and English Springer Spaniels are most commonly affected.
Causes of Secondary Seborrhea in Dogs
Diseases and other health issues that can cause secondary seborrhea in dogs include:
How Vets Diagnose Seborrhea in Dogs
Diagnosis of seborrhea starts with a physical examination by your veterinarian to check your dogs skin and look for other symptoms.
You will also be asked how long it has been happening, if your dog has been scratching, and if there are any changes in your dogs food and water intake.
Your veterinarian will perform testing to determine the cause of your dogs skin condition. The following tests could help:
A skin scraping to test for mites and lice
An impression cytology (collection) of skin and ear debris to test for a yeast or bacterial infection that looks like seborrhea, such as Malassezia yeast
A blood chemistry panel to screen for diabetes or Cushings disease (your vet will need further tests to confirm the diagnosis before starting treatment)
A blood test for thyroid hormone levels to determine whether your dog has hypothyroidism
A biopsy to look for autoimmune disease or cancer
Treatment for Seborrhea in Dogs
Based on the test results, your veterinarian will have a better understanding of what is causing your dogs seborrhea. The most important aspect of seborrhea treatment istreating any underlying conditions.
Treating the Underlying Cause
Hypothyroidism: If your dog has hypothyroidism, they are treated with hormone replacement, an oral medication called levothyroxine that your dog will take for the rest of their life.
Cushings disease: Treatment of Cushings disease involves lifelong medication called Vetoryl.
Diabetes: Treatment of diabetes requires daily insulin injections.
Cancer or autoimmune disease: If a biopsy shows that your dog has autoimmune disease or cancer, they will be started on medication to manage the disease, or your veterinarian may refer you to a specialist.
Lice or mites: If a skin scraping finds lice or mites, the veterinarian will put your dog on medication to kill the parasites.
Fleas: If your dog has fleas, a monthly flea preventative will curb flea allergies that can cause or worsen seborrhea.
Vitamin deficiency: If your veterinarian suspects vitamin A-responsive dermatitis or zinc-responsive dermatitis, they will recommend additional vitamins in your dogs diet.
Food allergy: If your veterinarian suspects a primary food allergy, they may recommend a hypoallergenic food trial.
Infection: If your dog has an infection that developed because of seborrhea, then the infection must be treated. Your dog will require a three- to four-week course of oral antibiotics and/or antifungals.
Treating the Seborrhea Itself
To treat the seborrhea itself, your dog needs frequent baths with anti-seborrheic shampoos, typically every 2 or 3 days to start with. These shampoos typically contain coal tar and salicylic acid.
Frequent bathing is continued for 2-3 weeks or longer, until the skin improves. The goal of bathing is to remove excess keratin. Depending on how your dog responds to treatment, bathing frequency may decrease to every 1 to 2 weeks, or it may stay at every 2 to 3 days.
Additionally, you will need to clean your dogs ears with a medicated ear cleaner every 2 to 3 days. If there is an infection in the ears, your veterinarian will prescribe an ear medication as well.
Your dog may also be started on prednisone to decrease inflammation and debris buildup. Regular rechecks with your veterinarian, typically every one to three weeks, are important to monitor how your dog is responding to treatment.
Recovery and Management of Seborrhea in Dogs
Recovery and management depend on the cause of the seborrhea. If a primary cause of seborrhea can be found, managing the primary disease is key.
It can take several weeks for the signs of seborrhea to resolve, and the primary disease-causing seborrhea will need to be managed for life.
It is also important to understand that once seborrhea is present, abnormal keratin placement in the skin will continue to occur.
Using anti-seborrheic shampoos and ear cleaners on a schedule recommended by your vet for the rest of your dogs life helps to decrease keratin buildup and prevent infections.
If your dog gets itchier or develops skin lesions, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Management of seborrhea often requires a lifelong routine of bathing and ear cleaning, but with consistent treatment, your dog can enjoy a good quality of life.
Seborrhea in Dogs FAQs
How can I treat my dog's seborrhea at home?
After seeing a vet to confirm your dogs diagnosis, you can treat seborrhea at home by using an anti-seborrheic shampoo containing coal tar and salicylic acid.
Home treatment also includes bathing your dog every 2 to 7 days on a schedule set by your vet. You will also clean your dogs ears with a medicated ear cleaner every 2 to 3 days.
If an underlying health issue is causing your dogs seborrhea, youll need to follow all treatment protocols for that illness to ensure the seborrhea is properly managed.
If your dogs seborrhea is not improving, however, take them to the veterinarian. They might have developed bacterial and yeast infections of the skin and ears that require a prescription medication.
Does seborrhea in dogs cause hair loss?
Yes, it can cause hair loss.
What does seborrhea smell like on dogs?
Seborrhea can smell very badly, like grease, corn chips, or a strong doggy scent.
Is seborrhea in dogs contagious?
No, seborrhea is not contagious to other dogs or humans.
Image Credit: iStockphoto.com/photo-vista.de
WRITTEN BY
Emily A. Fassbaugh, DVMVeterinarian
Dr. Emily Fassbaugh grew up in San Diego. She attended the University of California, Davis for both her undergraduate studies in Animal...
