Showing posts with label Dermatitis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dermatitis. Show all posts

Seborrheic Dermatitis: Dermatitis Of The Scalp

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Dermatitis of the scalp or Seborrheic dermatitis is a usual skin disorder. It generally affects your scalp, by causing scaling and itching. Dermatitis of the scalp can also make the skin on your scalp red. It can also cause dandruff. Seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp, for infants, is well-known as cradle cap.
Other than your scalp, seborrheic dermatitis can also affect your face, back, upper chest and other oily areas of your body.
Dermatitis of the scalp is neither contagious nor harmful, but it can be unsightly and uncomfortable. You can treat seborrheic dermatitis yourself by being familiar with its signs and symptoms. You can also use a mixture of self-care procedures and buy over-the-counter medications.
Common Signs and Symptoms:
Dermatitis of the scalp usually looks like a patchy scaling on your scalp. It can also look like thick crusts of skin on your head. You may see white or yellow scales attached to your hair shaft. Your scalp may become red and greasy, covered with scales. You may also encounter small, and reddish-brown bumps that make your scalp itch and sore. The presence of dandruff is also inevitable.
Seborrheic dermatitis usually affects your scalp, but it can also grow in between folds of your skin and parts of your body that are rich in oil glands. These oily areas include your eyebrows, behind your ears, the sides of your nose, over your breastbone, groin area, and sometimes even your armpits. There are times when your signs and symptoms fluctuate becoming okay then severe the next time around.
In infants, with cradle cap also have the thick, crusty, yellow, or greasy patches. But the condition is not itchy for them unlike in adults and children.
Causes
There is no known exact cause of this condition, but quite a few contributing factors appear to play a role with its occurrence. These factors include oil gland and hair follicle abnormality. If you have this skin disorder, you may have increased sebum production in the affected areas of your body.
It is also believed that a fungus called malassezia, along with bacteria grows in the sebum. Hormonal problems, physical stress, travel, fatigue, and change of season are all factors for the cause of outbreaks. People with neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, commonly have dermatitis of the scalp.
Treatments
The primary treatment that you can do is apply medicated shampoos. There are lots of over-the-counter shampoos that contain medication, but be sure to pick the ones with any of the following: Ketoconazole, Pyrithione zinc, Tar, Selenium sulfide, or Salicylic acid.
If over-the-counter medicated shampoos don’t work, it is recommended that you consult a dermatologist that can give you a specialized shampoo for your condition.

HC Valerate For Dermatitis: Treating Your Skin Disorder

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Dermatitis is the generic term used to describe inflammation of the skin. This type of skin disorder usually involves swelling, redness, itching and skin lesions. Some types of dermatitis are serious and some are just mild and will just go away in just a few days. For serious cases of dermatitis, doctors usually prescribe treatments like hc valerate for dermatitis. Hc valerate for dermatitis is considered as one of the most effective forms of treatment for serious cases of dermatitis. A lot of people who have undergone treatment using this type of drug report reduction of symptoms within a few hours after taking this type of drug. Many of them also claim that their symptoms started to clear up after a few days and they were symptom free after a couple of weeks or even less.

Unfortunately, not all people are tolerant to hc valerate for dermatitis so most doctors prefer to give this type of treatment only on extreme cases. If you are suffering from dermatitis, talk to your doctor regarding the different treatments available for your type of skin disorder. Do not demand for hc valerate for dermatitis if your symptoms are just mild and manageable. Always remember that hc valerate for dermatitis can have some severe side effects so unless you are really in dire need for strong types of medications, stay away from these strong medications. There is really no point in endangering your health just to get a fast relief from the itching and burning sensation brought about by dermatitis.

Adverse Reactions Caused By HC Valerate For Dermatitis

Some people who used hc valerate for dermatitis reported incidents of dryness, burning, itching, acneiform eruptions, secondary infection, maceration of the skin, malaria, skin atrophy and perioral dermatitis. The severity of each case according to the amount of hc valerate for dermatitis used by the patient, the patient's age and general lifestyle of the patient. If you are one of those people who have a history of adverse reactions to certain types of drugs, you should tell your doctor about it and discuss with your doctor the advantages and disadvantages of using hc valerate for dermatitis in your case. Never take chances when it comes to taking medications of any form.

Aside from discussing certain types of medications for dermatitis with your doctor, you should also ask your doctor about alternative treatments. Always explore other avenues for treating your skin disorder. If you can find a way to treat your dermatitis without taking drugs, you should take that option.

Preventing Latex Contact Dermatitis

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Latex contact dermatitis is your body’s adverse reaction to some proteins that are found in natural rubber latex. Latex is a product artificially made with a milky fluid from the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), which can be found in Southeast Asia and Africa. If you have a latex contact dermatitis, what basically happens is that your body mistakes latex material for a harmful substance.
Latex contact dermatitis can cause you allergic reactions varying from sneezing, to having runny nose, and then to anaphylaxis, which is a potentially fatal condition. You can consult your doctor to know if you already have latex contact dermatitis, or if the risk is big for you to develop it.
Understanding latex contact dermatitis and being familiar with frequent sources of latex would be your stepping stone in preventing allergic reactions.
How To Trigger Latex Allergy

You can trigger your latex allergy basically in two ways. First is by direct contact, which is the most common origin of latex allergy. Direct contact like wearing latex gloves and being in contact with other products containing latex, would be enough to start your allergy.
The second way is through inhalation. You can trigger latex allergy by simply inhaling latex particles in the environment around you. Some latex products, most especially gloves, usually shed great quantity of latex particles, which become airborne.
Latex-containing Products

Some of the most common used latex products that can be found almost everywhere, especially at home are carpeting, dishwashing gloves, clothing waistbands, hot water bottles, rubber toys, balloons, disposable diapers, diaphragms, baby bottle nipples, rubber bands, condoms, erasers, racket handles, swimming goggles, sanitary pads, bicycle and motorcycle handgrips.
What You Can Do
You can prevent triggering latex reaction by reducing your exposure to the said materials. You should limit carefully the latex products that you have in contact with. Most latex products have alternatives that carry the same function, minus the latex component
If you come in contact with latex in work, you should discuss your condition with your employer. Also, when you are somewhere inside a healthcare institution, you should inform those health professionals you come in contact with, like doctors, nurses, therapists and such, that you are allergic to latex, because most gloves in hospitals are made out of latex.
Talking to your doctor would be the best way to prevent the trigger of your latex allergy. Your doctor might be able to propose other ways that you can avoid latex contact in your everyday life. You can also ask your doctor about emergency medication just in case you suddenly have a severe latex allergy incident.

Phototoxic Contact Dermatitis is Similar to Sunburn

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Phototoxic Contact Dermatitis is known as photodermatitis and is an inflammatory skin reaction having a strong resemblance to sunburn. After radiation, for example, the reactivity of the skin is increased by photosensitizing substances and hence the reaction on the skin after it is sunburn-like. Drugs can also cause phototoxic eruptions.
Causes
When Phototoxic Contact Dermatitis occurs, there is a hyperpigmentation of the skin, especially in the areas which are exposed to the sun. Also, if the skin is exposed to agents containing photosensitizing substances like coal tar and certain specific perfumes, drugs, plants and even sunlight, dermatitis is the result.
Another name for Phototoxic Contact Dermatitis is sun poisoning. It is the reaction of the skin to the UV rays of the sun, or it may be termed as photoallergy. Sometimes the cause may just be medication or a skin product like sunscreen or a vitamin deficiency. A photo test is conducted by doctors to diagnose the ailment.
Phototoxic Contact Dermatitis can also be caused by citrus fruits. There is another type of Phototoxic Contact Dermatitis which can be caused by textiles. This is also called the "bikini dermatitis" because it is a type of hyperpigmentation that the patients develop after wearing bikini bathing suits. The dye in the bathing suits causes the Phototoxic Contact Dermatitis in some of the individuals.
Symptoms

Often there is a swelling and a burning sensation on the skin. The skin starts peeling off after a red itchy rash which resembles small blisters. Sometimes the patient may suffer from nausea.

Prevention
If you know that you are prone to Phototoxic Contact Dermatitis, avoid the sun as much as possible. Just remain indoors during the day so that your skin does not come in direct contact with sunlight. Cover the whole body to protect yourself, wear long sleeves and long pants and use a wide-brimmed hat if you have to go out in the sun.


If a drug has triggered the reaction, consult your doctor and discontinue it immediately. In any case, if the symptoms are severe, a doctor should be consulted. If you wear sunscreen, make sure that it has a high UVA protection level with at least factor 30.
Treatment
There are some foods which can definitely help in the treatment of Phototoxic Contact Dermatitis. Beta Carotene found in carrots and omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and flax seed have been found to be effective. Green tea helps as an antioxidant and protein food is also advisable for people who are suffering from malnutrition. Consumption of vitamins like B3, C, D and E are also good and Aloe can be used externally as a soothing balm on the skin.

Postscabetic Dermatitis: How To Get Rid Of That Ugly Itch

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Postscabetic dermatitis can be downright itchy. Most people who are suffering from postscabetic dermatitis cannot sleep all night with all the itch and discomforts brought about by this type allergy. Yes, postscabetic dermatitis is a kind of allergy; it is not scabies at all. Scabies are caused by mites living in our skin while postscabetic dermatitis is caused by allergic reactions to the mites in the skin and may even persist even when all the scabies have been eliminated from your skin. Yes, the whole itchy thing is very uncomfortable so if you have this type of allergy, you better settle in for a long night. It is very hard to sleep when you are itching all over.

Treating Postscabetic Dermatitis

No, you cannot eliminate postscabetic dermatitis by taking any mite killing medication. Always remember that you are dealing with allergies here so you need special treatment for your allergies. To find the best treatment for your allergies, you better see your doctor immediately. Do not take just any of those over the counter drugs of liniments to relieve your discomforts. Note that taking the wrong type of over the counter drugs and liniments can make things worst for you. You don't really want to end up scratching yourself like crazy all night long so go see your doctor immediately.

If your symptoms start in the middle of the night and you do not have access to your doctor, do not run to the nearest emergency room. Yes you are uncomfortable and you want to get fast relief from that itching and burning sensation but you cannot just run to the emergency room because of some persistent itch. Note that people in the emergency room are very busy and if they think that your case is not really so serious, they may not really be very happy to see you especially when there are a lot of dying people in the room who need their attention. Instead of running to the emergency room, take a hot bath to ease the itch a little. Hot water can sooth away the itch so take a long warm bath. Make sure that you do not put any oil, scent or soap in your bath to avoid irritating your skin further.

After taking a long warm bath, pat yourself dry with a warm soft towel. Do not rub your skin. Yes, it is very tempting to rub your skin at this point but unless you want to rub yourself raw, do not start rubbing your skin with a towel.

Seborrheic Dermatitis or Dandruff

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Another name for dandruff is Seborrheic Dermatitis and it generally affects the scalp. There is a flaking of the skin and is a common ailment affecting adolescents and adults. Even babies are prone to this ailment, and it is known as "cradle cap".

Sometimes Seborrheic Dermatitis can also occur on other parts of the body like the face, chest, the creases of the arms and legs and the groin. The skin is not only flaky, but also a little greasy and scaly. It is very common especially among men between the ages of thirty and sixty. Often babies below the age of three months are prone to this disease too.

Causes

The causes for Seborrheic Dermatitis are still not known, but the causes for infants and adults are different. The ailment could be related to hormones, because infants are affected by it, but it disappears before puberty. A fungus called malassezia may also be a cause of the disorder. This organism is already present on the skin, but in small numbers. When the numbers increase, skin problems may arise.

There is also a link between Seborrheic Dermatitis and neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease and epilepsy. Researchers have established a link between them, but they still don't know the reasons for it.

Treatment

The treatment of Seborrheic Dermatitis depends on its location on the body. Also, the age of the person plays an important role. The treatment of the common dandruff is done with shampoo which contains salicylic acid. The shampoos should be used at least twice a week. Shampoos containing coal tar can be used more frequently, like three times a week. Actually, if you have dandruff, start by using any of the shampoos daily and then reducing the use to two or three times a week, once the dandruff is under control.

If the Seborrheic Dermatitis symptoms do not respond to self-care like shampoos and massages, consult a medical professional. If the skin develops patches of Seborrheic Dermatitis and drains fluid or pus, or becomes very red or painful, it is time to call a doctor.

Steroid lotions can also be used by adolescents and adults, but only if the doctor prescribes them for you. For babies, Seborrheic Dermatitis can be treated with a mild and nonmedicated baby shampoo. Gentle brushing and massaging of the scalp with a soft brush also helps. For severe cases, doctors recommend gentle steroid lotions and creams.

Seborrheic Dermatitis can be a chronic condition and the treatment can definitely control it. Sometimes it is inactive, and at other times it can flare up, but it continues to stay life long. There may be some possible complications associated with it like psychological distress, low esteem and embarrassment. Sometimes Seborrheic Dermatitis may even lead to secondary bacterial or fungal infections.