Neutrogena T/sal Therapeutic Shampoo Scalp Build
TARGETED TREATMENT
For a salicylic acid-based shampoo, go for the Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo Scalp Build-Up Control. It brings the same oil-fighting power you expect from Neutrogenas skincare products to your scalp and promises to minimize the symptoms of dandruff and scalp psoriasis by clearing away excess oil and breaking down skin build-up.
How Is Seborrhoeic Dermatitis Diagnosed
Seborrhoeic dermatitis is diagnosed by its clinical appearance and behaviour. As malassezia are a normal component of skin flora, their presence on microscopy of skin scrapings is not diagnostic.
Skin biopsy may be helpful but is rarely indicated. Histological findings specific to seborrhoeic dermatitis are superficial perivascular and perifollicular inflammatory infiltrates, psoriasiformhyperplasia, and parakeratosis around follicular openings.
Medical Treatments For Dandruff
There are plenty of medicated shampoo options for dandruff prevention and treatment. A moisturising shampoo may help for dry scalp skin type dandruff. Shampoo containing salicylic acid may help with oily scalp skin type dandruff.
Hence, there are different types of medicated shampoo suitable for different types of dandruff. Some of the medicated shampoos are:
- Pyrithione Zinc Shampoo: It is effective for all hair types. It has antibacterial and antifungal properties that benefit against dandruff.
- Coal Tar Shampoo: It effectively reduces the number of dead skin cells on the scalp. Therefore, it is beneficial against dandruff. Not suitable for light-coloured hair types.
- Shampoo containing salicylic acid: Beneficial against oily scalp skin type dandruff. It can be applied daily or two to three times per week.
- Shampoo containing selenium sulphide: Selenium sulphide is known to have antifungal properties. Take precautions to wash the hair thoroughly after using selenium sulphide containing shampoos.
- Ketoconazole shampoo: Ketoconazole is a prescription-based medicine known to have an action against the fungus. It is effective against dandruff resulting from a fungal infection.
It is recommended to perform a patch test before applying any of the above-mentioned shampoos on your scalp. This will ensure that you do not suffer from any allergic reactions.
Recommended Reading: Pediatric Dermatologist Specializing In Eczema
What Questions Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider
- Do my symptoms indicate seborrheic dermatitis, eczema, atopic dermatitis or psoriasis?
- What over-the-counter treatment or combination of treatments would work best for me?
- Is there a specific brand of dandruff shampoo, cream or lotion that you recommend?
- Is there a prescription shampoo, cream or lotion you can prescribe?
- How often should I see a dermatologist regarding this condition?
- What should I do if I have an allergic reaction to a shampoo/cream/lotion?
- Is my acne treatment covered by my insurance?
Although seborrheic dermatitis is itchy and uncomfortable, it does not harm your health. The condition can be managed with treatment. Itchy skin and white flakes on your black shirts shouldnt be a normal part of your day!
What Is The Difference Between Dandruff And Eczema
May 2, 2013
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Often, people can confuse these two terms. There is a difference though, however. Knowing the difference between the two can greatly help you to correct and treat the issue.
What is dandruff?
Dandruff can be characterised by loose flakes of skin which are normally white in colour. Itching can also be sometimes involved, but not as severe. Dandruff is not caused by dryness, but rather too much oil .
What is eczema?
Eczema is also known medically as seborrheic dermatitis, and often results in inflammation and red flaky patches of the skin. Like dandruff, it is also characterised by flaking and itching. The big difference is that scalp eczema is accompanied by inflammation and often results in greasy, yellowish flakes. Additionally, if your eczema also shows up on other parts of the bodies , the likelihood is that what you may perceive as dandruff on the scalp may actually be eczema.
What causes dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis/eczema?
3 main things can contribute to dandruff and eczema, which causes the flaking and itching to happen:
1. Fungus:
Malassezia lives on the scalps of most healthy adults without causing problems. But sometimes it grows out of control and feeds on the oils in your hair follicles, which causes irritation that leads to increased cell turnover. This results in a large number of dead skin cells that fall off and clump together with oil from your hair, making them appear white, flaky and visible.
2. Sebum:
3. Individual susceptibility:
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What Are The Symptoms Of Seborrheic Dermatitis
Infants with seborrheic dermatitis most often have a form called cradle cap, which appears on their scalps as scaly, greasy patches. They can also develop seborrheic dermatitis on their bottoms, where it can be mistaken for diaper rash, a form of contact dermatitis.
In teens and adults, seborrheic dermatitis forms where skin is oilier. In addition to the scalp, redness, swelling and greasy scaling can develop on the sides of the nose and in and around the eyebrows, on the mid-chest, upper back and in the armpits and groin area.
Babies And Cradle Cap
When babies have seborrheic dermatitis, it’s called cradle cap. The brown or yellow scales may be itchy. You may find it on the skin of a baby’s scalp, eyelids, nose, and groin area. Cradle cap normally clears up on its own by the time the baby is 8 to 12 months old. Try putting mineral or vegetable oil on the baby’s scalp for 10 minutes, then washing with a mild baby shampoo. Talk to your health care provider if it doesn’t go away.
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Diagnosis Of Cradle Cap And Seborrheic Dermatitis
To diagnose cradle cap or seborrheic dermatitis, a doctor will make a visual inspection of the affected skin. Blood and other laboratory tests are not usually needed.
However, if the condition does not improve with treatment, it is possible that it is not cradle cap or seborrhea, but something that looks similar such as psoriasis or an allergic reaction. In such cases it may be necessary to return to the doctor and possibly undergo tests to determine what is causing the problem. If you are concerned that you or your baby may have this condition, you can do a free symptom assessment using the Ada app.
How Is It Treated
Home treatment often helps prevent and get rid of the symptoms of dandruff.
- Use an anti-dandruff shampoo. A variety of shampoos are available, containing different ingredients. Trying several will help you find out which anti-dandruff shampoo is most effective for you.
- Shampoo daily to prevent a build-up of dead skin cells on your scalp.
- If an anti-dandruff shampoo helps stop dandruff for a while but the dandruff problem returns, try a different anti-dandruff shampoo.
- Alternate anti-dandruff shampoos with regular ones if you are worried about the effects of anti-dandruff shampoos’ harsh chemicals on your hair.
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Scalp Eczema Vs Scalp Psoriasis
Scalp eczema and scalp psoriasis can look very similar, but a trained dermatologist or other healthcare provider will be able to tell the difference and suggest the correct treatment.
It sometimes requires a skin biopsy to tell the difference.
Patients with both conditions can have red, scaly skin, but those with psoriasis have thicker, drier skin, and silvery scales.
People with psoriasis may experience soreness or pain as a part of their condition, and may find that their skin is more challenging to treat than those with eczema.
Dandruff Symptoms & Signs
Dandruff refers to excessive exfoliation, or shedding, of the skin of the scalp.
Signs and symptoms of dandruff include flakes of skin that range from small and white to large, greasy, and yellow, skin flaking that appears on the scalp or eyebrows, around the hairline, ears, or nose, or in the center of the chest or back, and irritated or oily skin. Itching may or may not be present.
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Seborrheic Dermatitis Is Long
When an adult gets seborrheic dermatitis, the condition can come and go for the rest of the persons life. Flare-ups are common when the weather turns cold and dry. Stress also can trigger a flare-up. The good news is that treatment can reduce flare-ups and bring relief.
Reddish, oily-looking patches often appear on the scalp and face.
What Are The Symptoms Of Scalp Eczema
Symptoms of scalp eczema can vary depending on your age, general health, underlying cause, and severity of the condition. For some, the disease is just a mild nuisance.
For others, it can cause significant symptoms that interfere with daily life.
Depending on the condition causing their symptoms, people with scalp eczema often experience:
- Greasy patches of thick, yellow, pink, or red scales
- Flaky skin, or scales that flake off when they are scratched
- Crusty skin
- Blisters or bumpy rash
Scalp eczema may not be limited to the scalp.
Symptoms may appear on the head or hairline, on the sides of the nose and cheeks, on the eyelids, eyebrows, ears, upper chest and back, genitals, and underneath the breasts.
An infant with cradle cap may have symptoms on their scalp, face, upper chest, back, and sometimes in the diaper area or armpits.
People who have weakened immune systems are more likely to develop severe cases, with symptoms of eczema appearing on multiple parts of their body.
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Is Your Hair Care To Blame
Dandruff doesn’t mean you have dirty hair, but the way you style your hair or the products you use might cause a flaky scalp. Some hair coloring and styling products can leave a flaky, dry residue or trigger a skin reaction that looks like dandruff. If you already have dandruff, not washing your hair enough can make your dandruff look worse because dead skin cells build up. You may want to try different hair products to see if they help your dandruff clear up.
Scalp Eczema Vs Dandruff
Dandruff is a common skin condition with symptoms limited to the scalp, hairline, eyebrows, and facial hair.
It can result in an itchy scalp or scaly, crusty patches on the skin that flake off when they are scratched.
In general, dandruff causes small, dry flakes, but not the thick, greasy patches and flakes of scalp eczema.
However, there is some overlap.
Most dandruff is a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis, but occasionally, irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, or other skin conditions like ringworm or psoriasis cause similar symptoms.
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How To Eliminate Candida Overgrowth And Overcome Skin Issues
To get your Candida back in check, youll need to restore the good bacteria and repair your gut. That way Candida cannot enter your bloodstream. You can accomplish this with the simple and proven three-action approach in my 30-day Candida Breakthrough® Program. With my support and an online community of people just like you who are fighting Candida, heres what youll do:
Step 1. Starve the Candida by removing the foods that feed it from your diet. This means eliminating all sugar and alcohol, and restricting carbohydrates such as fruit, starchy vegetables, grains, and legumes. It also means ditching all fermented foods.
Step 2. Attack the Candida by taking supplements that destroy Candidas cell walls. I like to use Candifense® as well as Caprylic Acid, both of which are excellent at breaking down the walls of Candida cells to destroy them.
Step 3. Repopulate your gut with good bacteria by taking a high-potency probiotic that keeps Candida under control. While battling Candida, I recommend a probiotic supplement containing 100 billion colony-forming units to restore your guts healthy microbial balance.
Dandruff Can Show Up In Other Places
You can get dandruff on parts of your body other than your scalp, like your forehead, eyebrows, eyelashes, or ears. Flaky skin on your chest — or anywhere you have body hair — could be a sign of dandruff, which is a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis. If the skin on your body is oily or greasy or has a slight redness, that could also be a sign. Talk to your doctor about treatment.
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Can I Prevent Scalp Eczema Flare
According to Dr. Awan, Once you get a scalp eczema flare-up under control, its important to take steps to maintain skin health and prevent future flare-ups. Your dermatologist can help you find the right daily scalp care products. While its always recommended to work with a dermatologist to create a personalized skincare routine, some basic steps you can take to minimize risk for scalp eczema flare-ups include:
- Keep your scalp clean Wash your scalp regularly, especially if youve been sweating, with a gentle, pH-balanced shampoo and apply a conditioner
- Moisturize Apply moisturizer to the scalp at least once a day
- Cut back on styling Avoid using styling products, especially those that contain alcohol and other drying agents, or minimize use significantly to reduce the risk of a flare-up
- Protect the scalp Wear hats and other protective clothing to minimize scalp exposure to sunlight, cold, or dry weather
Candida Overgrowth Leaky Gut And Your Skin
Candida has the unique ability to change shape in order to protect itself from harsh environments, transforming from a rounded yeast cell into an elongated hyphal cell2. These elongated hyphal cells are able to permeate your gut lining, which can cause your gut to become leaky, allowing toxins, microbes, proteins, and yes, yeast, to escape your gut and travel throughout your bloodstream.
Once in your bloodstream, the yeast can colonize other areas of your body, including to your skin, which explains why researchers have found Candida in skin cultures of eczema patients3.
Whether its eczema on your hands, dandruff in your hair, or a toenail fungus, it can all be traced back to the Candida in your gut.
Its also important to note that, skin issues arent the only consequence of leaky gut. We now know from the work of Harvard researcher Alessio Fasano that leaky gut is one of the precursors to autoimmune disease4. That means that if your gut remains leaky, you are more likely to develop an autoimmune condition.
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Cradle Cap: A Type Of Seborrheic Dermatitis
Many infants get cradle cap. This is a type of seborrheic dermatitis that develops in babies. Scaly, greasy patches form on the babys scalp. The patches can become thick and crusty, but cradle cap is harmless. Cradle cap usually goes away on its own within a few months.
Babies also get seborrheic dermatitis in their diaper area and elsewhere. In the diaper area, the red rash often is mistaken for diaper rash. A few babies get seborrheic dermatitis that covers much of the body with red, scaly patches.
No matter where the seborrheic dermatitis forms, it tends to permanently disappear between 6 months and 1 year of age.
How To Tell The Difference
Seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff can both cause itchy, flaky skin on the scalp. Dandruff usually presents as small, white flakes in the hair and on the scalp.
Seborrheic dermatitis usually presents as defined plaques of greasy, yellow scales on the scalp, behind the ears, and on the nose, upper lip, eyelids, eyebrows, and upper chest. These lesions usually appear symmetrically on the body and are not contagious.
Seborrheic dermatitis tends to follow a seasonal pattern and is more common in the cold, winter months. In babies, seborrheic dermatitis usually presents as cradle cap. In adults, the condition can be chronic and recur.
Seborrheic Dermatitis Doctor Discussion Guide
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Which One Do You Have
Unsure if the issue is dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis? Check for simple signs. Dandruff will appear as white, oily flakes at the root of the scalp. In most cases, dandruff may not cause itching. So a pharmacist can prescribe a medicated shampoo. However, if the flakes come with scaly patches on the scalp, this could be a sign of seborrheic dermatitis. Red patches around the nose and oily, tender skin are other early signs. Some cases may need stronger treatment like a corticosteroid. Seek help immediately if these symptoms pop up.
What Should You Do
If you have successfully identified the triggering agent, such as a hair dye for example, simply avoid any hair dyes containing the same allergen in order to prevent future allergic reactions. The same allergen, however, can be found in various products, which can make total avoidance difficult. A dermato-allergologist will be able to advise you on how to track down and avoid the allergen. The consultation will include several questions on your habits as well as allergy tests .
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One Last Thing About Scalp Eczema Treatment
Scalp eczema can be uncomfortable, but there are several over-the-counter solutions that can help relieve your symptoms.
But as always, consulting a professional can help you manage this skin condition. In particular, you may want to see a dermatologist to help identify the triggers for scalp eczema and get a prescription treatment if the remedies youve tried arent effective.
Importantly, see your dermatologist as soon as possible if your eczema-related skin patches drain fluid or pus, form crusts, or become very red or painful.
Additional reporting by Diana Rodriguez.