Seborrheic dermatitis - a common skin disease characterized by redness and peeling of the skin. If it affects the scalp appear flakes (dander), while running the form of flakes formed korkoobraznye. Seborrheic dermatitis can also affect the face, chest, back and other parts of the body with a high concentration of sebaceous glands.

Seborrheic dermatitis has no effect on the general state of health, but causes significant discomfort, as can occur on exposed parts of the body. Seborrheic dermatitis is not contagious and is not an indication of poor personal hygiene. The disease is characterized by periodic exacerbations, but for seborrheic dermatitis can be controlled if you know its signs and symptoms, and use non-prescription drugs in conjunction with home remedies.

The symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis

By common symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis include:

• inflammation (redness) of the skin;
• flaking of the scalp to form dense flakes;
• yellow or white dandruff Dandruff: where it comes from, and what to do , Not only color, but also on the eyebrows, beard or mustache (for men);
• peeling and redness of the skin to other parts of the body (chest, armpits, groin folds) with a rash of small point follicular nodules yellow-pink color;
• itching and discomfort.

If it affects the scalp is observed thinning and thinning hair, down to baldness. Generally, seborrheic dermatitis - a chronic illness with alternating periods of exacerbation and remission.

Seborrheic dermatitis often occurs in infants, most often on the face and in the groin area. In most cases, the disease is at the time when the child turns a year.

When you need to see a doctor

Consult your doctor if you notice the following symptoms at:

• You feel so much discomfort that you can not normally subside or live a full life.
• Your condition and appearance cause you embarrassment and shame.
• You think you have a skin infection.
• You have tried to cure with home remedies, but to no avail.

Causes of seborrheic dermatitis

The cause of seborrheic dermatitis is not certain. Scientists have identified a number of factors contributing to development of the disease:

• Yeast fungus Malassezia. These organisms normally live in small quantities in the skin of 90% of people. They do not cause discomfort for as long as the body in order, but the weakening of the immune or metabolic disorder Metabolism: The basis of life of all living things   It leads to active propagation of fungi Malassezia, and peeling of the skin occurs. Therefore, for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis are often used ointments and creams containing an antifungal agent, such as ketoconazole (Ketozol, Ekstina) that helps reduce the appearance of dermatitis. By itself, seborrheic dermatitis is not considered an infectious disease.
• Change of seasons. Seborrheic dermatitis is exacerbated during the cold season.
• Neurological diseases. Dermatitis are more prone to people with Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease - where the nerve endings are destroyed   and a number of other neurological diseases.
• Stress and fatigue. Stress and strong emotional shock can serve as a trigger to develop seborrheic dermatitis or contribute to its aggravation. The mechanism of the link between eczema and nervous diseases not defined.
• HIV / AIDS. Seborrheic dermatitis is more common among people with HIV / AIDS, and takes them to serious complications.

But the treatment - including home remedies - helps reduce the severity of the disease and control its manifestations in the period of exacerbation. Treatment depends on the type of skin How to determine your skin type , The severity and stage of disease and its spread (whether it affects only the scalp, or whole body).

In most cases, prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs, if necessary, anti-microbial and anti-fungal drugs, as well as correction of the diet: should reduce the intake of fried, sharp, spicy, fatty and sugary foods that activates the sebaceous glands.

Comedones - a kind of a cyst; As a rule, they appear on the nose, forehead, chin, and people suffering from acne. Divided into open comedones (blackheads) and closed, or whiteheads. Open comedones are usually small and painless; closed comedones can be up to five millimeters in diameter (in severe forms of acne - even more) and cause great pain when pressure.

Blackheads are formed when the pores of the skin accumulates dead skin cells, dirt and sebum different - a fatty substance that releases the skin. For sebum and other melanin containing pigments which are oxidized and darken when exposed to air. Closed comedones do not darken, because their contents are fully covered with a thin layer of skin.

The most common comedones appear during puberty - only about 20% of people do not face such a problem in adolescence. Hormonal changes in teenagers make the sebaceous glands work especially active, which is why there are spots that bring a lot of trouble adolescents. Today, however, from the comedones are increasingly suffering people whose puberty Transitional age - the period of emotional turmoil   It has long ended.

The formation of comedones

Normally fats that produce sebaceous glands are distributed uniformly over the skin - it is humidified, and there is no problem.

However, in some cases, the sebaceous glands produce too much fat and / or pores clogged too quickly dead cells and create a favorable environment for bacteria Propionibacterium acnes. Sometimes, blackheads are the result of misuse of cosmetics (especially if the owner of oily skin often uses fat cream), or if a person regularly forgets to remove make-up. As a result, the skin pores are blocked and blackheads are formed, but they pass quickly, if a person begins to use it the right makeup and cleanse the skin properly. To cure blackheads, which started to breed bacteria, much more difficult.

White comedones, reaching a certain size, with time usually pass on their own. Black comedones are usually stored for a long time in certain areas of the skin not increasing, but did not disappeared.

Treating comedones

For the treatment of comedones, above all, must be properly cleansing. Should wash your face twice a day with warm (not hot!) Water and mild soap. Optionally, you can use a variety of cleansing lotions - but without the alcohol, not to dry up the skin. Furthermore, when comedones may be useful with OTC drugs benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe a more potent means.

The fact that you can get rid of comedones with diet - a common misconception. In fact, fatty and sweet foods do not cause comedones, and rejection of them is unlikely to improve the skin condition.

In some cases, for the treatment of comedones can be used hormone pills or antibiotics. Some of these funds have serious side effects, so they can be taken only with the approval of a physician and under his supervision.

Effective means of removing comedones:

• Creams containing alpha hydroxy acids (AHA), for example, glycerol creams that remove the top layer of dead cells and "open" blackheads.
• Personal Care: Do not touch the face. Oily skin is usually accompanied by oily hair and hair may carry infection, so it is better to clean up in a bun or tail, so as not to fall on your face.
• Washing with soap and water no more than twice a day. No soap can wash as much as necessary.
• Also, a dermatologist usually prescribes medication without a prescription, or topical preparations. Topical medication is applied directly to the affected area of ​​the skin comedones or black isolated points. Such agents include lotions or ointments, benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol, salicylic acid and sulfur.
• Antibiotics (tablets), such as tetracycline, prescribed for the treatment of inflammatory comedones. Antibiotics help stop or slow the growth of the bacteria and reduce inflammation.
• Astringent: it tightens pores and helps to reduce oiliness of the skin. If the tool is too tough, it can be diluted with rose water.
• Flour, chick-peas and cottage cheese: Prepare a paste of flour chick-peas and cottage cheese and put the mixture on the black spots. When the paste dries and hardens, gently scrape and wash it with a fingernail.

Causes of comedones

• Comedones appear in the case where the sebum (skin produced natural oil) accumulated in the hair follicle and in combination with the dead cells of the skin and dust particles forms a plug closing time. The toxins from the blood and lymph flow exiting from the body through the skin to interact with the sebum to form a thick sticky mass. Comedo appears when it is time filled with sebum mixed with bacteria partially open and dark due to the action of oxygen in the skin pigment -melanin.
• Using the wrong chosen cleanser or neglect face cleaning procedure leads to the accumulation of dead skin cells, solidified sebum, salt (from sweat), dust, dirt, bacteria, as well as wax and colored pigments, cosmetics and / or funds for oily basis.
• Acne - Another common reason for the appearance of comedones. Acne is caused by excessive activity of the sebaceous glands that produce sebum.

Other possible causes of comedones:

• Genetic predisposition: the probability of occurrence of acne, comedones higher in those women whose relatives have already encountered a similar problem.
• Hormonal Imbalance: hormonal imbalance often leads to the appearance of comedones. High levels of testosterone in people prone to acne Acne: facial trouble It stimulates increased activity of the sebaceous glands, which leads to excessive production of sebum. In addition, the dead skin cells lining the hair follicle opening, do not disappear in time and clog the opening of the follicle.
• Some medications: the appearance of comedones and causes certain medications, although this is quite rare.
• Cosmetics oily and oil-based: oil-based cosmetics can also lead to the appearance of comedones due to allergic reactions.
• Stress: a very common factor in the appearance of comedones. In times of stress How to beat stress? Create an oasis   we often tend to neglect hygiene and skin care products, which creates favorable conditions for the formation of acne. Furthermore, the physical skin irritation (e.g., abrasions or diaper rash) due to wear tight clothing can also lead to the formation of comedones.
• Natural skin irritation
• Humidity and pollution climate, including moisture level (increasing perspiration) and pollution, also contributes to the accumulation in the pores of the microparticles that may cause comedones.

Signs of comedones

Comedones appear in people of any age, but most often in adolescents during puberty Puberty child - stages of a complex path . This cosmetic defect occurs in approximately 85% of all adolescents and young people aged 12 to 24 years.

The most common signs of comedones:

• Coarsening of the skin can lead to blackheads.
• Advanced skin pores can also turn into acne.
• For acne prone and dry, flaky skin.
• The skin looks dull and if moldy
• On the skin with blackheads poorly kept cosmetics.
• Comedones often appear on the skin, characterized by an increased activity of the sebaceous glands.