Having seborrheic dermatitis can be extremely annoying. Whether the condition is limited to your face, scalp, or has spread to more areas of your body, if you have seborrheic dermatitis, you are probably bothered by it on a daily basis. Unfortunately, some of the steps people take to treat this condition at home can end up making matters worse. If you're doing one of the following things, you may want to consider thinking twice.
Scraping and Scratching
Seborrheic dermatitis tends to create bumpy, flaky, or greasy patches of skin above the normal layer of skin. These little mounds can be extremely itchy and irritating because they're covering healthy skin and keeping it from being exposed to the surface, like when you have a scab covering a healing wound. Unfortunately, many people's first reaction when this happens is to scratch at the impacted area or to even purposefully try to remove the patch.
The problem with these actions is that they can introduce the risk of infection to your skin. Scratching these bumps can tear the skin, letting bacteria or viruses in. This can make matters even worse by increasing irritation and itchiness, meaning you're more likely to repeat the behavior, and without immediate care, your skin can become badly infected.
Hydrocortisone
Sometimes doctors and nurses will recommend using hydrocortisone cream on seborrheic dermatitis in order to help reduce the itchiness and breakouts. This is a valid tactic, but there are a couple of problems with following it in the long run.
First of all, hydrocortisone cream should never get into your eyes. Unfortunately, many people experience dermatitis on their scalp, eyebrows, or even eyelids. These problem areas shouldn't be treated with hydrocortisone cream or it could end up harming your vision.
Hydrocortisone cream also has a tendency to weaken skin over time, which can damage your skin and make it more susceptible to breakouts when you're not actively using the cream. So once you start using it, you may feel like you have to keep using it.
Irritants
Finally, many people reach for things that seem like they'll be beneficial, like 'soothing' body washes and face washes. Unfortunately, products that contain certain chemicals, additives, and even seemingly harmless substances like mint can irritate your skin and make redness and itchiness worse. Everyone's skin is different, but if you've noticed that sometimes your skin seems to get worse before it gets better while using certain products, you may want to consider switching to something else.
In the end, seborrheic dermatitis is a condition that deserves treatment and attention from a dermatologist. They have the diagnostic tools and expertise necessary to determine exactly what triggers your dermatitis and to find ways to control it. Healthier, happier skin is possible. Contact a dermatologist and set up an appointment to learn more.
For more information, contact a dermatologist near you.
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