Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that occurs frequently in areas where sebaceous glands are developed, such as the head, forehead, and armpits. It is a common disease that occurs in 3-5% of adult males, and tends to get worse in the hot season or dry weather like now.
So, what are the symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis? Usually, red erythema and scale (dandruff) are the main symptoms, and it is accompanied by itching. Therefore, most of the patients suffering from seborrheic dermatitis complain of discomfort because they are concerned about the white dandruff that settles on their tops, and they also struggle with the stinging and itchy symptoms in the area.
There is also a story that seborrheic dermatitis that appears on the scalp causes hair loss. Seborrheic dermatitis on the scalp causes swelling or inflammation as the amount of sebum on the scalp increases. If the scalp is stimulated, care must be taken as secondary infection may occur. In fact, patients who visit us for scalp seborrheic dermatitis often have thinning hair or hair loss.
Although the exact cause of seborrheic dermatitis is not yet known, it is presumed that it is caused by stress, oily and stimulating food intake, the influence of hormones, and fungal infection.
In addition, if you have head sweating a lot, it is often accompanied by seborrheic dermatitis on the scalp. Seborrheic dermatitis tends to occur more frequently in the head, forehead, armpits, etc.
Factors such as stress and emotional tension increase body heat, and when body heat is not circulated properly, heat stagnates in the upper part of the body or in the folded part, causing seborrheic dermatitis. Therefore, for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis, it is important to lower the basic body temperature and at the same time to facilitate thermal circulation in the body. When warm energy is circulated downward and cold energy is circulated upward, circulation in the body becomes smooth and the distribution of cold heat is normalized, creating a virtuous cycle.
In traditional Chinese medicine, fundamental treatment is applied to reduce exaggerated body heat, promote thermal circulation, and improve skin regeneration and skin immunity. At this time, acupuncture, medicinal acupuncture, and moxibustion can be applied to the local lesion area as well as herbal medicines suitable for the individual’s constitution and condition.
If there is one thing you must remember along with treatment, it is lifestyle management. If you are suffering from seborrheic dermatitis, adequate sleep and stress management are essential. This is because if you lack sleep or are under a lot of stress, the fever will rise to the top and worsen the symptoms. In addition, oily and irritating foods should be avoided as they reduce the motility of the digestive system and promote heat. If you sweat a lot, it is important to wash it off as soon as possible to avoid irritation, and it is good to keep the lesion clean.
If seborrheic dermatitis is left unattended for a long time, it becomes more difficult to treat as inflammation worsens, and accompanying symptoms such as hair loss occur. Therefore, it is necessary to make efforts to fundamentally escape through appropriate treatment and management before it worsens.
(Written by Seo Hee-yeon, Director of Misoro Oriental Medicine Clinic)