Seborrheic dermatitis is essentially a more severe form of dandruff and shows very similar symptoms – flakes, itching and redness, to name just a few. Find out what makes it different and why you might need a different shampoo.
It’s easy to get confused between seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff – after all, the symptoms are almost identical:
- flakes
- redness
- itching
- dry scalp
- inflammation
But there’s one major difference to look out for – seborrheic dermatitis tends to be more severe. So you can expect tosee more flakes, experience more itch and see more signs of irritation than with dandruff.
The cause of seborrheic dermatitis
Yes, you’ve guessed it – it’s the same as dandruff. The symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis are all linked to the presence of naturallyoccurring microbes on your scalp called Malassezia globosa.
As Malassezia breaks down your scalp oils, it forms an irritant: oleic acid. Half the world’s population is sensitive to it and formost of them that leads to dandruff; for others, it results in a more intense case of seborrheic dermatitis.
So how do you tell if it’s seborrheic dermatitis?
As we’ve seen, there are plenty of similarities with dandruff, however there are things to look out for:
- More severe flakes
- White/yellowish scales – these tend to be more oily than dandruff flakes
- Red, inflamed patches on the scalp
How to treat persistent flaking
If you’ve tried an anti-dandruff shampoo before and it didn’t work – it might not necessarily mean it’s seborrheic dermatitis.
Before you go to your doctor or dermatologist, try our new Clinically Proven Solutions range.
It includes our shampoo designed for stubborn dandruff as well as our Scalp Relief Shampoo for extra itch relief.
They both contain selenium sulphide, our maximum strength anti-dandruff active.
With up to 7 days’ protection, it’s designed to tackle flakes and scalp discomfort more stubborn than ‘everyday’ dandruff.
If that doesn’t work, you’ve essentially ruled out dandruff so it’s worth going to your doctor or dermatologist to diagnose for scalp psoriasis or other skin conditions.
More about seborrheic dermatitis