Seborrheic dermatitis is one of the most common inflammatory skin diseases. It affects all ages but is particularly common in children. While it is probably and infectious disorder, it is not transmitted from one individual to another. Internal factors, the nature of which often cannot be ascertained, undoubtedly are of importance in many cases.
As it occurs on the scalp, a very common site for it, it resembles what might be considered a severe form of dandruff. There is profuse, flaky scaling and crusting, diffuse or patchy, on an itchy, inflamed scalp. In ordinary dandruff, the underlying scalp is not inflamed. The earliest manifestation of seborrheic dermatitis is often the scaling and crusting of the crown of the head of infants which is known to mothers as the "milk crust" or "cradle cap."
Seborrheic dermatitis commonly occurs on the face and in its mildest form resembles what is popularly spoken of as "chapping," red, scaling patches of various sizes occurring on the chin and cheeks, at the angles of the nose, and elsewhere. One of its most common manifestations in children is redness, scaling, weeping, and crusting behind and in the ears. This is usually associated with scaling in the eyebrows, inflammation of the eyelids and particularly of the lid margins, and involvement of other areas to varying degrees.
Any area of the body may be affected except the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet; these areas cannot be affected since they have no sebaceous (fat) glands. The disorder is an inflammation of the fat glands of the ski, presumably associated with an infection of these glands. In various respects it is so much like some forms of eczema that it often cannot be differentiated sharply from it.
One who is subject to seborrheic dermatitis may have it in one form or another at intervals throughout life almost regardless of treatment, but this is not the rule. In other words, while treatment is of definite value, a person afflicted with the disease cannot be assured that he will never again be affected. Zinc-oxide ointment and other simple protective pastes can be used to advantage until it is convenient for the afflicted person to obtain the services of a physician. A plain, nourishing diet should be used, an excess of sweets and fats being avoided. It is important that the involved area be cleansed with olive oil, sweet oil, cold cream, or vaseline instead of water.
by Clark W. Finnerud
Common Skin Diseases of Children
