Additional Information for treating and managing seborrhoeic eczema
Adult seborrhoeic eczema
Many preparations are available from your pharmacist, nurse or doctor to clear up the rash and keep it under control. But, before treating it, see your doctor to get a proper diagnosis.
- Use a medicated shampoo to treat seborrhoeic eczema on the scalp. Those designed to treat dandruff may be sufficient if the scaling is mild. They work by reducing the number of yeasts living on your scalp.
- Shampoos containing tar, and sometimes salicylic acid, are often more effective, these include Capasal, Alphosyl 2 in 1 shampoo and T/Gel shampoo.
- For a shampoo to be effective you should use it regularly, following the instructions on the bottle or sachet – this often means leaving the shampoo on the scalp for a few minutes before washing it off. Do not rub your scalp too hard when washing your hair as this can aggravate the condition.
- Nizoral shampoo is a powerful anti-yeast treatment which is often used if scaling does not improve after using a medicated shampoo for a few weeks. For the best results, it should be left on the scalp for three to five minutes before rinsing off and used twice a week for two to four weeks. Once the course of treatment is finished it is best to use a medicated shampoo to help prevent the condition from returning. Nizoral is available from the pharmacy and can also be obtained on prescription from your GP.
A mild steroid cream or ointment may be prescribed if the eczema is very inflamed and itchy. Apply this very thinly only to those areas affected by the eczema. If scaling is severe, an ointment containing a combination of mild steroid plus sulphur or salicylic acid may be prescribed.
Several antifungal creams, with or without a mild steroid, are also available to treat seborrhoeic eczema on other parts of the body. In severe cases, when a rash won’t clear, your doctor may give you an anti-yeast medicine to be taken by mouth.
Seborrhoeic eczema in children
Unfortunately, there is no cure for infantile seborrhoeic eczema, but it usually clears up on its own within a few months. However, you may want to try some of the following suggestions to help maintain the skin:
Emollient bath oil can be added to the baby’s bath to help loosen scales, moisturise the skin and help prevent further skin flaking and infection. Some emollient bath oils are available from your GP; others can be bought over the counter with help from your pharmacist. But take care, emollient bath oils make the bath and baby very slippery!
An emollient soap substitute and an emollient cream can be helpful to further moisturise and soothe the skin.
An antifungal cream can help keep the seborrhoeic eczema under control and if the skin looks sore your doctor may also prescribe a mild topical steroid ointment or cream such as hydrocortisone to reduce inflammation. However, treatment depends on which part of the body is affected.
If it is thickly scaled warmed olive oil massaged into the scalp and left for one hour will loosen the scales. Gentle washing with a mild shampoo will then help to remove the scales.
Keep this area clean and dry to prevent infection. Check nappies frequently, perhaps every hour, and change them as soon as they become wet or soiled. At nappy change, apply an emollient to help protect the skin. The nappy area can be cleaned using a soap substitute such as aqueous cream with warm water. If possible avoid plastic pants as these can make seborrhoeic eczema in the nappy area worse. It helps to remove your baby’s nappy for periods of time whenever you can to enable air to get to the affected area.
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