Can you lose your hair if you get Seborrheic dermatitis?

Seborrheic dermatitis is an inflammatory skin condition, commonly occurring on the scalp that results in flaky, white or yellow scales to form on oily areas of the body. While this condition on the scalp is not specifically associated with the hair follicle, if hair follicles are near the inflammatory cells of the scalp, a person can experience some temporary hair loss. Basically, the inflammation causes the scalp to be unhealthy; and this unhealthy scalp results in some temporary hair loss.  In short, as long as you treat your seborrheic dermatitis when present, you will not experience any long lasting hair loss.

Seborrheic dermatitis is common in infants and is called “cradle cap.” The condition is not caused by bad hygiene and can be cleared by gentle regular shampooing.

Luckily seborrheic dermatitis can be easily treated with over the counter shampoos. For more severe cases, medicated shampoos containing fluconazole or anti-yeast medicines to reduce inflammation and speed healing may be recommended.

Getting the right diagnosis and most effective treatment for seborrheic dermatitis is the key to maintaining a healthy scalp. If you are experiencing symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis unresponsive to the usual shampoos, make an appointment to see a dermatologist.

Tags: Dr Edmond I Griffin, hair loss, hair loss treatments, scalp inflammation, seborrheic dermatitis, The Griffin Center