By Dr Sunakshi Singh , Dermatology
The condition of dandruff on the face or seborrheic dermatitis is generally characterized by reddish marks of blisters and dry skin in the face that cause inflammation and itchiness. Face dandruff generally occurs in the ear, eyebrows and the nose. Seborrheic dermatitis is also seen to develop on the chest, genital area and the armpits. Seborrheic dermatitis may also lead to abnormal dandruff conditions on the scalp and at the back of the head.
Causes-
This skin condition is caused due to:
- Extreme oily skin
- High levels of stress on a daily basis
- Cold weather
- Overgrowth of a fungus named malassezia which is normally present in the skin
- Not washing your face regularly
- Face dandruff might occur as a result of more serious medical conditions such as AIDS, Parkinson’s disease (a nervous system disorder which affects bodily movements and other motor functioning) and serious head injuries.
Symptoms-
Face dandruff might show with the following symptoms:
- Extremely itchy and reddish rashes in the ear, eyebrows, scalps, nose, and chest.
- Extreme cases of ear eczema
- White blisters
- Scaly patches on the face
Treatments-
Once diagnosed by the dermatologist, the following steps should be taken to treat face dandruff:
- Application of anti-dandruff shampoos daily containing tar and zinc; these control the overgrowth of the fungus.
- Steroid creams can also be applied for treatment of face dandruff.
- If the blisters are long-lasting, prescribed application of corticosteroids might help treat them.
Prevention-
Washing your hair daily with anti-dandruff shampoos along with maintaining your hair and overall health hygiene might reduce the risk of getting dandruff altogether.