Severe seborrhoeic dermatitis on adult scalp, can anyone help my poor mum??

[piratecat]

She has had this for about 3 years now. Has tried everything the gp could throw at her. It is no better, and now she just lives with it.
She has a history of skin problems. In her late 30's her whole body became a mass of welts, and crusts, but funnily enough never on her face.

She hates it, she is constantly sore, itchy, and her hair used to fall out. She had a bit of new growth now, which is great, as of course themore she loses the more you see her scalp.

Its really upsetting for her, she's having to wash her hair every day, even tho it is said that you are not to overstimulate as it's the oil production that causes the flakes, which then get infected. Yet if she doesn't there are huge flakes of scab showing.

I know this is really ruining tings for her in many ways, and i don't know why I didn't think to post about it for her before now.

itchy bump

If she's tried everything the GP can do, presumably she's tried the obvious coal-tar derived shampoos like T-gel, which is what helps a lot of people.

Has she tried talking to experts on allergies? Or an expert dermatologist for that matter? GPs can be great, but they're obviously not experts on everything!

Has she tried avoiding SLS in shampoos? Sodium Laurel Sulphate is a detergent that many people react to - Halo and Horns shampoo doesn't have it and is easily found in the children's section in Asda and Tesco.

hi yes she has tried the coal tar route. I hadn't heard of the SLS thing, i will ask her about this, and also have a look in the supermarkets thanks.!

This is a somewhat leftfield suggestion, but it worked for me...Original Source Orange and Teatree shampoo. Not sure if it was the Teatree or not, but my scalp was clear in a few days. Also, has your mum's GP checked for yeast infections? This can sometimes come about from seb. derm.?

Could you get her to see a dermatologist? i have very similar problems with my scalp and my gp was treating me unsuccessfully for dermatitis/psoraris but when i was referred to the dermatologist i had a scalp biopsy which diagnosed follicutits decalvans which is something very different.

Is is fungal perhaps? DH is prone to fungal infections all over. Admittedly he shaves his head to help with cream application. Sun beds might help too?

Could be fungal, (GP could send a sample to the lab), seborrhoeic dermatitis or psoriasis. If the scale is very thick, then no lotion will penetrate it to work on the scalp. So first she would need to soften the scale. Probably would take 2 or 3 days if it's very thick. Then scalp products would work. Has she ever been prescribed something like coal tar pomade to soften and loosen the scale? Messy to use but works. If she's tried stuff from the GP then I think she needs to see a dermatologist.

i know she has seena dermatologist, and has had sone steroid stuff, some stuff called Betnovate too. I know she has tried everything. It's so severe now, i think she needs to re assess it. I know she has prob decided to shut up and put up. It's all in her ears.

My DD who is 2.5 seems to be suffering from something similar. It is currently infected and weeping - horrible.

I have been using coal tar soaps which seem to be making it worse! Going to docs again tomorrow for a reassessment but need to wash it tonight to get all the gunk and dried blood/pus off. Can anyone suggest something really mild and anti-allergenic before I set off for Boots. Maybe an anti-fungal one might be worth a try?

Tea tree shampoo and conditioner from holland and barrett is great for this.Not the normal cosmetic type they have a really high tea tree content one really worth a try as its so miserable x

I too have been suffering with something that sounds identical for almost 3 years. I scratch and pull at my hair as it really irritates me. I now have some patches of hair loss and it is the bain of my life. I have made several trips to gp and trid betnovate, dermovate coal tar, fucidin et etc
I've been to see a trichologist and she mentioned that it could be felliculits declavans but the shmpoo she gave me didn't help. How are you treating yours Dellie? I will watch the thread with interest in the hope of a cure.

Thanks Noddy x

Has she tried Nizoral (Ketonazole?) shampoo?
I used to get a bit of eczema on my scalp (not the same thing I know) but this really helped, where coal tar didnt.
And it smells TONS nicer (IMO coal tar leaves your hair stinky for ages).

I tried Nizoral and it didn't work for me.

Jenthehen, i went on a long course of antibiotics when it was diagnosed, it completely cleared my scalp for a while but after about 6 months it started to creep back again, the derm changed the antibiotics i was on and it got better again but then after a while I had a reaction to the antibiotics and had to come off them altogether. At the moment i am using Dermax shampoo (think it is only available on prescription, it is the only 'dandruff' shampoo that doesn't irritate the hell out of my scalp) and Betnovate but it is a bit of a mess again and am having some hair loss. Unfortunately there is no cure for folliculitis decalvans, just got to wait for it to burn out, soon hopefully!!

curezone.com/forums/f.asp?f=671
have found this site useful and this one

www.scalpdiseases.org/forum/index.php

Thanks for replying dellie. It's horrid isn't it. I'm thinking of going to see a natural medic who has been reccommended to me. If I get any success I will let you know.