Paging Debforal- sebhorreic dermatitis of the scalp

Bathjunkie · ‎05-18-2013

Here's the info I posted earlier: Has anyone experienced this? At some point this fall I noticed a small spot of irritation on my scalp, but ignored it since it really didn't bother me. Well...... Right before Christmas I started noticing ALOT of hair loss in the shower. I've been using Wen (which I love) for about a year and really had not had much hair loss at all since starting with it, so this was an unusually large amount. The extreme shedding continued and I saw a dermalogist in mid January. She diagnosed sebhorreic dermatitis, which is caused by a fungal/yeast overgrowth. The yeast causes scalp inflammation and can lead to hair loss. I'm now using an anti fungal shampoo (nizoral) 3x per week, and lidex solution 2x per day to help with the inflammation. She also told me my scalp was dry and I should oil it often. Not only is my hair really thinned out, but I haven't colored it since mid Dec so my grey roots are very visible. Definitely a bad combination

. Also the shampoo & solution are really drying. I've been using remoist as a leave in to help counter the dryness. I could use some words of wisdom if you have gone through this. Btw, I told her I used Wen - that is not the problem.

Bathjunkie · ‎05-18-2013

Debforal- Okay, so here are some questions for you. Did you have hair loss? How long after starting medicated shampoo did you get results? What are you doing to stop it from reoccurring? TIA for sharing.

Debforal · ‎03-16-2010

I am so sorry I am late getting back to you...I started having really bad dandruff and bad itching. I had two small patches which flaired to several before I went to a derm. He said it was seborrhea or psoriases. He could do an expensive scan but he treated both the same way. Gave me two prescriptions one was fluocinolone acetonide topical oil and TEmovate topical solution. The oil is kinda messy because I had to put it on at night and wear an attractive shower cap every other night. TEmovate every day before i dried and styled my hair. It is in an alcohol base. I did this for about 4 months with no serious abatement but by the fifth month I was able to taper off. I had no hair loss and I was surprised because I would scratch my head until it bled sometimes. It was that itchy. I will go back in November for a head check. I don't use the mess anymore but I still have them. Don't know why I got this. Doc says it just happens. Thanks doc! Hope this helps you. I did not have good luck with nozoril or any over the counter stuff.

Debforal · ‎03-16-2010

I also color my hair and I fully understand. My doc said I could color and my colorist understood because she has eczema and knew this is not contagious. I continued to color even when it kinda burned. What we do for beauty!

Bathjunkie · ‎05-18-2013

Thanks so much for responding, but disappointing to hear it took 5 months to clear up. I'm a little over three weeks into treatment, and it doesn't seem to have made a difference so far. If anything it might be a bit worse. The derm said it could take 6weeks before hairloss slowed down, and I'm at my wits end about that. Just curious, you said something in the other thread about using 613 and it made your scalp worse. Was that before or during the doctor supervised treatment?

Bathjunkie · ‎05-18-2013

On 2/6/2014 Debforal said: I also color my hair and I fully understand. My doc said I could color and my colorist understood because she has eczema and knew this is not contagious. I continued to color even when it kinda burned. What we do for beauty!

At this point I don't want to put anything on my scalp that could cause further inflammation and hairloss, so I will have to suffer with gray roots a bit longer. Uuuuggggghhhhh.

Debforal · ‎03-16-2010

Before I went to the derm. I was trying anything over the counter and it would just make it worse because I thought I had a dry scalp problem. I'm sorry you are only at the three week stage. I thought it would be as soon as I started the treatment I would be well! Don't give up it will go away. I had it pretty bad. Sounds like our derms have a little different process so you might get over it faster than I did. Page me if you have any more questions. I look on the forums every other day. I don't usually post anything just read and get some good advise.

Tigriss · ‎03-12-2010

I had the same condition but on skin on my eyelids many years ago, but was called seborrheic eczema. I used olive oil along with a prescription topical ointment. You may consider massaging plain, old olive oil into your scalp, then do your wash or put a bit in and brush through with a boar bristle brush to distribute, then wash the next morning. Let it soak in. Olive oil after a bath has been the best for my eczema. I still get eczema on my wrists and hands from dish washing, cleaning, wearing gloves in the yard, and anything that can lead to damp skin. I also noticed that the new foam soap at work irritates the heck out of it, so I brought some moisturizing liquid soap from home that doesn't do irritate my skin. I also use Shea Moisture baby eczema raw shea butter. It is great. They also have a line of very moisturizing shampoo and conditions and conditioning masks. You may consider a mask to help hydrate your scalp. Walgreens carries most all of their line in the hair care and lotion section.

kikisplace · ‎04-13-2010

I have had this condition for years. I use DHS shampoo. Buy it on line at Person and Covey online but drug stores carry it. No cure but does help to control it. Hope this helps someone. Terrible condition to deal with.

Bathjunkie · ‎05-18-2013

Thanks for the input tigriss and kikisplace. I've been using tea tree and coconut oil for moisturizing, plus they have some anti fungal properties. I wonder if olive oil does too, or maybe it just helps to soothe the skin. It looks like DHS has several different treatment shampoos- zinc, salycitic, tar. Is there one on particular that you prefer, kikisplace?