Basically, seborrheic dermatitis is a more severe form of dandruff and has very similar symptoms: flakes, itching, and redness, to name just a few. Find out what makes it different and why you might need a different shampoo.
It’s easy to confuse seborrheic dermatitis with dandruff; after all, the symptoms are virtually identical:
- Flakes
- Redness
- Itching
- Dry scalp
- Inflammation
But there’s one important difference that’s a dead giveaway: seborrheic dermatitis tends to be more severe. So, you can expect to see more flakes, experience more itching, and see more signs of irritation than with dandruff.
The cause of seborrheic dermatitis Yes, you guessed it; it’s the same as dandruff. The symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis are related to the presence of a natural scalp microbe called Malassezia globosa.
When Malassezia breaks down the oils on your scalp, it forms an irritating substance: oleic acid. Half the world’s population is sensitive to it, and in most people, it triggers dandruff; in others, it causes a more intense case of seborrheic dermatitis.
So, how do you know if it’s seborrheic dermatitis? As we’ve seen, there are many similarities to dandruff. However, there are tell-tale factors:
- More severe flakes
- White/yellowish flakes: these tend to be greasier than dandruff flakes
- Red or inflamed areas on the scalp
How to treat seborrheic dermatitis Just like dandruff, you can treat seborrheic dermatitis with a shampoo.
You’ll find that a good anti-dandruff shampoo with 1% zinc pyrithione is strong enough to control all symptoms.
But if that doesn't give you enough relief, then you should try a shampoo with selenium sulfide, like our Clinical Strength shampoo.
Our Clinical Strength shampoo with selenium sulfide removes more flakes faster than typical dandruff shampoos*. It’s clinically proven to be effective even against the toughest flakes and targets all symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis.
In fact, it’s the most powerful seborrheic dermatitis shampoo available without a prescription.
More information about seborrheic dermatitis
* compared to an anti-dandruff shampoo with 1% zinc pyrithione
