Seborrheic dermatitis is also known as dandruff and is extremely common. Most are familiar with this dandruff affecting the scalp, however seborrheic dermatitis often involves the central cheeks, sides of the nose, eyebrows, forehead, ears, beard and even a hairy chest.
In contrast to dandruff shampoo labeling, seborrheic dermatitis usually occurs in oily places and is not just a product of dry skin. The scalp, as well as the face and ears, can flake, itch and even become reddened.
Seborrheic dermatitis is due to a organism that is normally present on the body. An overgrowth causes the rash and it tends to be chronic in nature but very treatable. Symptoms often flare during season change.
Treatments include anti fungal and sulfa-based shampoos, washes, creams, or gels and topical steroids or other topicals may be used to suppressive inflammation and relieve symptoms.
Benign lipoma, cysts and other bumps in the skin
There are literally hundreds of different kinds of lumps, bumps and cysts associated with the skin. Fortunately, the vast majority of these are harmless and painless. Some of the more common include
Epidermal Cysts (Sebaceous Cysts)
Are round bumps or nodules that may be flesh colored, white or reddened if there is inflammation present. Cysts are caused by an enlarged oil gland in the skin and commonly occur on the face, back, neck and trunk. The may also occur on the genitals. Cysts may produce a thick white cheese like smelly discharge when they are squeezed. Cysts can become infected or inflamed and may require treatment such as I&D(incision and drainage) and/or oral antibiotics. Definitive treatment by a dermatologist is the removal of the cyst including the entire sac (capsule) to prevent recurrence.