Atopic And Seborrheic Dermatitis: What’s The Difference?
Atopic and seborrheic dermatitis are two very common skin diseases that are often confused. Find out more about the differences today!
The atopic dermatitis and seborrheic are two very common skin diseases. Even if they are often confused, they are two different complaints.
Atopic dermatitis is a condition that usually causes skin redness, itching, and dryness. Genetics are thought to be one of the most important factors in their formation, although environmental and nutritional factors also play a role.
On the other hand , seborrheic dermatitis causes scaly patches and reddening of the skin. It’s like having lingering dandruff. In fact, it is a condition that can affect any area that produces excess sebum in the body, such as the eyebrows, face or ears.
Both diseases, atopic and seborrheic dermatitis , cause skin irritation and very annoying symptoms associated with it. However, there are many differences that we are going to explain to you today.
Interesting facts about atopic and seborrheic dermatitis
Different groups of people are affected by these diseases, which is also crucial for the diagnosis.
Atopic dermatitis predominates in children and adolescents. In fact, an estimated 20% of the total population is affected. Interestingly, for the purpose of diagnosing this disease, doctors examine the person’s personality. Since babies cannot express themselves, the pediatrician observes their behavior, because they are usually sensitive and nervous when they suffer from atopic dermatitis.
Seborrheic dermatitis usually occurs in the first few months of life or after puberty. Men are more often affected than women. Overall, however, only around 5% of the population suffer from this skin disease.
What are the symptoms of atopic and seborrheic dermatitis?
Atopic and seborrheic dermatitis cause itching and reddening of the skin. However, each has many other symptoms. For example, atopic dermatitis usually worsens itching at night.
In addition, atopic dermatitis makes the skin very dry. As a result, the itching causes scratching and eventually leads to injury and inflammation of the skin. Red spots also appear on many parts of the body, such as on the hands, feet, or neck.
The dryness makes the skin thicker and cracked. For example, whitish and scaly patches often appear in the folds of the elbows. They are similar to those that appear in pityriasis alba and also produce itching.
Seborrheic dermatitis often affects the scalp, on which dandruff forms as a result. The eyebrows or the beard area can also show this symptom. Oily patches of skin appear, which are usually covered with whitish or yellow scales. In this case, babies are referred to as “cradle cap”.
The crusts are usually on both sides of the nose, eyebrows, eyelids , etc. That is, in all areas where more sebum is usually produced. In addition, severely reddened and flaky areas of the skin are common.
The appearance of the two diseases is also different: Patients with atopic dermatitis usually suffer from periodic outbreaks that can show up over and over again for years. Seborrheic becomes much worse with stress or in cold and dry seasons.
What other important differences are there?
Atopic and seborrheic dermatitis also differ in that seborrheic dermatitis hardly causes any discomfort to the baby. As mentioned earlier, the child suffers from atopic dermatitis and is constantly irritated.
Another difference that should be clear is the level of skin hydration. While the skin looks oily in seborrheic dermatitis, it is very dry in atopic dermatitis. However, in order to treat both conditions, it is essential to keep the skin adequately hydrated.
Conclusion
Both diseases can appear in newborn babies, but it is important to know the most distinctive features of the two diseases in order to determine appropriate treatment. This can also prevent the disease from getting worse. Always seek advice and treatment from a specialist!
