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Suggest Treatment For Allergy On The Scalp
Question: My father has some allergy on the scalp..we have contacted a doctor as well last year in december(8th) and he suggested some medicines and ointment. But there seems no recovery even after the prescribed treatement. Can you please suggest is it something alarming or some normal allergy. Wht next shall we do? I have attached the medical prescription as well. Thanks
Brief Answer:
Seborrheic dermatitis; antifungal shampoo and topical steroid lotions
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query and I have also reviewed the attachments.
I can see that he has scaly scalp & there is also patchy discoloration of scalp skin (hypo-pigmentation)
The condition he has is known as seborrheic dermatitis. This is a severe form of dandruff.
In seborrheic dermatitis there is scaling and itching of scalp on a background of dull red erythema.
In seborrheic dermatitis there is an overgrowth of fungus, malassezia furfur, a yeast.
This is not an allergy and nothing alarming about it.
I suggest him to use a ketoconazole based shampoo every alternate days. Nizoral is 1% ketoconazole and is available OTC.
Lather it well into the scalp and allow it to act for 5-10 minutes before rinsing it off.
Use it every alternate days.
Since seborrheic dermatitis is steroid responsive therefore In addition to an antidandruff shampoo he may also use a topical steroid lotion e.g either mometasone furoate 0.1% lotion Or clobetasol propionate 0.05% lotion once daily at night, at scalp skin.
With these, his condition should improve remarkably in about 2 weeks.
Thereafter, topical steroid lotion can be discontinued & improvement maintained with regular shampoo, every alternate days.
He should avoid using hair oil. Hair oils can exacerbate seborrheic dermatitis.
An OTC oral antihistamine e.g cetrizine 10 mg once daily will provide him symptomatic relief from itching.
Regards
Seborrheic dermatitis; antifungal shampoo and topical steroid lotions
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query and I have also reviewed the attachments.
I can see that he has scaly scalp & there is also patchy discoloration of scalp skin (hypo-pigmentation)
The condition he has is known as seborrheic dermatitis. This is a severe form of dandruff.
In seborrheic dermatitis there is scaling and itching of scalp on a background of dull red erythema.
In seborrheic dermatitis there is an overgrowth of fungus, malassezia furfur, a yeast.
This is not an allergy and nothing alarming about it.
I suggest him to use a ketoconazole based shampoo every alternate days. Nizoral is 1% ketoconazole and is available OTC.
Lather it well into the scalp and allow it to act for 5-10 minutes before rinsing it off.
Use it every alternate days.
Since seborrheic dermatitis is steroid responsive therefore In addition to an antidandruff shampoo he may also use a topical steroid lotion e.g either mometasone furoate 0.1% lotion Or clobetasol propionate 0.05% lotion once daily at night, at scalp skin.
With these, his condition should improve remarkably in about 2 weeks.
Thereafter, topical steroid lotion can be discontinued & improvement maintained with regular shampoo, every alternate days.
He should avoid using hair oil. Hair oils can exacerbate seborrheic dermatitis.
An OTC oral antihistamine e.g cetrizine 10 mg once daily will provide him symptomatic relief from itching.
Regards
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Pradeep Vitta
Answered by
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