In addition to your body

In addition to your body, hands, and face, eczema can also plague the scalp, usually in a condition known as seborrheic dermatitis. There is some disagreement among experts about whether or not seborrheic dermatitis should be considered a form of chronic eczema or a separate skin condition, although the National Eczema Association considers it to be a type of eczema. (Eczema is a general term that includes a variety of conditions that cause red, inflamed skin.)

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Eczema on Your Scalp?

In addition to your body, hands, and face, eczema can also plague the scalp, usually in a condition known as seborrheic dermatitis. There is some disagreement among experts about whether or not seborrheic dermatitis should be considered a form of chronic eczema or a separate skin condition, although the National Eczema Association considers it to be a type of eczema. (Eczema is a general term that includes a variety of conditions that cause red, inflamed skin.)

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"Seborrheic dermatitis is a common form of chronic eczema on the scalp associated with a fungi," says Gil Yosipovitch, MD, professor of medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and author of Living With Itch ($19; 

In addition to the scalp, seborrheic dermatitis may also affect parts of the face (such as the nose), the back, ears, or center of the chest. It strikes parts of the body with many oil-producing (sebaceous) glands, leading to symptoms such as redness, flakes, and patches of greasy, swollen-looking skin.

Unlike atopic dermatitis, a chronic form of eczema that is thought to be caused by an abnormal immune reaction, seborrheic dermatitis doesn't usually cause severe itching. However, you can be diagnosed with both seborrheic dermatitis and atopic dermatitis at the same time.

RELATED: 5 Reasons Why You Have an Itchy Scalp

Experts aren't sure exactly what causes seborrheic dermatitis. Genetics might make you more susceptible, and hormones, stress, or other triggers may lead to an overactive immune response that causes symptoms like red, painful, flaky skin to appear. A fungus called malassezia also plays a role. (This same fungus has been linked to dandruff, which is considered to be a mild form of scalp seborrheic dermatitis.)

Seborrheic dermatitis can usually be treated with medicated shampoos that contain tar, zinc pyrithione, salicylic acid, selenium sulfide, or ketoconazole. Leave the shampoo on for five or 10 minutes before rinsing it off. At first, you may want to use it several times a week, then use it once a week if symptoms improve.

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