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Exploring Health Care Needs of Children


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Exploring Health Care Needs of Children

Hello, I am Nichole Rapids. As a parent of two young children, I am no stranger to the local healthcare clinic. Whenever the kids run a high fever, suffer from ear pain, or exhibit strange symptoms, I bring them into the clinic for an immediate checkup. The kids also receive all of the vaccinations on the given schedule at this clinic. I want to use this site to talk about the healthcare needs of children. I want to share information about procedures performed at the local clinic and reasons to go into the hospital instead. My site will also discuss various situations that necessitate a call to the triage nurse. I hope that my website will help other parents keep their kids healthy from infancy to adulthood.

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What Is Seborrheic Dermatitis?

If you have been trying to use dandruff shampoo on your hair due to having white flakes and it isn't helping, it might be time to see your dermatologist. Severe dandruff that doesn't easily go away with special shampoo is often the result of a skin condition called seborrheic dermatitis. This affects the skin on the scalp, causing dandruff, scaly patches, and red skin. You can also get this condition on your face or back, but it is more common on the scalp. The condition has nothing to do with your personal hygiene or the products you use, though some products might cause a flare-up. Here is more information about the condition and how to treat it.

What are the causes and risk factors?

Dermatologists aren't exactly sure what causes seborrheic dermatitis, though it may be linked to a fungus called malassezia. This is a type of yeast that is in the oil secretions of the skin. People who have a large amount of the fungus might be at risk for developing the condition. It may also be due to an inflammatory response from psoriasis, which is why many people experience flare-ups in the spring and winter seasons. Though there isn't a single cause, there are some risk factors for developing the condition. These include:

  • Weakened immune system from cancer or HIV/AIDS
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Parkinson's disease
  • Depression
  • Endocrine disease
  • Certain medications

What Are the Symptoms?

The first symptom you will probably notice for seborrheic dermatitis is flakes in your hair. You may also see the flakes coming off your scalp, as well as other body parts with hair, including your beard, mustache, or eyebrows. This skin condition can also cause itching or stinging, especially if you try to scratch off the flakes, red skin, and patches of greasy skin with flakes of yellow or white. You may also have blepharitis, which is a crusting and reddening of the eyelids.

How is it diagnosed?

If you suspect you might have seborrheic dermatitis, you can either see your primary doctor or a dermatologist. A dermatologist is a good option because they treat different types of skin conditions. They will take some of the skin cells from your scalp and test them for conditions aside from seborrheic dermatitis, including eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis.

What are the treatment options?

Your dermatologist may recommend a few different treatment options. The first is to use a medicated shampoo, which is used just like regular shampoo, but contains prescription-strength medication for the flakes and redness. You may also get a cream rinse for your hair that contains cortisteroid, which helps with the itching and inflammation resulting from the condition. Antifungal medication is prescribed for more severe cases, which can either be given as a shampoo or in pill form.