When the body recognizes a foreign intruder, then a response is sent out by the immune system to drive out pathogens. A response to promote healing around the area of damaged tissue is also sent by it.
Among the inflammatory skin disorders, seborrheic dermatitis and rosacea are two of them which cause lesions, itching, and redness. In this article, the main focus is on highlighting the differences between seborrheic dermatitis and rosacea.
Key Takeaways
- Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin condition causing red, scaly patches, primarily on the scalp, while rosacea affects the face, causing redness and visible blood vessels.
- Seborrheic dermatitis results from an overgrowth of yeast on the skin, while the exact cause of rosacea remains unknown.
- Treatment for seborrheic dermatitis includes antifungal creams and medicated shampoos, while rosacea management involves topical and oral medications and lifestyle modifications.
Seborrheic Dermatitis vs Rosacea
Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that can affect the scalp, face, and other parts of the body. Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that primarily affects the face, cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead. Rosacea is more common in fair-skinned people.
Seborrheic dermatitis appears on the scalp and the body’s other parts as flaky, red, itchy, and dry skin and is common but non-contagious. Its presence does not refer that the skin is infected or unclean.
Rosacea is a skin condition that causes flushing or blushing and visible blood vessels on the face. It might also produce pus-filled and small bumps.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Seborrheic Dermatitis | Rosacea |
|---|---|---|
| Interpretation | It is a skin condition mainly on the scalp that causes scaly patches and red skin. | It is a condition on the face that causes red, small, pus-filled bumps and redness. |
| Also called | Sebborhoeic eczema | Acne rosacea |
| Medications | Antifungal and keratolytic | Doxycycline |
| Nutritional causes | Lack of vitamins like B6, A, and B12 | Lack of zinc |
| Steriods treatment | Recommended | Not recommended |
What is Seborrheic Dermatitis?
Seborrheic dermatitis is an easy-to-manage, non-contagious, and common skin condition. It is a kind of dermatitis which causes greasy scales and itchy red patches on the skin with yellow or white crusty or powdery flakes on the scalp.
The area can be with the most sebaceous or simply oil gland activity such as the chest, upper back, creases present at the base of the nose, navel or belly button, forehead, under the breasts, behind ears, and in the creases of legs, arms, and groin.
“Seborrheic” refers to the glands of the sebaceous, whereas “derm” stands for the skin. It is called pityriasis capitis or simply dandruff when it is on the scalp of an adult or teenager.
Psoriasis history in the family makes them vulnerable as well. A person living in a cold or dry region does not cause this kind of dermatitis, but it does make this worse.
What is Rosacea?
Among chronic inflammatory skin conditions, rosacea is one of them which affects the face. The chief symptoms of rosacea are irritated skin, pimples, and facial flushing. Other symptoms consist of easy blushing and eye problems.
Around 1-20% of the population is commonly affected by rosacea. When people have rosacea, they frequently receive the diagnosis in the wrong way, so the true incidence might be a lot higher.
Some beverages and foods can also worsen the symptoms of rosacea, like spicy foods, alcohol, dairy products, and caffeine. Compared to males, rosacea is more frequently common in females.
From person to person, the signs of rosacea can vary considerably. People with lighter skin are more common to suffer from rosacea.
Main Differences Between Seborrheic Dermatitis and Rosacea
- The body’s oily area is mainly affected by seborrheic dermatitis-like back, upper chest, and face. On the contrary, fair skin women with middle-aged are affected by rosacea.
- In terms of categorization, seborrheic dermatitis cannot be categorized. On the flip side, rosacea can be categorized into phymatous, erythematotelangietatic ocular, and papulopustular rosacea.
- http://www.rma.gov.au/assets/Other/5cea066608/085-3-Reference-list-seborrhoeic-dermatitis-085-3-as-at-13-2-13.pdf
- https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmcp042829
Last Updated : 13 July, 2023
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Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.
This article is a bit too technical. Needed a simpler explanation.
Convincing information for readers.
I did not find this information helpful at all.
Very informative article, it was exactly what I needed.
Yes, very well presented information.
The references are a great addition to this article.
This article presents a good analysis of both skin conditions.