The key difference between atopic and seborrheic dermatitis is that atopic dermatitis is a skin disorder mainly caused due to a family history of allergic reactions, while seborrheic dermatitis is a skin disorder mainly caused by the yeast infection Malassezia, excess oil in the skin, or a problem in the immune system.
Atopic and seborrheic dermatitis are two common skin disorders. Skin disorders often vary in symptoms and severity. They can be serious, minor, temporary, permanent, painless, or painful. Most skin disorders have situational causes, while others may be due to genetic problems.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Atopic Dermatitis
3. What is Seborrheic Dermatitis
4. Similarities – Atopic and Seborrheic Dermatitis
5. Atopic vs Seborrheic Dermatitis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Atopic vs Seborrheic Dermatitis
What is Atopic Dermatitis?
Atopic dermatitis is also known as eczema. It is a skin disorder mainly caused due to a family history of allergic reactions. The main triggers of atopic dermatitis are changes in genes, problems with the immune system, and exposure to certain things in the environment. Atopic dermatitis is not contagious, so it does not spread from person to person. The common symptoms of atopic dermatitis include itchiness, red, dry patches of skin, rashes that may ooze clear fluids or bleed while scratching, thickening and hardening of the skin, asthma, other skin diseases like ichthyosis, depression, anxiety, and sleep loss. The commonly affected areas in the body in this condition include the hands, neck, elbows, and knees, the skin around the eyes, ankles, and feet.
Figure 01: Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis can be diagnosed through medical history, examining the skin through biopsies, and other tests to check for other causes of rash. Furthermore, treatment options for atopic dermatitis include emollients, topical corticosteroids, topical pimecrolimus, antihistamines, bandages to allow the body to heal underneath, and complementary remedies (herbal remedies).
What is Seborrheic Dermatitis?
Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin disease that mainly affects the scalp. Usually, it causes scaly patches, inflamed skin, and dandruff. Seborrheic dermatitis generally affects oily areas of the body like the face, sides of the nose, eyebrows, ears, eyelids, and chest. Though this condition is irritating, it is not contagious. This disease can be mainly caused due to yeast called Malassezia, excess oil in the skin, or a problem in the immune system. The symptoms of this condition are dandruff on the scalp, hair, eyebrows, beard or mustache, patches of greasy skin covered with flaky white or yellow scales on the scalp, face, sides of the nose, eyebrows, ears, eyelids, chest, armpits, groin or breast, darker rashes people with brown or black skin and redder rashes those with white skin, ring-shaped rash, and itchiness.
Figure 02: Seborrheic Dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis can be diagnosed through physical examination and skin biopsy. Furthermore, treatment options for seborrheic dermatitis include antifungal gels, creams, lotions, foams or shampoos, inflammation-controlling creams, lotions, shampoos or ointments, antifungal pills, lifestyle and home remedies (washing scalp regularly, washing skin regularly, cleaning eyelids, applying medicated creams, etc.), and alternative medicine.
What are the Similarities Between Atopic and Seborrheic Dermatitis?
- Atopic and seborrheic dermatitis are two common skin disorders.
- Both skin disorders are not contagious.
- They may have immune system involvement.
- Both skin disorders may have similar symptoms, like red rashes and itching.
- Both skin disorders may be diagnosed through physical examination and skin biopsies.
- They are mainly treated by takings pills, applying creams and lotions, and lifestyle and home remedies.
What is the Difference Between Atopic and Seborrheic Dermatitis?
Atopic dermatitis is a skin disorder caused mainly due to family history of allergic reactions, while seborrheic dermatitis is a skin disorder caused mainly due to yeast called Malassezia, excess oil in the skin, or a problem in the immune system. Thus, this is the key difference between atopic and seborrheic dermatitis. Furthermore, atopic dermatitis commonly affects the hands, neck, elbows, and knees, the skin around the eyes, ankles, and feet. On the other hand, seborrheic dermatitis is commonly affecting the face, sides of the nose, eyebrows, ears, eyelids, and chest in the body.
The below infographic presents the differences between atopic and seborrheic dermatitis in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Atopic vs Seborrheic Dermatitis
Atopic and seborrheic dermatitis are two common chronic skin disorders. They are not contagious skin conditions. Atopic dermatitis is mainly caused due to family history of allergic reactions, while seborrheic dermatitis is mainly caused due to yeast called Malassezia, excess oil in the skin, or a problem in the immune system. So, this is the key difference between atopic and seborrheic dermatitis.
Reference:
1. “Atopic Eczema.” NHS Choices, NHS.
2. “Seborrheic Dermatitis.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Atopy2010” By James Heilman, MD – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “IMG_9316.jpg” By adaenn (CC BY-NC 2.0) via Flickr