Seborrheic dermatitis is a type of eczema that appears on the body, especially on the scalp and nose. It is a painful condition that, unfortunately, often resembles various forms of skin cancer. Therefore, telling the difference between these conditions is important in order to find a treatment that is appropriate.

Signs Of Seborrheic Dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis tends to appear on the body near your oil-producing glands. The causes of this problem are unknown, but have been linked to a few potential contributing factors, including a genetic predisposition or hormonal imbalances. It is also connected to problems such as:

• Stress
• Illness
• Chemical detergents and soaps
• Dry weather

It tends to develop in men more often than women, and creates yellow and greasy scales on red skin. The unstable nature of its development means it can appear rapidly and simulate the look of skin cancer.

How It Can Be Mistaken For Skin Cancer

Skin cancer of just about every type tends to grow in areas that are exposed to sunlight – many of the same areas where seborrheic dermatitis appears. This is especially true on the head, where the rash appears near the sweat glands on your head. They also tend to create similar symptoms, such as patchy skin or bumps.

Unfortunately, mistaking the two can be a major health problem. If you mistakenly ignore your skin cancer because you think it is seborrheic dermatitis (especially if you've had it before), you could give it the chance to grow out of control and put your life in serious risk.

Telling Them Apart

The best way of telling these two conditions apart is to watch how the rash changes over time. For example, seborrheic dermatitis is likely to come and go several times before it disappears. A skin cancer growth is likely to continue growing in size long after a rash would have disappeared.

However, don't wait that long to diagnose the problem. Instead, watch the color of the condition. If it starts to change over a period of several days, it's most likely skin cancer. Seborrheic dermatitis rarely, if ever, changes color the way that a cancer growth will.

That said, if you believe you suffer from either of these problems, you should go to a dermatologist right away. They can help diagnose your problem and find a treatment for it. Even if it's just seborrheic dermatitis, you deserve to to live a life without it.