help flaky skin that is spreading bit by bit

[waqui]

please help me out what this is... first it started off with my hair.. i thaught it was just a dandruff.. but whenever i cut my hair really thin.. i notice those white patches that flakes real bad... so i tried dandruff shampoos..  after some time.. it starting to spread in my chicks.. now some part of my face is flaky even my eyebrows.. then started getting white spots in my shoulder.. then flaky white spot between my shoulder blade.. then.. now in my chest.. and shoulders its getting worst.. please somebody help me out on this.. what is this.. its flaky dandruff like.. white spots.. not red.. rarely itches.. please.. what is this problem any cure so i can buy something.. i try to hide it with lotion and stuff but its not removing it.. its getting worst and worst.. thanks much looking for anybody that can help

[waqui]

thanks much for the reply.. il try out some stuff that u guys mentioned.. but if theres anybody out there has a success story on getting rid of this stuff please share with us.. thanks soo much again for everybody

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,
This could be seborrhoeic dermatitis. It is a skin disorder affecting the scalp, face, and trunk causing scaly, flaky, itchy, red skin. It particularly affects the sebum-gland rich areas of skin.
Side effects to inflammation may include temporary hair loss. If severe outbreaks are untreated for extended intervals, permanent hair loss may result, because of damage to hair follicles.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seborrhoeic_dermatitis
Soaps and detergents such as sodium laureate sulfate may precipitate a flare-up, as they strip moisture from the top layers of the skin, and the drying property of these can cause flare-ups and may worsen the condition. Accordingly a suitable alternative should be used instead.
Among dermatologist recommended treatments are shampoos containing coal tar, ciclopiroxolamine, ketoconazole, selenium sulfide, or zinc pyrithione. For severe disease, keratolytics such as salicylic acid or coal tar preparations may be used to remove dense scale. Topical terbinafine solution (1%) has also been shown to be effective in the treatment of scalp seborrhoea,as may lotions containing alpha hydroxy acids or corticosteroids (such as fluocinolone acetonide). Pimecrolimus topical lotion is also sometimes prescribed.
It would be advisable to consult a skin specialist for the symptoms and a proper clinical examination if the symptoms persist.

[BreeVanDeKamp]

It sounds like seborrheic dermatitis, which is an inflammatory version of dandruff. I have it in my eyebrows -- it's white and flaky, with no redness until recently, and it started off in one part of one eyebrow, and then it spread. Now recently it has spread to my entire eyebrow. I've tried a lot of things. Using Nizoral shampoo once a day seems to help a little. I also take the following supplements: evening primrose oil, multivitamins, cod liver oil, and sometimes, probiotics. I also have a humidifer in my room. If you want, message me and we can discuss this more in depth. For now, I think you should make an appointment with a dermatologist who might be able to give you oral antifungals. (If he confirms that it is seborrheic dermatitis.) I haven't tried oral antifungals, just topical stuff like Nizoral shampoo, which has antifungal properties. I am still looking for something to control it.