[BETTER BUT NOT CURED]  09/14/2008: DL from Atl, GA: "I've had seborrheic dermatitis around my nose for at least 10 years now. Humidity helps a lot in the summer - my nose merely looks red around the edges, but in the winter it peels and flakes non stop. Milk and chocolate always inflame the condition. After doing a fair amount of research, and having no luck with topical prescription drugs or home remedies, I decided I needed to try and internal approach to the problem. One of the articles I came across said that a certain type of yeast contributes to Seb Derm. Putting two and two together (the foods that inflame it and the fact that it never goes away with any topical application for very long) I decided I needed to treat this condition like candida and get rid of the yeast. So I started on grapefruit seed extract about 5 days ago. I did 10 drops in water the first day (-- uggh! Not recommended. Use juice). The next morning I woke up with headache. I figured the headache was a good sign, a yeast die-off, and continued my grapefruit seed extract - 2 more dosages at 15 drops each dose. The next day I awoke to find that my headache was exactly the same as the day before. . Day 3, headache was gone and my seb derm had improved by about 50%.

I am continuing to use the gse 3x a day -- and will continue to for at least another month or more. I am trying to cut back on sugar and dairy to help the gse do its thing."

[YEA]  09/24/2008: DL from Atl, Ga replies: "Update to my first post about using grapefruit seed extract for dermatitis around my nose... After the 5th day of taking drops of GSE internally and it getting 50% better, but not more than that, I decided to start applying GSE to directly to the dermatitis. I put a drop of GSE on my palm and then touched the drop with my index finger and rubbed it in thoroughly to the dermatis, which wrapped around the underside of my nose and partially up the sides. Instant warming sensation. I kept the GSE on as long as possible, which frankly wasn't very long: 5-10 minutes max. I did this application once a day. It's intense, I must warn you. After a few minutes the dermatitis started to itch and burn. Quite torturous. When I couldn't take it any more I rinsed the GSE off with warm water and finished with cold water. I then applied pure shea butter. The itch then continues for about 20 minutes.

It's now day 5 (and I kept the GSE on for an hour, no problem) and my dermatitis is gone around my nose. The redness has slowly receded and this morning when I woke up the area was almost completely healed... the constant redness is gone! You'd think with a remedy so powerful that it would make the skin look worse, but it fact the opposite has occured. It gets red right after application, then heals over night.

Finally! After 10 years of non-stop, itchy, red, flaking skin!! I also know from experience that I will need to continue this remedy for at least another few weeks or it may come back. But hopefully I can eliminate it permanantly. I am thinking now that this condition may very well be caused by mites. So doing a yeast cleanse is important, but you also need to kill the mites on the skin with something powerful. I recommend that people try using grapefruit seed extract for scalp infections, seb derm, mite infestations. It might also work for rosacea, eczema and psoriasis.

Finally, I want to thank Marea soooo much for her thorough posting about Grapefruit Seed Extract on the melasma page. That's what got me to try the remedy out in the first place. Yea, Marea!"

11/23/2008: DL from Atl, Ga replies: "Update to my post about GSE and seb derm around nose. The external application of grapefruit seed extract WORKED! It's been 2 months now and I have no peeling and flaking. Occasionally I will have one postule appear halfway down my smile line after I eat chocolate ice cream or a piece of chocolate, but other than that, nothing. The bump disappears within 12 hours. I kept up the topical treatment every day for about a week, then once every 3-4 days for another week, then stopped altogether. Haven't applied it since then. Yahoo and Yea!"

05/31/2013: Joellie from New York, Holland replies: "hi Ted, what soap did you use to clean your nose with the next day?"

[YEA]  05/15/2012: Tammy from Vancouver, B.c Canada: "This is so simple, brew a strong cup of green tea, let cool use the tea bag to blot your scalp, repeat morning and night for 3 days, should help for up to 3mths then repeat."

[YEA]  03/04/2009: D from Lisbon, Iowa, USA: "If you have a diagnosis of SD you will know that there are many sites that say it is caused by Pitisporum Ovale, they are incorrect. SD is caused by Malassezia Globosa. My eight year old had it all over his face and it was spreading rapidly, the doctor gave us a prescription for Eldel, which has a black box warning and was $40+ even with insurance. It surpresses the immune system and I would not use it on my child who is a cancer survivor. My poor son could not tolerate any of the antifungals I put on his face, his skin was extremely sensitive and everything was painful. I finally hit upon non-pasturized honey, it works. Cleanse the area with hydrogen peroxide, put honey on all the areas. I put it on him right after school and then re-applied at bedtime. I also read a study that zinc pyrithione kills Malassezia Globosa, so I also purchased a 1% zinc pyrithione spray called "Z Care" by supplement spot.com on the net. It took forever for them to ship it, but it works. Once you know the exact cause, you have a better chance of fighting what ever it it is. My son could not tolerate head and shoulders on his face whatsover, but the "Z care" spray doesn't burn as long as you wait 10 min after you wash your face. Results with the honey alone were visibile in a day or two, but it is slow going until every little flaky area is gone. It took about 2 months to completely heal him. A note of caution, if the SD is all around the nose area, consider applying the honey and the zinc pyrithione carefully to the inner rims of of the nostrils. I just use a q-tip to appply anything to his face anyway. Don't spray the spray near your face, spray the Q-tip first. The SD was so bad that he also developed a secondary staph infection on the side of his mouth. The honey healed it, and knocked the infection right out. He has a small pink area of scar tissue, where the staph infection was, but I am hopeful this will fade with time.

Read the study: http://www.pgbeautyscience.com/defining-issues.html

Good Luck! "

[YEA]  02/05/2012: R from La, Usa replies: "For years I tried everything to cure my scalp SD, including borax, ACV, oils. Nothing worked. Digging deeper as now it started to translate into the beginnings of hair loss, I found it had to be Malassezia and that the only promising treatment for that was zinc pyrothione. Bought some on ebay (hard to find, but I wanted the pure version, without alcohol), diluted it down to about 1%, and put it in my hair for a few minutes before rinsing. It actually works. When I comb my hear with my hands, I would always have strands of hair in them - 'normal', as the hair tends to grow back - but now, I can barely pull a single hair. It's pretty amazing. They tell you it's normal to shed hundreds of hair every day."

02/05/2012: R from L.a., Usa replies: "My last post didn't post as intended. It should say 'cured', not 'better but not cured'. I'm not aware that it is a contributing healing factor, but just in case, I'm also taking iodine supplements."

EC: Rating fixed!

07/16/2012: D from Small Town, Ia, Usa replies: "Sesame oil. Sesame oil has anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties. If you have tried everything else for the red, flaky skin, apply a non-processed golden color sesame seed oil topically for a few days. It will take a while. You can also try antibacterial hand sanitizer, not a cure, but easy and cheap and may help. If you think you have areas of pimples, like white dots, then see my posting in rosacea. You'll need to try ivermectin. Condider trying lactoferrin, digestive enzymes, and probiotics to heal the gut and fight whatever mycoplasma you have that may be causing an imbalance.

This posting is for all of you who have tried a number of remedies, including the Z care/ zinc pyrithione.

Good Luck Everyone."

[YEA]  02/20/2009: Diane from Lisbon, IA: "Honey and Zinc Pyrithione worked for Seborrheic Dermatitis:

If your skin is very sensitive and burns when anything is applied to it, you may wish to try honey. Honey is antimicrobial and anti-fungal. You must use only the non-pasturized honey, not the honey you find in the grocery store. Topically applied honey will also kill a staph infection of the skin.

My 8 year old son had a very bad case of seborrheic dermatitis and a portion of the area became secondarily infected with staph. Very scary. His face was a mess, and it was spreading. His skin was super sensitive and everything I tried caused great burning and pain. The doctor offered nothing except an immunosurpressing cream that turned out to have a black box label on it,(deaths associated with it's use, Elidel). We finally started using unpasturized natural honey. No burning, no pain and not only the rash but the staph infection went away, and has never returned.

I cleansed the area with 3% Hydrogen peroxide, smeared honey on all the areas, and he would wear it to bed. Later I started using a zinc pyritione 1% spray (Z care by supplement spot)on his skin while he was in school. Both have worked beautifully, and believe me I tried everything."

01/10/2012: Diane from Ottumwa, Ia, Usa replies: "Skin Update. Fatty Acid Metabolism Disorder.

Supplement with Borage, or Evening Promrose and Flax Seed Oil and Carnitine.

Totally Cured.

Sorry. Didn't know where to post this. Seemed simpler to update a previous post for seborrhea.

Symptoms: red, flaky skin, lifting off in very large flakes with white pustules like small cysts, forming rapidly under the skin. I did not have just the redness and broken veins that some people have. We need to be very specific about the symptoms here, since the symptoms can be easily mis-diagnosed.

It was diagnosed by my Dr. As "perioral dermatitis". Drs should be embarrassed to even say this to patients, I mean we all know we have a rash around our mouths, right? It was a mess, and I had it for approximately 8-9 months before I figured out what it was.

This is for people who have tried everything. Believe me. I tried everything listed on this website and more.

I treated it as: a pathogen (like a bacteria like strep or staph), a fungus, mites, (yes, I drank the damn borax), scabies, leishmania, malessezzia, (seborrhea), acne, I tried three different antibiotic gels from the Dr, (metrogel, ciclopirox, clyndamyacin). I would get excited, because some things seemed to work for a few days, then the condition always returned and got progressively worse. A fatty acid metabolism disorder will mimic the symptoms of Dermatitis with few other noticeable symptoms. My only clue came after I took a big dosage of Cod Liver Oil and I saw what looked like chicken skin under my eyes the next day. I knew something was really wrong.

Started Flax, and Borage Oil capsules the next day. Took L-Carnitine on an empty stomach, (just happened to have it, and knew it was good for fatty acid metabolism disorder from a study I saw on the web regarding Acidura and Carnitine). The Acidura, (a condition of acidity in the body) interferes with fatty acid metabolism processes in the body. This combined with a genetic predisposion called kryptopyluria and six cups of coffee a day meant I was not able to process fish oil of any type. This also explains why some of the other remedies like vinegar and baking soda, alkinalizing the body, and the liver cleanses, and the digestive enzymes seem to work for some people also. You will know within three days if this will work for you.

I saw healing within one day, the flakes stopped in three days and the redness went away in a week. My skin is perfectly clear and has been for two months. I still continue with the Carnitine, Flax and Borage only because I'm afraid to stop. Please note: I did topical applications of Sulfur, (sublimed pwder mixed into mayonese as a carrier) and bought MMS, (chlorine dioxide) just before trying the Flax, Carnitine and Borage. The sulfur may have lessened the white pustules, but I still had the red, flaky skin. If the pustules don't go away, you made want to try the sulfur or the MMS.

Best Wishes."

[YEA]  02/27/2007: Steve from Solon Springs, WI: "I'm 39 years old and have been struggling with severe seborreheic dermatitis since the age of 14. apple cider vinegar was a BIG NO for me. I recently started using pure simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) oil.Leave in for an hour or so,than lightly rinse. My scalp, forehead, and eyebrows have been my problem areas. This seems to be working great for me."

[YEA]  12/15/2009: Suzanne from Dyer, In: "I have been plagued with seborrheic dermatitis for awhile but it is much worse right now. This regime has been helping tremendously.

I juice carrots, celery, garlic, and dark green lettuce daily (12 oz)

2 TBSP of Apple Cider Vinegar before each meal

I take acidophilus

1 juice an onion and add it to my shampoo then apply to hair for 3-5 mins. then follow up with another wash

1 take homeopathic sulphur 30 c according to the directions.

This has helped me so much that I wanted to share. SD is very painful, irritating, and embarrassing."

[YEA]  04/01/2007: Jim from St. Louis, MO: "I have had a worsening case of suborrheic dermatitis for several years. It started around my upper lip and chin and ended up in my ears. Prescriptions mildly controlled it, but not well, are expensive, and frankly I don't trust them very much. I tried several reccomended natural and "home" remedies, none of which worked very well. And then I started drinking kefir, a cultured milk beverage. I started drinking it because it's really tasty and I can digest it (I'm lactose intolerant), but found that when I drink it regularly my suborrheic dermatitis goes away. When I don't drink kefir for several days it starts to come back. Typically I've found myself drinking a 32 oz. bottle every two to three days. I've tried a couple of brands, but the Helios brand seems far superior to the other brand I tried (which I had trouble digesting). So I really reccomend it. At the very least, you'll be drinking something that tastes great and is good for you (live foods rock). And if it works for your skin ailements too, all the better. Good luck!"

[YEA]  09/06/2009: Samuel from Solatria, A S A: "Regarding Ted's ACV and H202 remedy for Seborrheic dermatitis --

A kind suggestion:

DO NOT DRINK VINEGAR! Daily consumption of a fair amount of a highly acidic substance is anything but safe!

THE ORAL CONSUMPTION OF VINEGAR DOES NOT HELP TREAT SEBORRHEIC DERMATITIS, ITS THE DIRECT APPLICATION TO THE SKIN THAT DOES ALL THE WORK!!!

A recent article suggested that the daily consumption of slightly acidic water can prove HIGHLY TOXIC in the long run. Imagine what would be the case with vinegar which is highly acidic! Plus, on a daily basis, it would probably HARM YOUR TEETH as well. Highly acidic food softens the outer layer of enamel in your teeth, so doing that on a daily basis certainly doesn't help retain strong and healthy teeth.

I would also suggest to use freshly squeezed LEMON JUICE instead of vinegar for the removal of the sebum, since it DOESN'T SMELL, plus it DOES JUST AS GOOD in preventing flare-ups and keeping seborrheic dermatitis under control!!! Again, i am NOT talking about drinking lemon juice, but rather applying a few drops of lemon juice mixed with equally few drops of water on your face, leave it for a few seconds and rinsing it with water, and try to avoid contact with your eyes. It is most effective during bathing. Try to do that on a daily basis. If you have high amounts of accumulated sebum on your skin, you might need to repeat this "apply and rinse" process 2 or 3 times. Remember not to exaggerate on doing that. YOUR SKIN NEEDS A THIN LAYER OF SEBUM to remain moisturized, healthy and protected.

Lemon juice (or vinegar) do NOT help heal inflammation, they simply help prevent it, and they usually do that really well. If you already have inflammation on your face, be patient. It will take a few days for the inflammation to go away. Lemon juice and vinegar really sting in inflammated areas and in this case you should consider dissolving it with just enough water so as not to sting bad. Just experiment...

You might be wondering what do lemon juice and vinegar have in common that makes them effective against seborrheic dermatitis. It is quit simple, they have approximately equal pH factor (actually lemon juice is slightly better). They dissolve the sebum making it easy to remove through rinsing, and provide a hostile environment for the fungi to populate. The remaining sebum on your face is homogeneous (not flaky) and oily.

If by any chance you find the odor of lemons annoying, just peel their skin before squeezing them. The juice of a lemon is odorless, its the skin that has all the odors. Most people like it though. Note that just one lemon would normally take you for weeks, when stored in a fridge. You only need a few drops at a time for your face, so a thin slice would do the work."

[YEA]  06/30/2007: Tom from Sarasota , USA FL: "I keep reading how everyone is looking for a cure to their ailment, Seborec Dermatitis, Dandruff etc .. Your never going to find the cure using creams , lotions or even vinigar ! All your doing is covering a symptom of some other problem within the body. The reason these symptoms mainfest is due to some sort of imbalance. Your body is designed to heal and protect itself. Stress is one problem that manifests in our skin, food are another. Try diet restriction and meditation. Bring peace into your life and watch out for certain foods. Dairy , Milk and Cream specifically, Beer Caffeine.. these all can cause severe skin reactions.. Meditate for 20 minutes asking the question.. " what will fix this ?" listen cloase and you will get an answer.. Good luck .. and Trust Me."

05/08/2008: DR. ROB JONES from DULUTH, MN replies: "THIS IS THE ONLY CURE FOR DANDRUFF..."PREVENTION""

[YEA]  08/13/2008: Monique from Laguna Beach, CA replies: "After trying everything listed on this site, I decided to get tested for food allergies. I was skeptical, but after two weeks of avoiding foods I was allergic to, my scalp was 90% better. I am hoping the seborrheic dermatitis completely goes away in a few more weeks. I highly recommend getting the blood test for food allergies / delayed food allergies. Is is worth every penny. Everything else works temporarily."

08/18/2008: Angela from Tonasket, WA. replies: "While a blood test for a skin allergy is at least going to work, why not try a muscle test, then just get it cured instead of having to avoid it. Better yet, treat the allergy, using NAET practitioners, and then avoid the lousy soaps anyways, and use a vinegar rinse to boot. Your scalp and hair, not to mention body, will love you for it."

[YEA]  01/22/2009: Shaun from York, England: "I have suffered for too many years with SB / Dandruff that I care to mention, and the history of which is too laboured to bore you with here. However, I read recently of one of Ted's ideas of trying Milk of Magnesia (this has a ph of about 10-10.5). I put this on my scalp whilst in the bath (for about 10 mins), and then rinsed it off with freshwater. I then rinsed my scalp with a 50/50 mix of ACV and a very strong 25% vinegar made by Speyer & Grund GmbH, 08393 Meerane/Sachsen, Germany (this is powerful stuff, and so great care must be taken in testing how sensitive you are to it). Anyway, once out of the bath I ran a brush through my hair and HUGE flakes of dead skin just fell away leaving my scalp sparklingly clean.

As to whether I have a fungus or a candida issue I really do not know, but I feel I may just be allergic to cheese and white bread - or both in combo with candida. Anyway, for those suffering give this a go you will be stunned at the results. It may also just work with ACV (5%) and not the 25% vinegar / ACV mix."

08/16/2012: Reginna from Houston, Tx, Usa: "I've been suffering for dermatitis seborrehic on my face for almost 15 years.. From having a flawless face to having a red, flaky, bumpy, itchy and unrecgognizable face! I never understood why and I tried to cover it with my makeup looking all red and cakey. I tried the expensive creams with cortisone and worked while I used it and trigger back when I did not have the cream. I know you understand me, It was a nightmare! So with out having the money and just trying to go to the natural alternative I tried aloe vera, olive oil, biotin, coconut oil; they did helped for awhile but it would still come and go without me doing nothing to the DS.

After all this years while trying diffrent diets it occur to me not to eat PORK! Yupiii this was a Bingo for my DS!! I do not know what this have to do but I really dont care!! I do not have those flakes and patches no more, I can eat whatever I want and even drink alcohol! Now that I have found this page thanks to Ted and others I think that I have this disease due to drinking alot and this may have caused me candida and can be seen in my DS. I have to address that since then I been DS free until a feel days I was in a severe stressful and nervous sitation my DS came back but in a mild way just with the clear bumps but left in 2 days when I was calm. I really hope this will help someone out there..

I am now following Ted in EC and have been doing the ACV, lemon with H20 and trying not to eat sugars and I am trying to give up that social, ocasional drinksss. So for me right now is NO PORK, ACV, LEMON, -moisturizers OLIVE oil or CASTOR oil, and trying to keep myself CALM in upset, nervous breaking situations."

EC: Make sure to read the all posts on the psoriasis and eczema pages!

01/19/2009: Kelly from Monroe, MI replies: "Hello and thank you for this wonderful site, I love Earthclinic!

I have had many skin problems, especially on my face, the constant itching has at times, nearly driven me crazy. I have tried many remedies many of which seem to work only temporarily (although I must confess that I am not as good as perhaps I should be about sticking to one remedy at the time, or giving a given remedy a chance to work). Lately I have been taking the remedy that is listed here as a "blood cleansing" one, which is the Blackstrap Molasses (1 teaspoon) plus Sulfur (in form of MSM - 2 teaspoons), twice daily. I usually mix these two ingredients and eat them with a spoon and then drink about 2 cups of slightly warm water to get rid of the awful taste. So far, the results have been very good (I have only been taking it for about 2 weeks), the itching is almost completely gone and my skin is fairly soft. I don't wear make up or any kind of facial creams. I try to avoid anything that can cause irritation, but because of the cold, I have to use some moisturizer, for that I choose one drop or two of Jojoba oil. I hope this helps."

01/19/2009: Carla from Vero, FL replies: "Here is a link that may help you.

http://dermatology.about.com/cs/seborrhea/a/sebderm.htm

Try applying Selsun Blue shampoo for about 10 minutes each day for a week to the area and then a couple of times a week until the flaking is gone. This has worked well for several patients of mine.

Best wishes!! Let us know what worked!"

[YEA]  01/15/2013: Wallace from Minneapolis, Mn: "I had seborrrheic dermatitis several years ago. I tried everything... Shampoos, vinegar, prescriptions, etc. I started using OATMEAL SOAP when I took a shower and it seemed to stop the itching (there are many kinds and companies making this soap so you have to experiment to see which works for you). I used it for my body and hair and it stopped the itching on my arms and hands but MOST IMPORTANT it stopped the itching on my HEAD, EYES, EARS etc. During a shower I would start with my scalp and soap my head twice to get the hair, ears, eyebrows etc. Clean. Instead of a cream rinse I would soap my hair once more and leave that on til the end of my shower when I rinsed the oatmeal soap off my head and body. I have a minor flare up ever so often but it has stopped my dermatitis misery better than anything else. Please be PATIENT... It doesn't work overnight!!! Keep using the oatmeal soap (and nothing else!!! ) when you take a shower (may take a week, a month, maybe more???) I also use it when washing my hands (unless I need to use antibacterial soap to remove nasty things from my hands). My itchy arms, hands and back have all gone away except for a few flare ups but they don't last long."

[YEA]  12/06/2008: Ruth from Costa Mesa, California: "econazole Nitrate 1% available on internet. I found it at shopzilla for $7.99. It works!!!!!!!! I have had Seborrheic dermatitis for a year and gone to my primary physician and 3 dermatologists. My doctor prescribed this for me Dec 5, 2008 (this is 3 days later and the itching is gone the bumps and lumps on my face are better and I can tell it is the answer. I tried everything Ted suggested, some helped but did not cure. Put a thin coating on face 2 times a day after washing face. I use it morning and night."

[YEA]  12/20/2008: Ruth from Costa Mesa, California: "I had seborrhea dermatitis for a year and have tried acv,and everything Ted recommended, but it didn't help much. I tried dermatologists and nothing helped until finally my internist suggested I try Edonazole Nitrate Cream 1%, I tried it and the seborrhea dermatitis is almost gone. I started with the cream 12-4-08 and this is 12-20-08. I am thrilled. I washed my face twice a day and applied a thin layer of the cream after each cleaning."