Effective Natural Remedies for Seborrheic Dermatitis Relief

Posted by Pat (Philadelphia, Pa) on 03/16/2012
★★★★★

After 15 years of struggling with seborrheic dermatitis of the face and scalp I am finally free of this horrible condition. For me it wasn't a deficiency but something I was allergic too which caused my body to react and therefore create this condition. Everyone is different but if you are still struggling with this condition and cannot find out why here is my feedback. I used and tried everything under the sun and the sun (uvb therapy). Vinegar, which was a big help for awhile but not a cure all, all types of cream, soaps, shampoos, vitamins, mineral, amino acids, immune boosters, immune suppressants etc. All of this adding stuff here and there but did not think to take a look at stuff I use everyday. Sulfates are my biggest enemy, especially sodium laurel sulfate. This is my cause of seborrheic dermatitis. It was in the shampoo I was using for 10 years and I quit using it and my scalp got was free of flakes but my face was not and I could not figure out why.

So fast forward 5 years later I went back to using a shampoo with SLS and bam it was back on my scalp worse than ever and my face got alot worse. So I switched my shampoo back to an all natural and my scalp cleared but my face remained a red flaky mess. So one day I checked every product that I used and the SLS was in the last place I could imagine... In my toothpaste!!! I felt so dumb that I had never seen that before.

So I switched to an all natural toothpaste that is SLS free and viola... Face is as clear as ever. I guess it was circulating through my gumline making my face breakout. Ok that was the silver bullet. But you must repair the skin barrier that had been damaged by this chemical. I found a product called _____ cleanser and moisturizer that is SLS free and this repaired my skin. I do not use it anymore simply because I do not need too. *I am not trying to sell anything on here just trying to help someone if possible. Just avoid all SLS which is in 99% of products out there. Peace out. Pat

Posted by Johnny (Los Angeles, Ca) on 02/16/2015
★★★★★

I had Seborrheic Dermatitis for 4 straight years, and all I needed was 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in water... I dealt with the burning, stinging, and intense itching all over my scalp and face, and tried everything (literally). However, nothing worked, not even switching to a no grain, all organic diet, and taking probiotics for a year.

But this alkaline method did it in 3 days. I put a 1/4 teaspoon in half a glass of water first thing in the morning and last thing at night, and in three days, no more flare ups. Thank God.

Posted by Sharon (Houston, Tx) on 02/20/2012
★★★★★

I have had a severe case of Seborrheic Dermatitis for which I have been given steroid shots and topical steroid lotions. I have tried everything from Tea Tree Oil to ACV and everything in between. I would get some relief and then wham it was right back. After doing tons of reading I began to feel like this could be caused by the ph of body being to acidic. I drink a lot of diet coke and have a high carb diet. So I decided to try one of Teds alkalizing remedies. Baking soda and water and YUP you guessed it. IT'S GONE! After 3 days my scalp is almost back to normal and the itching is gone. I know that it is not posted as a remedy for SD but all I can say is it worked for me.

Posted by D (Az, US) on 02/26/2015
★★★★★

My son has battled Seborrheic Dermatitis for over 6 years. He has seen 5 doctors, and 3 dermatologists and we have tried every remedy on EC, and many prescriptions. It wasn't until I came across an article linking dermatitis and a lack of a certain enzyme produced in the body, and the ability of borage oil to stimulate production of the enzyme, that the light bulb went off. My son has been taking 2 capsules of Borage oil twice per day for only one week, but the results are the best I have ever seen. He may have to stay on it for the rest of his life. No more acne, exzema, seborrheic dermatitis, scalp infection, scalp dermatitis, all cleared up about 80% in about 10 days. He is very happy. If you have a really scaly, bad infection, you can apply it topically, also.

Posted by John (New York, New York) on 06/15/2012
★★★★★

I take Borage oil daily, wash my hair with Pine Tar shampoo every few days, and apply Rose Hip oil to my scalp. Amazing results.

Posted by caliguy (los angeles) on 02/16/2021
★★★★★

I dealt with seborrheic dermatitis for about 10 years. It began with flaky scalp and led to a more flushed face, dry skin around nose, larger pores, and red skin or flakes in facial hair and chest hair. I kept symptoms at bay by trying tea tree oil, hydrocortisone cream, head and shoulders, and lately ACV.

The real cure came recently and made a drastic improvement. I boiled 2 cups of water, 4tspn Borax, 2 tspn baking soda, and 1tspn honey. I let it come to room temp and poured in an empty shampoo bottle. Take a shower, give the bottle a good shake, pour some of the watery solution on your hair, and massage scalp with your fingers. I wash the rest of my body while it soaks for around 10min, also cleaning my face, neck, and chest with it. It won't sud up in your hair, but might feel a bit slimy while wet. Finally, rinse it out. I choose to use ACV afterwards as a conditioner.

It leaves my scalp feeling totally refreshed. No signs of flakes, skin has returned to normal color, and pores are shrinking. I end by using a face moisturizer (I like Aveda for sensitive skin).

That's it! I hope this helps anyone else who might have symptoms like I used to.

Posted by Tx Kel (Frisco, Tx, USA) on 04/27/2013
★★★★★

Years ago a cosmetologist told me I had Seborrheic dermatitis, because my skin produced too much oil. This causes enlarged pores, red face, clogged pores, and basically you look like you don't wash your face very often. Other than drugs I was told to deal with it. So I have, until now...

I tried Mule Borax for my hair because I wanted to put fewer chemicals on my body and I heard great reviews. It's odd and tough to get used to and I'm not sure I like it. But that's another post. As a side effect it ran over my face in the shower. A few days later I noticed my face was different. It wasn't as red, it was less oily, and my pores were not clogged. Thrilled beyond imagination I did it for a few more days to make sure. Yes it really works!!!! My pores are shrinking!!!

Recipe

• pour Borax in a container, about 1/4 cup
• add hot water and stir to dissolve ( ignore the crystals that don't dissolve)
• ( my container is 8 cups because I'm using it on my hair)
• pour on face and scrub hand over face
• repeat about 3 times
• rinse
• Try in shower every day for a week, then see if your face is different

(FYI the concentration is different for everyone. It depends upon your water. We have fairly hard water. Basically if the water feels soft you probably have added enough. If you feel oily after you shower then use more next time)

I'm sure there is a reason why this works, but I don't care. I'm just so excited!!!! It's the best $2 I've ever spent!! Thanks Earth Clinic!!!

Posted by Julie (New York, NY) on 10/12/2007
★★★☆☆

WORKED TEMPORARILY

I have been struggling with seborrheic dermatitis on my face for 5 years. I have tried everything - drastic diet changes, candida elimination, probiotics, apple cider vinegar, topical steroids, msm sulfur, betaine hydrochloride, pancreatic enzymes, vitamin C, oil of oregano, flax oil, etc etc etc. A year and a half ago, I also developed perioral dermatitis and ocular rosacea. I read about borax and I decided to give it a try, taking 1/8 a tablespoon of borax in a liter of water for 3 days straight. After the third day, things were definitely changing but not noticeably better. I then decided to try to use borax topically. I combined a 1/2 tablespoon of borax with some hydrogen peroxide mixed with 50% water and I put it on my face then rinsed it off after about 30 seconds. It worked! My face feels as smooth as it did when I was a child, and my ocular rosacea is gone too. I didn't even remember what it was like to have normal feeling skin on my face with no rough patches, flaking, or redness. And I can't believe my eyes are back to their normal shape! I am so relieved. I feel and look like myself again for the first time in years. It seems miraculous. I am so so so grateful. What an excellent site. I suppose my problem was demodex skin mites, and the borax/hydrogen peroxide combo has eliminated them. I hope my experience will help someone else.

THANK YOU

Posted by Deirdre (Atlanta, Ga) on 11/10/2010
★★★★☆

It only took me about 20 years to make the discovery, thanks to effective muscle testing at a local herb store here in Atlanta, but seborrheic dermatitis on the face can be managed by 3 things:

1. Taking Caprylic acid supplements (used to fight candida and fungal infections)

2. Taking a potent probiotic strain (mine contains l. acidophilus, l. rhamnosus, l. casei and b. longum)

3. Avoiding milk as much as possible

This is not a cure, but taking the above 2 supplements will make the rash disappear. 1-2 weeks to see results. It you have seb derm on the scalp, these 3 suggestions also may work for you too. Please let me know if it helps anyone!

Posted by Becky (Port Townsend, WA) on 01/22/2006
★★★★★

I used the acv and it works but I have a hint for people with winter scalp (flaky tight scalp). Steep 2 bags of chamomile tea in 2 cups warm water for 10 minutes. Add a dash of lemon juice and 15 drops of calendula (marigold) extract then pour onto scalp and let sit for 10 minutes and shampoo and condition as normal. I have done this 2x a week wince winter set in and it is perfect. No more flaking or redness.

Posted by Leslie (Oak Park, Il) on 01/06/2016
★★★★★

For occasional reoccurring seborrhea dermatitis behind my ears, one day realizing that coconut oil had anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties, I put some on the effected scalp. Hadn't had any dermatitis since and it has been over a year.

As for my mild roseaca, I keep out of the sun, using a 50 sunblock and stay away from very spicy hot foods as both exposures seem to cause a flair up.

Coconut oil on the face I no longer do because I was told the large molecule can clog pores. I heard (very expensive) manuka honey from the continent down under is anti-viral, but you have to watch out for fake stuff.

Posted by Ed (London, Hornsey) on 03/04/2009
★★★★★

At 24 I had my first experience of seborrheic dermatitis, and had it for about 2 years. I can honestly remember one girl commenting 'it looks like his nose is turning green', to be honest I couldn't care less what she said, but there were times when i felt so low I didn't want to leave the house. I might have been exaggerating, but my nose was going from small red marks, to be inflamed burn marks, to a yellow gewy substance which would eventually harden.

I tried so many things. At first the steroid cream I used did the job in the short term. But it was no long term cure I was comfortable with. If I stopped using it it was back in a week. Maybe less. So I stopped using that pretty early. I also used aveeno yeast cream, aloe vera (from a bottle and from a plant), going on a yeast free and sugar free diet (to be honest this lasted about a month and a half, and don't think I went completely all out. But tried to cut the main stuff out), and garlic- none of these things worked.

Funnily enough, when I went to the states, it practically seemed to go on its own.

Then I decided to use coconut oil. externally (100% coconut oil- the brand is pukka). I applied it about once every day, not very much was needed as it is a very oily product. Actually I started by using this and taking it internally, eating crushed coconut from a jar with a spoon. but now I just apply it externally. I've been doing this for about 4 to 5 months now, and it is already feeling like a miracle cure, so I hope it carries on like this! I only had one major flare up since, whereas before I was getting one every other week. I hope I'm not speaking to soon, but it's really helped my confidence, and probably changed my life for the better. And something so simple! Just gotta thank the people on this website (and this website for this).

Of course a downside could be seen as it coming back if I stop using it. But who knows, it might even go for good!

Posted by Hillary (Salt Lake City) on 07/02/2006
★★★★★

I have extreme seborhic dermatitis on both my scalp and eye lids. I went to a naturopathic chiropracter who practes applied kinesology and cold laser therapy. The best dermatologist and doctors in the Salt Lake Valley kept prescribing sterorids, and medicine and nothing worked. I finally went to a doctor who did cold laser therapy on my eye and scalp three times a week for six weeks and it is completly gone, and hasn't come back as of yet, and it has been over six months, I call him my miracle doctor. If you want more info on this type of doctor they use all natual cures, no prescriptions etc. check them out online.

Posted by Deirdre (CT) on 01/24/2021
★★★★★

Hi, I had mild seb derm on my face (around my nose) for 3 decades. What permanently got rid of it was vitamin d3 supplements. Condition 100% disappeared after taking 10,000 d3 for a few days and has never returned.

P.S. Also tried the borax remedy, topical and internally, but it only helped temporarily.

Posted by Megs (Cambridge) on 05/30/2019
★★★★★

I previously wrote EC about D3 for seb derm around my nose and in the creases of my mouth.

I wanted to update that YES, it is in fact a cure and not just a temporary fix! As a test I stopped taking the D3 after two steady weeks on it and nothing has reappeared on my face. I was taking between 2,000-6,000 drops of d3 serum a day. Very exciting.

I have had the condition for most of my life! So I guess it took me two weeks to get my vitamin d levels restored and now that I have done that, my body just needs a bit here and there. Hope this helps someone else suffering from this condition.