Effective Natural Remedies for Seborrheic Dermatitis Relief

I've had sebohorreic dermatitis/little acne off and on for years now on my face. I tried literally everything to varying degrees of success, but it would always come back. I've been using ACV for about 2 months now on my face and it has completely cleared up my face. It was something that always made me insecure and I'm so thrilled to have it removed from my life. If you're suffering from it, give it a try.

My son has had SD on his scalp for many years. He has tried all the shampoos and lotions, etc., recommended from various web sites and nothing worked. It spread to his entire face, and he looked like he had a really bad sunburn with flakes. He switched to unscented glycerin soap and his head and face has healed. Simply amazing : )

I am from India and was prescribed typical creams by dermatologists for SD as mentioned by few of you here. The problem was so bad I had flakes in my chin, around the nose, between my eyebrows and ear lobe. The itchiness was so bad and redness all over. These creams gave me only temporary relief as they were steroids and I started having side effects like facial hair.

I was so worried since I have already changed around 8 dermatologists in last 3 years. I stumbled upon this website and wanted to use Braggs, However one of the online store said it will take 8 days for the delivery, I was so restless that I couldn't wait for 8 days so I bought "Amercian Gargen" ACV from the local super market. Its been a week that I am using diluted solution (1 ACV:1 boiled and cooled water)for application on the skin with cotton ball and drink about 10 ml with warm water as soon as I wake up. First day I had the redness and burning sensation, However it reduced after 3-4 days of application. Its now reduced more than 75% on my face. Though I dont see any flakes in the scalp, I still apply it like I apply oil and wash it with shampoo after 30 min which gives a nice shine. I would suggest not to use Almond/Coconut oil on the face since it increased flakes for me.

I also realized dryness increased when I tried a brand of foundation cream on the face, So I stopped using that as well.

ACV is a great solution to SD without any side effects. Good Luck!

So am I correct that you drank this concoction rather than applying it topically?

Liz, would you suggest using this cream near the eyes? I have SD beside my nose, in the upper cheek area and also along my nose moving upwards beside my eyes. I'm using protopic as prescribed by my dermatologist for the SD on the sides of my nose but I've just recently had it spread. Any advice would be appreciated.

Did you drink it or put it On affected area?

I had the same experience with coconut oil, and actually all oils because they feed the yeast, but I recently had a breakthrough. I've been using straight caprylic acid, isolated from coconut oil. The yeast can't eat it because it's too acidic. It restores the skin's acid mantle. I use it instead of soap. Soap of any kind will make things worse because it strips your skin's natural defenses and the yeast prefer the alkaline environment. Caprylic acid is much more cleansing and less irritating. I use it to remove makeup, shave, and even wash my hair instead of shampoo and conditioner, rubbing it directly into my scalp. It will leave your hair soft, frizz-free, and strangely not oily. Any other oils I've put in my hair have bogged it down and made it impossible to dry, causing humidity that only made the problem worse. I've tried everything else and it wasn't until I ditched the soap and adopted nothing but caprylic acid that I was able to sleep without itching. Seriously. I tried apple cider vinegar, baking soda, witch hazel, calendula, dead sea salt, various clays, manuka honey, tea tree oil, oregano oil, olive leaf, various herbal tinctures (NEVER put an alcohol tincture on it. The yeast will start furiously feeding on the alcohol and you will have the worst flare up of your life! ), a paleo diet, a candida diet, an autoimmune diet, various top shelf probiotics, etc. You name it; I tried it. I was desperate to avoid corticosteroids, but I was forced to resort to them when I was losing sleep to itching. I would get really strung out. Nothing has worked like caprylic acid.

Jan. 2016 after many years suffering from stress; abuse ; injuries, (terrible care at nursing home ) ended up with very sever sebborhia scalp & facial dermatitis . I tried every thing spending days and hours searching websites. My best results is using silver solution. apply on face where it's needed after cleaning with gentle cleaner Not soap and NO OILS of any kind.I even need to apply to lips (which were peeling and turning a purple color) re-apply when needed (lips more often if you have that problem. Before I found silver solution was breaking out with pustules (gross) and had the typical redness on chin and nasals folds and behind ears, I use oreganol oil WITHOUT any olive oil added. With q-tips it burns the pustules off and leaves no scars. Used it on scalp too, scratch and combed out dandruff daily over black t-shirt (time consuming but worth the effort. because my dandruff stuck around hair follicles like glue. then shampoo with the only shampoo that worked (I tried so many) nizoral, DHF. etc: etc; everyone at drug stores. the one thats working for me is veterinary formula clinical care, (antiseborrheic medicated shampoo (don't laugh (for dogs) it's anti fungal 100% safe NO paraben dye, soap and oil free. I leave it on overnite (with a terry cloth head cover)find head cover at dollar store and Big Lots stores.

when hair drys can't tell you left shampoo on. no hair falls out even though you brush and fine tooth comb out vigorously. And hair is so soft. I was doing this daily. Now every other day. What an improvement! I'm also cutting out oils and fats from my diet except for 1% milk and looking or vitamins to help my immune system. I read it's a chronic condition but I want to cure it or at least have control over remission. GOOD LUCK to you.

PS….also make sure your body is not acidic

I don't know where you get the idea that jojoba oil is high in oleic acid. It's one of the oils lowest in oleic acid though it does contain some.

It's hard to find oils low in oleic acid. Do you know of an oil that has none or almost none that you recommend?

You might try diluting it with some water to where it won't burn anymore and then as you begin not to burn anymore try to slowly work up to higher strength of ACV. The only thing with this cure is you will smell of vinegar when in public perhaps. It works though and I've tried everything from prescription creams to coconut oil and more. Good luck!

How much of the ivermectin paste did u apply daily?

Look for a brand of apple cider vinegar that is organic and raw, "with the mother."

You might also try avoiding shampoos and toothpastes with SLS. (Sodium Laureth Sulphate.)

You can use baking soda to wash your hair and even to brush your teeth.

Many years ago I had dermatitis on my eyelids. It was caused by make up. You might check your health food store for for a natural mineral make up.

Don't use straight vinegar on your eyelids. dilute it a lot. Maybe 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar per cup of water.

~Mama to Many~

Where can I get lugol's?

I'm 27, and I've suffered with SD for as long as I can remember. I always thought it was just itchy scalp but then it spread to my eyelids (not too much) but then to my nose and that is HORRIBLE. There is no way to hide it. Make up makes it even worse. What exactly do I look for what it comes to the ACV?! Any brand? Organic? I'm new to this and so eager to try it out.

In response to Valentine on Sea Salt Helping Seb Derm...

My dog has seborrheic dermatitis on his lower back and I've tried a lot of things for it - as you said moisturizers are not what's needed. I found applying salt water with a cloth helpful, but you might also try epsom salts. Another option that I've found helpful was Ted's borax and peroxide mange cure, which is very drying.

When I was a teenager I use to get this rash on my face the doctor would give me a cream and after a while it went away. Now at 44 yrs old it came back! Its really stubborn this time. I went to the dermatologist and he said it was Seborrheic Dermatitis. Yes, he prescribe a shampoo and some antibiotics. I ended up in the ER with hives. I was allergic to the antibiotics . The shampoo made my scalp worse. I have tried just about everything, I had some relief with neem oil but the smell! Wow it made me sick! The apple cider helped my scalp but burned my face. I read up on iodine and decided to try it both orally and topically what do you know its drying up the rash on my face. I didn't try the iodine on my scalp but my scalp seems better.

I hope this helps someone. I know how frustrating and embarrassing this condition is.

Coconut oil made my seborrheic dermatitis worse. It actually spread it from around my nose and chin up to the corners of my eyes. After a little research, I am convinced that adding oil is the wrong move for SD. The area needs to be dried out. See my cure under sea salt.

I had seborrheic dermatitis on my chin and around my nose. I tried to clear it up with coconut oil but that ended up spreading it around my eyes. Raw apple cider vinegar diluted with water helped some, but I had to keep applying it daily.

Sea salt diluted with water cleared my SD up almost immediately and the effect has been lasting. I either add a half teaspoon to a pint of warm water and splash it on my fave or I put some onto my fingertips and gently rub it on my face while showering.

Since SD is related to oil glands, it makes sense that oil made it worse and salt cleared it up.

I read that Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with the Mother is the only vinegar that is 'alkaline'. The other vinegars are acidic.

Watermark (Buffalo, NY): Where are the probiotic wipes you used available? Thanks. Larry

Hello,

I was recently diagnosed with SD on my face. Like most, I tried everything without success. It then dawned on me to try probiotic wipes seeing as how this appears to be a yeast problem and I wanted to report that I have had great success with this treatment and my problem has completely resolved after about a week and my skin is nice and soft. I have been doing this 2-3 times per day. It may take longer for some. I hope this is helpful.

2 year Update on lugol's iodine for seborrheic dermatitis - success!

I am sorry it took me so long to update my post on using lugol's iodine for seb dermatitis. I don't know why I could find my post before today!

After applying the lugol's daily for approximately 7 days, and then every 3-4 days after that for another 2 weeks, I am pleased to say that the seb derm on my face never returned. I can confidently say that lugol's was a COMPLETE CURE for me.

I hope this helps many others who struggle with this condition.

I don't suggest apple cider vinegar for Seb Derm. It will only help temporarily. I tried it over the years for my seb derm on my face, both internally and externally.

Try 3% lugol's iodine applied topically for a week. I have written about this on Earth Clinic previously. I will try to find my post.

My seb derm has not returned 2 years after trying lugol's iodine.

Linda, how about moisturizing with coconut oil after the ACV?

I have SD on my face (around my nose) and tried ACV diluted 50:50. While it is good to remove the flakes, I find that it dries around my nose which causes cracking and peeling. Has anyone had this issue. I am back to using cortisone on my face and know this can't be a long term solution.

Leslie, coconut oil hasn't seemed to clog me any pores. I only use the least amount that will extend all over the face and neck.

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.

Was wondering what kind of shampoo you use afterwards?

How do you use the ACV? Do you rub it on your areas or you just drink it?

Does MSM have any side effects?? Im confused on the dosage. Two teaspoons but at how many miligrams? I think I may be overdosing using two teaspoons as this is 1000 mg per small half teaspoon container inside of bottle.

Try taking magnesium for the constipation. maybe the ACV is affecting how you absorb minerals. Worth a try.

Seborrheic Dermatitis

Fish oil supplements if taken daily will drastically reduce redness, inflammation, and the rash associated with this condition. For myself, it took about 4 weeks for a 90% reduction in redness, with results noticeable after about 1-2 weeks.

I recommend treating seborrheic dermatitis with daily fish oil supplements. It dramatically reduces inflammation and redness caused by seborrheic dermatitis (approx 80-90%) within 4 weeks of daily doses; however, you start to see improvements in the 1-2 week range. It worked better for me than trying to pour vinegar around my eyes and mouth. Since inflammation and the redness is the hardest thing to fix, once you take care of that with the fish oil (and a diet high in vitamins a/k, ex. kale, spinach) you can then experiment with what works for you when it comes to any remaining dryness/flakes associated with this condition.

Hello,

I have something that won't exactly cure seborrheic dermatitis (bc there is no permanent cure), but it will help keep it in check. I have it too but I started taking fish oil supplements and it helped a TON. It takes about 3-4 weeks for full effect but you definitely see improvement after a week or so. It doesn't get rid of the flakes that comes from the dryness but in my case it reduced the rash/inflammation by 80-90%. So to get rid of the dry skin I just use some A&D ointment or I suppose an extremely mild hypoallergenic facial lotion would be ok but my skin is too sensitive for that so I use the a&d ointment... just make sure the grease is gone after you apply it. I've had it for a long time and this is the only thing that has helped me. It's a much healthier and effective way to deal with this problem than anything else I've tried.

Use of an antifungal may actually worsen the condition at first, due to a variant of the herkheimer reaction, or die off of fungal cells, going into an initial " overload " state. If you can persist past one or two treatments, you may find relief for your grief.

Does anyone rinse their face off after using ACV with the mother in it? If so how long do you keep the ACV on your face? Also, is it natural to burn when applying after a few days?

Amazing results.

I found this website on June 23, just 1 week ago. The same day I started regiment of 2 tablespoons of organic ACV with "The Mother", 1 teaspoon of raw un filtered honey and 8-10 oz of water 3 times a day and once a day rubbing straight ACV right on my problem areas, mostly on my face and in my ears. The results are increarable, in just 3 days my SD that I have been dealing with for 8 years is completely gone!

If anyone is sitting on the fence, please do not wait any longer, start using this today and get your life back.

Thank you all very much!

I am 37 yr old female using cortisone creams from 15 yr old on my scalp and face and underarms for SD. Indian and US doctors recommended the same kind of medications for me.

After reading this article, I tried organic ACV for last 5 days and the results are great. My face, behind my ear, underarms are showing much improvement.also my scalp is getting much better and I am keep using it.

I suggest this to all who have SD which is a mental nuisance to all.

You re definitely right I noticed that Dead Sea Salt helps me tremendously. I'm stopping all shampoos

Also, I have found that using e45 dermatological emollient face wash is excellent and helped the cause a LOT! Thanks all, good luck.

I get the eliminating yeast part, but doesn't ACV contain yeast? In yeast elimination diets, vinegar is one of the first things to go. Interested as I too am looking for a natural remedy for facial SD

I had a very flakey, red rash on my face, and I pretty much tried all the remedies on this site. Finally bought some Ivermectin, the paste they give to horses, you can buy it on the internet or in a farm supply store. I applied it topically for over 10 days and the dermatitis went away. This was a permanent solution.

If you have tried everything else, and if you think your Seborrheic Dermatitis may be caused by dermatophytes, or especially if someone has athletes feet in your household, Salt and Heat and essential oils may kill the dermatophytes and is a good thing to try. Based on a few pub med articles about salt and heat on Trychophton Dermatophytes, I used a solution of salt water and heat. Then I applied oils of Oregano and Thyme diluted in a carrier oil, and you can add a little DMSO if you have it. The combination of salt water, heat and the essential oils really reduces scaling.

It's only been two days, but I'll update this post in a few days.

Vitamin B6 and Tryptophan deficiencies can also be indicated in cases of SD, and also should be investigated.

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

I have had seborric dermatitis for years, and I was recommended to start using an alcohol free argan oil on my scalp. It HAS TO BE ALCOHOL FREE ARGAN OIL, because the alcohol will make your condition worse. Tried a bunch of brands, and the best and most natural one is the Somaluxe Argan Oil. I use it three times a week, and I barely get an itchy scalp anymore. Its 100% the way to go for seborric dermatitis.

Dandelion & Other Remedies for Seborrheic Dermatitis:

I've had SD for about 9 months now and over the last 6 weeks have really gotten it under control to where it's not noticeable. My symptoms got extremely bad (months 5-7) - very red / flaky face & chest and bad dandruff. I was really bummed when ACV didn't work for me as that seems to be the cure for so many others (ACV and hydrogen peroxide did a great job removing flakes on my scalp but neither helped facial or chest redness etc.).

I've been doing numerous things to help the condition so it's hard to point to one thing as 'the cure' but if I had to I would probably list dandelion as helping the most. I've detailed my current regimen below (note: I went ~5 weeks no meat, no dairy, no wheat, no sweets and saw a bit of improvement but things really started improving when I added in other supplements & products):

Diet ('Shakes' & 'Meals')

Shakes: Plant based protein powder, chia seeds, flaxseed. Usually breakfast and throughout the day if hungry.

Meals: Vegetables (Broccoli, caulifower, carrots, squash, onion etc.) eaten with hummus (usually melt non-dairy cheese on top for flavor), sometimes I'll add small portion of ahi tuna.

I was a big meat eater and have a huge sweet tooth so it's been tough but those items aren't worth a bright red face to me. Diet is probably pretty extreme, I'm starting to add back items and see how they affect my condition.

Supplements:

Dandelion: Mine is root, leaf and flower. Take 40 drops 2-3 times a day between meals (Brand: herb pharm).

Glutamine: Right when I wake up I drink a glass of water, wait 15 mins, take serving of glutamine and don't eat for 20-30 mins. I don't know how big of an impact glutamine has had, I read it worked for someone else so I've been doing it.

Enzymes: Taken with every meal (Brand: garden of life).

Multi-vitamin: Taken as directed (garden of life).

Probiotic: Taken as directed (garden of life).

Green superfood drinks: I drink occasionally (Brand: amazing grass).

Omega-3's: Just started taking this once a day (Brand: Ovega-3).

Skin Products:

Soap: Dandruff shampoo bar (Brand: round tree organics)

Shampoo: Burdock & neem healthy scalp shampoo (Brand: 100% pure)

Conditioner: Burdock & neem healthy scalp conditioner (Brand: 100% pure)

I used to shower twice a day, now I only shower at night. Make sure to really rub in the shampoo using fingertips & nails, may notice some hairloss at first but it would have fallen out anyways.

Face: Calcium bentonite detox clay powder. Use 2 nights a week. (Brand: living clay)

Face: Facial seborrheic dermatitis lotion stick. Applied in morning and at night. (Brand: derm-essentials)

Scalp: Oil for SD from derm-essentials. After I shower at night I mix with a small bit of coconut oil and apply to scalp / hair. (Brand: derm-essentials)

Scalp: In the morning I quickly rinse hair and apply a SMALL bit of coconut oil and may reapply throughout the day.

Some of these products are exclusive to the brand, others it probably doesn't matter what brand you use.

General lifestyle: I make an effort to sit in the sun each day even if for only 10-15 minutes and I also workout regularly (Male, age 27).

Also be advised a manganese deficiency can cause dermatitis symptoms.

Hi, what do you mean by 'the mother'? I have ACV.

Thanks in anticipation.