Seborrheic dermatitis is a skin condition that causes scaly patches and red skin. This shows up mainly on the face and scalp which can lead to stubborn dandruff. The skin might burn, itch and scale resulting in white or yellow, oily flakes.

Seborrheic dermatitis is caused by a flare up of yeast which feeds on the sebum (oil) that your skin produces. Yeast flare ups occur when there is an overproduction of oil. This, plus an overproduction of skin cells results in dermatitis.

Symptoms for seborrheic dermatitis vary from person to person. These symptoms could be worsened by a few factors like stress, change of season and heavy alcohol use. Some other causes are:

• Obesity
• Fatigue
• Poor skin care
• Free radicals like toxins and pollution
• Other skin issues, such as acne
• Certain skin care products

Seborrheic Dermatitis shows up on oily areas of the body, such as:

• Upper chest
• Back
• Around the navel
• Buttocks
• Creases of the arms and legs
• Groin
• Below the breasts

Newborns and adults aged 30-60 are more likely to get seborrheic dermatitis. It is more common in men than in women and in people with exceedingly oily skin.

The condition might develop in infants due to hormonal changes that happen to the mother during her pregnancy. The fluctuation of hormone levels are thought to stimulate the infant’s oil glands, which lead to an overproduction of oil that irritate the skin.

Having a routine and adopting healthy habits are very important to treating dermatitis. A flare up on your skin is a reaction to something going on in your body. It is important to find out what is causing this in order to treat it.

Reactions and results vary from person to person. If one thing has worked for another, it might not work for you and vice versa.

I suggest going to your doctor and getting tested for anything that is causing an allergic reaction. Once you do that, you could be closer to finding out what is triggering the cause of your seborrheic dermatitis.

No matter what is causing your dermatitis or where it is, here are 6 things you can do immediately to begin improving things:

1. Avoid chemicals and toxins. I’d cut out anything that touches your body that contains harmful chemicals such as detergents, cleaners, harsh skin care products, perfumes, etc.
2. Prevent yeast growth. You should also cut back on alcohol and sugar consumption as much as possible. These cause yeast to grow and leads to flare ups.
3. Start exercising outside. Sunlight and exercise has been known to help with a multitude of skin conditions. Just don’t forget to wear sunscreen or stay out too long.
4. Keep skin clean and dry. It’s important to keep the flaky sections of the skin clean and dry as much as you can. Wash it with a gentle cleanser and only moisturize with a non-greasy cream. Just be sure not to over wash your skin as this cause cause added irritation.
5. Stay hydrated. Drinking enough water throughout the day helps keep the skin hydrated. Avoid drinking alcohol, caffeine or sugary drinks because these dry out the skin. Instead, start drinking things like coconut water, green tea and homemade juices.
6. Manage stress. Life will always have it’s stressful moments, but doing what you can to keep stress to a minimum will help with almost every skin condition. With stress comes hormones changes which that can cause flare ups.

Now lets dive deeper and cover some specific locations and how to deal with them.

After you have implemented the above 6 steps as much as possible I’d recommend some additional steps if your seborrheic dermatitis is on your body.

• Shaving off your mustache or beard
• Wearing loose cotton clothing to avoid skin irritation
• Wash your face throughout the day with water to minimize any oil overproduction
• Don’t wear heavy make up
• Don’t use any oil based products such as lotions or ointments.

As you can see these are all to help the skin breathe, minimize irritation and lower oil production. If you have other ideas that may help give them a shot too!

There are TONS of natural, at home treatments for seborrheic dermatitis. Give them a shot, see which ones work, then add them to your daily or weekly routine.

As there are an overwhelming amount of info out there, I’ll list out my favorites and what I’ve seen work best.

Manuka honey

Manuka honey is one of Era Organic’s favorite ingredients as it is antibacterial, anti-fungal and has healing properties. Try applying the honey to the aggravated areas of your skin and letting it sit overnight or for a few hours during the day.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has antiviral, antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties. It has been shown to help reduce excessive yeast and dryness. Apply a small amount of oil to the scalp or skin and let sit for 15-20 minutes before thoroughly washing it off with warm (not hot) water.

Tea Tree and Aloe Vera mask

Mix 20 drops of tea tree oil with a quarter sized amount of aloe vera gel or juice and apply to irritated skin or scalp, letting it sit for 15-20 minutes.

The aloe will soothe itchy skin and scalp, balances pH levels, plus reduces flaking. The tea tree oil penetrates the hair follicles to help kill bacteria and fungus. It is also a natural antiseptic and germicide.

Garlic

Garlic is great because it specifically kills yeast. Applying garlic to a seborrheic dermatitis flare up will kill the overproduction of yeast on your skin. Here’s how to use it:

1. Juice 5-10 cloves of garlic and dilute with half a cup of warm (not hot) water.
2. Apply mixture to the irritated area and leave overnight.
3. Wash off with warm water in the morning.

It might be stinky but many people have great results with this.

Apple Cider Vinegar

It seems to me that apple cider vinegar is a cure for everything, so I was not surprised to hear that it also helps with the symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis. It prevents the scalp from becoming flaky and helps soothe inflamed skin.

Here is how you can use it:

How to Apply to Your Scalp:

After washing your hair, rinse with a solution of one part vinegar to one part water. You can also apply the vinegar overnight and rinse it off in the morning.

How to Apply to Your Skin: 

Apply the 1 to 1 mixture of vinegar and water to the skin for 10-15 minutes. Once rinsed, the skin should be bright pink. Many people report the symptoms go away in 4-5 rinses depending on how bad the skin was at the start.

Sea Salt Water Soak

A popular method to seborrheic dermatitis treatments is to soak the skin in salt water. Add ½ a teaspoon to 4 cups spring water and let skin soak for 10-15 minutes. Wash off with cool water. This could dry out the skin so apply a small amount of light, non-greasy cream to the area afterwords.

There are TONS of natural, at home treatments for seborrheic dermatitis. Give them a shot, see which ones work, then add them to your daily or weekly routine.

As there are an overwhelming amount of info out there, I’ll list out my favorites and what I’ve seen work best.

Manuka honey

Manuka honey is one of Era Organic’s favorite ingredients as it is antibacterial, anti-fungal and has healing properties. Try applying the honey to the aggravated areas of your skin and letting it sit overnight or for a few hours during the day.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has antiviral, antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties. It has been shown to help reduce excessive yeast and dryness. Apply a small amount of oil to the scalp or skin and let sit for 15-20 minutes before thoroughly washing it off with warm (not hot) water.

Tea Tree and Aloe Vera mask

Mix 20 drops of tea tree oil with a quarter sized amount of aloe vera gel or juice and apply to irritated skin or scalp, letting it sit for 15-20 minutes.

The aloe will soothe itchy skin and scalp, balances pH levels, plus reduces flaking. The tea tree oil penetrates the hair follicles to help kill bacteria and fungus. It is also a natural antiseptic and germicide.

Garlic

Garlic is great because it specifically kills yeast. Applying garlic to a seborrheic dermatitis flare up will kill the overproduction of yeast on your skin. Here’s how to use it:

1. Juice 5-10 cloves of garlic and dilute with half a cup of warm (not hot) water.
2. Apply mixture to the irritated area and leave overnight.
3. Wash off with warm water in the morning.

It might be stinky but many people have great results with this.

Apple Cider Vinegar

It seems to me that apple cider vinegar is a cure for everything, so I was not surprised to hear that it also helps with the symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis. It prevents the scalp from becoming flaky and helps soothe inflamed skin.

Here is how you can use it:

How to Apply to Your Scalp:

After washing your hair, rinse with a solution of one part vinegar to one part water. You can also apply the vinegar overnight and rinse it off in the morning.

How to Apply to Your Skin: 

Apply the 1 to 1 mixture of vinegar and water to the skin for 10-15 minutes. Once rinsed, the skin should be bright pink. Many people report the symptoms go away in 4-5 rinses depending on how bad the skin was at the start.

Sea Salt Water Soak

A popular method to seborrheic dermatitis treatments is to soak the skin in salt water. Add ½ a teaspoon to 4 cups spring water and let skin soak for 10-15 minutes. Wash off with cool water. This could dry out the skin so apply a small amount of light, non-greasy cream to the area afterwords.

Seborrheic dermatitis is a skin condition caused by an overproduction of yeast, which results in dry, flaky patches of skin. It is found main on the face and scalp but can be on any oily parts of the body.

Make small changes in your routine to prevent an outbreak from occurring. Keep the area clean and dry, exercise in the sun, don’t use harsh chemicals and make sure you’re staying hydrated.

There are many plant-based ingredients that have been found to be helpful in treating seborrheic dermatitis. Try out the methods we’ve covered and find which works best for you. Build a routine around what you find to be successful and start enjoying clearer skin!