To get this out of the way: I’ve already seen a dermatologist and am applying a prescription corticosteroid liquid to the affected area. I also do not use shampoo with sulfates.
So, about two months ago I started developing red itchy patches at the base of my scalp, right at the bottom of my hairline. I have prescription meds but a) I’ve been advised not to use them longer than 3 weeks at a time; and b) they seem to make my scalp dry.
I know seborrheic dermatitis is chronic condition that is not easily cured and that there are all sorts of treatment options, so for those of you who have this condition, what has worked for you?
I bought Cetaphil’s new Restoraderm moisturizer, which can be used on skin with eczema, and applying it to my scalp in those areas makes them feel less dry and itchy, so that seems to help. And fortunately, the affected areas are at the very bottom of my hairline and are hidden by my longer hair, so I don’t have to worry about the lotion making my hair look greasy.
Coconut oil is another moisturizer I know people use for problem skin, but I’m worried that it might be too greasy to be comfortable.
Ditto. Brand name Nizoral. Mine comes and goes. I use the Nizoral once a week normally using regular shampoo in between. When it flares up I use the Nizoral 2-3 times a week until it subsides.
Neutrogena T-Gel seems to work well for me. If I need to I’ll take some of the suds and rub them into my eyebrows or other parts of my face. My face doesn’t seem to get symptoms much any more. Supposedly this is something that happens as an infant (cradle cap), subsides and comes back in middle age, and then subsides again and comes back in old age. I guess I’m getting past middle age.
I’ve been variously diagnosed with Seborrheic dermatitis or acne rosacea. What works for me? Daily doses of tetracycline. That’s all I take, and I haven’t had any outbreaks in years.
J.
p.s., I HAVE had experience with topical steroids and Accutane. Whenever I stopped the topical steroids, I’d have a rebound (allergic?) reaction and my forehead would turn bright red for 7 - 10 days. I always joked that after that experience I knew what it is was like to be a woman with big breasts. Whenever anyone talked to me, they’d end up staring at my forehead. Hello! I’m down here!
Accutane was just nasty. EVERYTHING dried up, and I had itchy dry skin everywhere.
I have a recurring patch on the left corner of my forehead at the hairline (disclaimer: I have not been formally diagnosed, maybe it’s something else) and when I experimented with going no-poo - cleaning with baking soda, rinsing, then conditioning with diluted vinegar - the patch completely cleared up. Vinegar is antifungal, so I assumed that’s what helped.
You could try seeing if aloe vera and/or shea butter are any help for you.
SD is not a dry skin problem, so I would be hesitant about treating it with moisturizers. It’s actually caused by an overproduction of oil in the sebaceous glands combined with maybe an overabundance of yeast or fungus. Steroids work because they calm the overproductive glands.
Vitamin D and moderate sun exposure tend to help. I have suffered with it for many years, and these are pretty effective.
Also, cutting out offending foods appears to be important. Spinach always causes flareups for me, basically most plant foods do to a degree.
Cutting down on the carbs and increasing the fat also seems to help. I think it allows the vitamin D to work better, because it’s fat-soluble, and also because many plants foods have compounds that tend to reduce the effectiveness of vitamin D.
i know it sounds crazy but the seborrheic dermatitis microbes turn your body oil into soap! here is a lecture given by John Hovanesian MD of Harvard Eye. search youtube for “Dry Eye Treatment Part II, John Hovanesian MD Harvard Eye”
he starts to talk about it about 3 and a half minutes in. it explains a lot! it explains the soapy taste that i though meant i was leaving soap on me and it explains why the treatments on your face are not really effective. they are riding on top of the soap and the bacteria are protected by the soap! the bacteria are producing soap scum on you and soap scum is virtually impenetrable. before any treatment can be effective you must get the soap scrum off of you so the bacteria can be treated directly. i’m trying some natural soap scum removal treatments like vinegar that are gentle enough for human skin.
the post by the guy who said that when he was running a lot he didn’t have a problem makes me suspicious that what i have thought for quite a while is true, that it’s not the sun that makes it better, it’s the sweat. the extra sweat floats the soap off of you. mine always gets much worse the first week in September here in maine when the temperature suddenly gets 10 degrees cooler and doesn’t recover because of a shift in the jet stream but the amount of sun is still the same.
guys guys guys listen here you guys everyone on here is headed in the wrong direction if anyone is trying to cure their seborrheic dermatitis by diet by creams shampoos etc you will never do it! how many times do you hear all these people doing these candida diets elminating this eliminating that or eating this or eating that but they still have seborrheic dermatitis. the reason why you have seborrheic dermatitis is very simple its caused by STRESS! believe me i saw a dermatologist for my seborrheic dermatitis and he was very honest with me he told me your seb derm is from stress this made perfect sense to me i found myself always annoyed when my mom would ask for something it always bothered me i was annoyed by what she had to say many times and i disagreed with her alot! of times even my dad made me angry it got to the point where i just didnt like looking in the mirror amymore you see all of thia acumaltes to more stress causing your condition to get Worse people that have seb derm often tend to think its caused by parasites or bacteria your all wrong this condition is called DELUSIONS OF PARASITOSIS look it up you guys are just going in circles looking for an answer you see me everything my mom said bothered me even my dad and i know this was causing my dermatitis im a really healthy guy if you asked me to i can run a mile im 6 minutes i can run all day play sports all day seborrheic dermatitis has nothing to do with parasites or bacteria its what your mind thinks your mind has a powerful effect on your skin i also workout and never have problems with my health but always had trouble with my stressful anger towards my parents God has helped me see the light amd the real answer look me up on instagram @bennikola or facebook benedikt nikola
I have it on my face and scalp. I use 2% Ketoconazole cream on my face and the shampoo for my scalp. It also helps if I shave every day, whether or not I need it. Stubble exacerbates the problem very much.
Hey, my thread was bumped! Well, coincidentally, I just went back to the doctor for my dermatitis and got a prescription for 2% Nizoral shampoo and it seems to be working. It does dry the hell out of my hair and make my scalp feel tight, though, so it seems to be a trade off.
Happily, I have found an all natural, inexpensive daily treatment that works. Twice a day, I apply apple cider vinegar to the problem areas of my face very thoroughly. As long as I do this daily as a maintenance, I see no symptoms whatsoever. I have been using this method for 2 years now. After several months of having it under control, I now typically just do it once (sometimes twice) a day and use white vinegar (not as effective, but less stinky). Again, no symptoms.
For my scalp, I use Nioxin Scalp Recovery medicated cleansing shampoo and conditioner. Been using it for 5 years. No symptoms, whatsoever. Before I had red sores along my hair line and dandruff like flakes.
