Seborrheic Eczema: Causes and Natural Treatment (8 Tips)

A itchy scalp with flakes that look a lot like dandruff? Red spots near your eyebrows or nose that won’t go away? There’s a good chance you’re suffering from seborrheic eczema. This common skin condition can manifest itself in many ways — from mild and slightly annoying to persistent and downright annoying. Seborrheic eczema most commonly occurs on the scalp, hairline, eyebrows, and the skin around the nose and ears.

What helps against this chronic skin condition? Although seborrheic eczema cannot be cured, with the right approach you can do a lot to alleviate the symptoms. In this article we dive into the causes, recognizable symptoms and the natural treatment of seborrheic eczema. Plus: 8 practical tips — and why that popular bottle of Head and Shoulders can actually confuse your scalp.

What exactly is seborrheic eczema?

Seborrheic eczema is a chronic skin condition that belongs to skin diseases. This form of eczema mainly occurs on the oilier areas of your skin, such as the scalp, eyebrows, the folds around your nose and ears. Where sebaceous glands are most active. With seborrheic eczema you suffer from redness, flaking and sometimes itching or a burning sensation. What makes it extra confusing: scalp eczema looks like dandruff, but it is not - and therefore requires a different treatment.

Quiet periods often alternate with periods in which the symptoms are more active. Even in the less active phases it is very important to choose simple, effective skin care and mild, organic hair products.

Is seborrheic eczema contagious?

Many people are afraid that seborrheic dermatitis is contagious. The answer is simple: seborrheic eczema is not contagious. This is because it is caused by a combination of internal factors: your own skin type, sebum production, immune system and sometimes a slightly too present skin resident called Malassezia yeast. Nothing that is contagious from the outside.

A mild form of seborrheic eczema can also occur in babies, this is called baby mountain mentioned. Your little one will not be bothered by this and in most cases it will go away on its own after a while.

Symptoms to recognize seborrheic eczema

Seborrheic dermatitis can be subtle or very obvious - depending on how sensitive your skin is to the underlying triggers. What you usually see or feel:

• Flakes on the face and on the scalp.
• Redness, sometimes with small bumps or blisters.
• White greasy flakes to even yellow crusts (especially on the scalp).
• Itching, sometimes severe - with a pulling or burning sensation.
• Recurring spots, usually the head, eyebrows or nose.
• Worsening due to stress, cold or dry air.

Do you doubt whether your complaints are the result of seborrheic eczema? A dermatologist can quickly determine this. Sometimes additional research is done, such as an allergy test or analysis of flakes for yeasts or fungi.

Seborrheic eczema scalp

The scalp is the favorite breeding ground for seborrheic eczema. The symptoms are very similar to persistent dandruff, but with more redness, itching and sometimes even mild hair loss. Want to know more? Then also check out our blog about eczema on the scalp.

Seborrheic eczema eyebrows

Do you suffer from flakes between or under your eyebrows? This could be seborrheic eczema. The skin often feels tight and dry, despite the fact that this is a more oily skin area.

Seborrheic eczema nose

Your nose and the area around it are also a classic target for this skin condition. Here you will often see redness, flaking and sometimes bumps that look like clown eczema - but the cause and treatment are slightly different than with seborrheic eczema.

What causes seborrheic eczema?

Science is still not sure what exactly causes seborrheic eczema, but it is suspected that it is caused by a combination of factors, including:

• Overactive sebum production
• A disturbed skin barrier
• Overgrowth of the yeast Malassezia
• Chronic, mild inflammation of the skin
• Excessive or aggressive skin care (think frequent washing or wrong shampoo)

These factors make the skin more sensitive to inflammation, especially in places where sebum production is highest: scalp, eyebrows and the skin folds next to the nose. Seborrheic eczema is therefore a skin disease with a complex origin, but fortunately also clear starting points for treatment.

The relationship of eczema with stress (cortisol)

Stress is notorious in the skin world. When you’re tense, your cortisol levels rise, which weakens your skin barrier, fuels inflammation, and affects sebum production. Your skin is a perfect example of where you can read stress: it reacts directly to hormonal fluctuations that disrupt your immune system and skin balance. For people prone to eczema (or psoriasis), this can be just enough to get things going — or worsen them. And if that’s not enough, seborrheic eczema itself can become a source of stress, because of the itching and the way it looks. Breathe in, breathe out.

Other provoking factors

In addition to stress, the following factors can also trigger or worsen seborrheic eczema:

• Cold or damp weather conditions
• Excessive sweating (think: gym)
• Hormonal fluctuations (these can disrupt your sebum production)
• A reduced immune system
• Some medications, such as Amlodipine
• Hormone ointment side effects
• And yes… nutrition can also have an influence — more on that later.

Seborrheic eczema treatment – ​​what helps?

The treatment of seborrheic eczema can be roughly divided into two ways. You can suppress the symptoms with medication, or you can opt for a natural approach that focuses on recovery from within.

Doctors often prescribe ketoconazole (an antifungal), corticosteroids, or antimicrobial shampoos. These medicines can provide temporary relief, but do not address the underlying imbalance. In fact, after stopping, the symptoms often return — sometimes more severe than before. And with long-term use, these agents can actually make your skin more sensitive.

That is why it is so important to strengthen the skin's protective mechanism with natural products for atopic skin.

Natural Treatment for Seborrheic Dermatitis

A natural treatment focuses on restoring the skin barrier, balancing sebum, and avoiding triggers. That means mild shampoos, restorative creams without perfume or alcohol - and a little patience.

Your washing routine also counts: use lukewarm water (not hot) and avoid aggressive, foaming products. A classic worth trying: an oatmeal bath. This softens the skin and can reduce itching due to the anti-inflammatory properties of oats.

Other natural remedies such as lemon juice, coconut oil or tea tree oil are circulating widely on the internet — but don't experiment with them haphazardly. Even natural ingredients can irritate the skin.

Finally, hydration is essential in a seborrheic eczema treatment. Be careful with creams that are too greasy, which can close off the skin; they are counterproductive. Want to know more about a safe and natural treatment? Check out our best eczema face tips.

8 Tips for a Natural Seborrheic Eczema Treatment

1. Choose the right seborrheic eczema shampoo.

A good seborrheic dermatitis shampoo is gentle, without harsh sulfates, alcohol or synthetic fragrances. Avoid shampoos like Head and Shoulders — while they target dandruff, they contain ingredients that can irritate sensitive scalps.

What works better: a shampoo bar for dry scalp with hemp seed oil. Hemp soothes, helps the skin recover and supports a healthy sebum balance — exactly what you need for flakes, itching and dandruff. A mild shampoo is therefore an essential part of an effective seborrheic dermatitis treatment, especially if you suffer from your scalp.

2. Apple cider vinegar for itching and hair loss

Seborrheic dermatitis on the scalp often causes more than just a few flakes. The increased sebum production irritates your skin and makes it susceptible to inflammation - which causes that uncontrollable itch. And scratching? Not a good idea. This damages the skin and your hair follicles, which can seriously disrupt hair growth. It is therefore not surprising that itching and hair loss often occur together with this skin condition.

Did you know apple cider vinegar for hair loss [apple cider vinegar hair loss] and itching can help surprisingly well? This natural remedy has a mild antibacterial effect and restores the pH value of your scalp. This inhibits the overgrowth of Malassezia, the yeast that is related to the cause of seborrheic eczema. Apple cider vinegar soothes inflammation and reduces itching. At the same time, it provides a clean, fresh base without drying out your scalp. Win-win, also for your hair.

Here you can read more about a treat itchy scalp naturally.

3. Use a natural facial cream

Creams containing ketoconazole inhibit the growth of Malassezia yeast and can provide temporary relief from seborrheic eczema on the face. But be careful: these medicated creams are not intended for long-term use. When used daily, they can even dry out or irritate the skin.

A better alternative in a seborrheic eczema treatment is a natural, nourishing cream that strengthens the skin barrier and helps to calm inflammation. Choose a natural remedy for eczema without alcohol, perfume or synthetic preservatives — because these are the ingredients that can trigger your sensitive skin.

4. Adjust your diet (without overdoing it)

Seborrheic dermatitis is not a food allergy — but that doesn’t mean that diet doesn’t play a role. Certain eating habits can stimulate inflammatory processes in your body, which is not good for your skin. So choose foods that do support your skin, such as omega-3 fatty acids (e.g. from oily fish or linseed), fermented foods with probiotics, and lots of vegetables and fiber. These help keep your intestinal flora and skin health in balance.

Are you unsure whether your skin complaints are related to nutrition? Then you can consider a nutritional test, such as an elimination diet or an intolerance test. This way you can discover what your body responds well to — or less well to.

5. Minimize your skincare routine

For you skincare routine steps applies to seborrheic eczema: less is more. An overloaded skincare routine with many active ingredients can actually throw your skin out of balance. Give your skin a rest and choose a few pure, natural products that hydrate, soothe and protect.

6. Gentle cleansing (and not in the morning)

Je cleanse skin with oil is a gentle method that is even suitable for sensitive skin. The right facial oil removes dirt without affecting the skin barrier — and at the same time leaves a protective layer.

At night, your skin forms a natural acid mantle that protects it from external influences. By not cleansing in the morning, you maintain that balance. Instead, use a moisturizing facial spray as a mild toner to refresh your skin. This way you start the day clean, hydrated and balanced.

7. Salicylic acid and probiotics in skin care products

Salicylic acid against sebum and flakes

An exfoliant like salicylic acid might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you have sensitive skin. But in a mild facial peeling this ingredient helps to gently loosen dead skin cells, making your skin look fresher and breathe better. It also regulates sebum production — and excess sebum is the favorite breeding ground for the aforementioned Malassezia yeast. A exfoliating serum with salicylic acid is therefore definitely worth trying for seborrheic eczema - provided it is mild and without drying alcohol.

Probiotics for a strong skin barrier

Probiotics (as in our best hyaluronic acid serum) has a proven effect on the well-being and health of the skin. They support the skin's natural defenses, stimulate cell renewal and help inflammation to heal faster. For example, probiotics can help control seborrheic eczema.

Our chamomile toner also contains probiotics. Not only does it chamomile water for eczema a calming effect - in combination with probiotics it immediately provides a strong barrier function. Protection, recovery and rest in one. Curious about what a toner actually does? Then read: What is a toner face?

8. Manage your triggers: from stress to seasonal changes

Seborrheic eczema is sensitive to all kinds of external stimuli. Long-term stress increases your cortisol level and works as fuel for skin inflammation. So everything that relaxes also helps your skin: from breathing to walking, from sleeping to simply doing nothing.

Seasonal changes, dry air and sudden temperature changes can also aggravate eczema. Think about humidifying the air, ventilating and a skin care routine that changes with the season. And don't forget your medication: some agents, such as Amlodipine, can trigger skin problems. Are you in doubt? Always consult your doctor.

Sensitive skin deserves a gentle approach, instead of strong horse remedies. Seborrheic dermatitis may be a stubborn skin condition, but with the right treatment, natural products and a little skin logic, you can really soothe your skin. Listen to your body, skip the aggressive remedies, and give your skin what it needs: rest, nourishment, and attention.

i https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18033062/