Skin
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Greasy, red, flaky patches on the scalp, face, or chest — driven by an overgrowth of a common skin yeast, worse with cold weather and stress.
Also known as: Seborrheic eczema, Seborrhea
📝 At a glance
Likely root causes: Overgrowth of the yeast *Malassezia*, which is normally present on the skin; Naturally oily skin, which gives the yeast more to feed on; Cold, dry weather, which often worsens flares.
First thing to try: Wash the scalp with a tea tree oil shampoo or add a few drops to a mild shampoo to help control the yeast.
See a doctor if: Flaking or redness that doesn't improve with gentle home care
🔎 Start with the cause
Lasting relief rarely comes from covering a symptom. First find what is feeding the problem, change what you can, and then help the body do what it was designed to do — heal.
Likely root causes
- Overgrowth of the yeast *Malassezia*, which is normally present on the skin
- Naturally oily skin, which gives the yeast more to feed on
- Cold, dry weather, which often worsens flares
- Stress and fatigue
- A weakened immune systemYour body's built-in defense team that fights off germs and helps you heal. More → or certain neurological conditions, which raise the risk
Change what you can
- Wash the scalp with a tea tree oil shampoo or add a few drops to a mild shampoo to help control the yeast.
- Rinse with diluted apple cider vinegar after shampooing to help rebalance the scalp.
- Apply a thin layer of coconut oil to flaky patches to loosen scale before gently washing it away.
- Keep affected skin clean but avoid over-scrubbing, which can worsen irritation.
- Support your gut and skin with probiotic-rich foods.
- Manage stress, since flares often track with tense or exhausting stretches.
- Avoid heavy, oily creams on affected areas, which can feed the yeast.
🩺 When to see a doctor
- Flaking or redness that doesn't improve with gentle home care
- Widespread patches covering much of the scalp, face, or body
- Signs of skin infection — spreading redness, warmth, pus
- Flares appearing alongside unexplained fatigue or other new symptoms
🌿 The seven pathways to health
Seven pathways for your seborrheic dermatitis — tap the circle to check one off (saved on your device), or ask Remy for help.
“Disease is an effort of nature to free the system from conditions that result from a violation of the laws of health... In case of sickness 1cause should be ascertained, 2go to work intelligently to remove the disease. 3Unhealthful conditions should be changed, 4wrong habits corrected. 5Then nature is to be assisted in her effort 6to expel impurities and 7to re-establish right conditions in the system.”
🌿 Overview
Seborrheic dermatitis brings greasy, flaky, sometimes red patches to oily areas of skin, especially the scalp and face. It's tied to an overgrowth of a common skin yeast and tends to flare with cold weather and stress. Gentle, consistent cleansing and calming care keep most people comfortable long-term.
Seborrheic dermatitis is a common, chronic skin condition that shows up as greasy, red, flaky patches, most often on the scalp, face (especially around the eyebrows, nose creases, and hairline), chest, and other oily areas of the skin. On the scalp it's a close cousin of ordinary dandruff, but seborrheic dermatitis tends to bring more redness, greasiness, and irritation along with the flakes. It's driven largely by an overgrowth of a yeast called *Malassezia*, which lives naturally on everyone's skin but multiplies more in people prone to this condition, especially where skin is oily. Cold, dry weather, stress, fatigue, and a weakened immune systemYour body's built-in defense team that fights off germs and helps you heal. More → can all make it flare. It tends to wax and wane over months or years rather than clear up for good, but gentle, consistent care keeps most people comfortable. It's distinct from psoriasis (which tends to be thicker and more silvery-scaled) and from the temporary 'cradle cap' seen in babies, though the two share the same underlying yeast.
Common signs
- Greasy, flaky white or yellow scales on the scalp, eyebrows, or nose creases
- Red, irritated skin under the flakes
- Itching, especially on the scalp
- Patches on the chest or other oily areas of skin
- Flares that worsen in cold, dry weather or during stress
⭐ Community-ranked natural supports
Vote ▲ on everything that helped you, and ▼ on anything you tried that didn't — the ranking updates live. Tap 💬 to share what worked, so others can find it faster.
How the numbers work: this is a weighted voting system — every published book or article recommending a remedy counts as an endorsement vote, and your ▲/▼ counts too. Not medical advice. *Ties are broken by our editor score (sources, safety, simplicity, cost, lifestyle fit, eight-laws alignment).
🍽️ Eating to help
Food is one of the gentlest medicines — small, steady changes help most.
Favor these
- Whole, plant-based foods and plenty of water
- Probiotic-rich foods to support overall skin and gut balance
- Foods rich in zinc and B vitamins
Go easy on
- Sugar and refined carbohydrates, which some notice worsen flares
- Excess dietary yeast and heavily processed foods in stubborn cases
No diet cures seborrheic dermatitis outright, but steady whole-food nourishment and good hydration support calmer skin.
⚖️ Good to know
- This is a distinct condition from psoriasis and from infant cradle cap — treatments differ.
- Persistent scratching can lead to skin breakdown and infection.
- Very widespread or resistant flares can signal an underlying immune issue and deserve a doctor's look.
- Essential oils like tea tree should be diluted; test on a small area first.
⚕️ What a doctor may offerConventional treatments for this condition — for your information.Show ▾
RemedyRank's heart is natural healing — and honest information. Here is what conventional medical care commonly involves for this condition, listed to inform, never to promote. Decisions about treatment belong with you and your own physician.
Treatment uses antifungal and anti-inflammatory products to control the yeast and calm irritation, usually needing ongoing maintenance.
Commonly offered
- Antifungal shampoos and creams (ketoconazole, selenium sulfide, zinc pyrithione)–
- Mild topical corticosteroids for flare-ups–
- Topical calcineurin inhibitors for sensitive facial skin–
- Regular maintenance washing to prevent recurrence–
Worth knowing
- Long-term steroid use on the face can thin the skin — use only as directed.
- This condition tends to recur, so ongoing gentle maintenance is normal, not a treatment failure.
- Distinguish from psoriasis and infant cradle cap, which are managed differently.
👍/👎 shares whether a treatment helped you — community experience, not medical advice. For full professional details, see the sources under “Learn more” below.
📜 A note from history
Gentle cleansing washes and plant oils have long been used to loosen scale and calm irritated, flaky skin.
📚 Learn more
Sources for further reading. These open in a new tab.
💚 Was this page helpful?
A quick tap helps us improve these guides. Saved on your device in this preview.