Seborrheic Dermatitis - What Is It And How Can You Treat It?

by Kristof Alentijns

What is seborrheic dermatitis?

Called eczema seborrhoicum or seborrheic dermatitis, is a skin condition. It often causes red spots and yellow crusts on our skull, body and face. It is often confused with dandruff because of the similar scabs, but it is definitely a different skin condition.

Seborrheic dermatitis often occurs in places with many sebaceous glands, which produce oil. It is not a contagious skin condition, but unfortunately often a chronic one. Conventional treatments can certainly be effective, but often contain harmful ingredients (including cortisone) that can be harmful to our skin and health in the long term.

Seborrheic dermatitis is a complex skin condition, often requiring multiple rounds of treatment to control symptoms, even with conventional treatment methods. Natural treatments can also suppress these symptoms, and are much less harmful to your health and skin.

Unfortunately, it is also a skin condition that can often occur in babies and small children. It is often caused by an overproduction of oils by the skin. As a reaction, yellow crusts and red spots may appear.

Seborrheic dermatitis is unfortunately often a chronic condition, which means that you will have to take this into account in your daily routine. At the bottom of this article, we give you some practical tips on how to deal with the annoying symptoms of this skin condition in a natural way.

What are the symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis?

Seborrheic dermatitis is often accompanied by the following symptoms:

  •   Yellow spots on your skull, hair, eyebrows, beard or moustache
  •   Red skin
  •   Thicker scabs of skin covered with yellow spots on the face, chest, arms, ears, groin area
  • Itchy skin

What causes seborrheic dermatitis?

The real cause is not known, but is probably related to your genes and hormones. These factors can aggravate seborrheic dermatitis:

  • Stress
  • A weakened immune system
  • Cold and dry weather
  •   Allergic reaction to drugs

How can you treat seborrheic dermatitis naturally?

We recommend the following product that you can easily make yourself. It is a blend of tea tree oil with coconut oil. Mix a few drops (5-6) of tea tree oil with 100 ml of coconut oil for optimal results. First apply a small amount of tea tree oil to your skin via a cotton swab and see if you have an allergic reaction within 24 hours. If you don't get an allergic reaction, you can apply this natural remedy daily to the areas where you have symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis.

The antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties of tea tree oil make it a good potential treatment for seborrheic dermatitis. The consistency of coconut oil in combination with its antibacterial properties make coconut oil a very suitable carrier oil to mix with tea tree oil. Never apply tea tree oil pure to the skin, but always mix it with a carrier oil.

Will these natural treatments make my seborrheic dermatitis disappear forever?

Unfortunately not. Seborrheic dermatitis is very often a chronic condition, so you will have to take this into account in your daily routine. External factors such as stress and seasonal influences can also have an impact on your symptoms.

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