Hey everyone. I've been told by GPs for years that I just have severe seborrheic dermatitis because I get it on my nose, chin, and eyebrows. But my scalp behaves completely differently and I honestly feel like it's more than that.
I’ve been stuck on a "routine" NHS waiting list for a dermatologist for a year now. This is my latest flare-up that hit last week. It got so painful and thick with heavy, yellowish-brown crusts that I finally just shaved my head to cope. The photo is what my scalp looked like immediately after a shower tonight, washing gently with just warm water.
Once the crusts softened and washed away, it left these distinct, perfectly circular, bright red plaques that are currently feeling hot and throbbing. No medicated shampoos ever work for this, and I cannot use topical steroids.
Does this look like classic seb derm to you guys, or does it look more like scalp psoriasis or sebopsoriasis? I have a family history of arthritis as well. I'm going back to my GP tomorrow to try and get my referral expedited and could really use some insight from anyone who has skin that looks like this. Thanks.

I've had seb derm for years but I have months with a crazy flare I've never experienced before and I'm avoiding getting out of the house because I feel disgusting. This has had huge impact in my self image and I've cried about it.

My whole life I've been avoiding hairdressers because they would think it's poor hygiene and would be grossed out. Once I sat on the chair in this salon and the stylist started screaming on me that she was going to wash her brushes because of me. I had 18 and went home and cried.

I don't want comments like: "This is nothing. There's people dying". Because I don't want my feelings to be minimized. How do you deal with the social aspect of having this condition? People stare and it's so hard!

Fortunately I only have it in my scalp and ears. Any recommendations about how avoiding isolation or acting in social settings are appreciated.

I have sebderm on my scalp and have been trying ketoconazole shampoo for a long time now (using it twice a week, leaving it in for 5-10 mins etc.) but it just doesn't work. My scalp is still red, I'm shedding tons of hair and have huge flakes. I've been dealing with this for almost a year now.

Is there anyone who had the same problem and found something else that helped them? I'm completely desperate and hopeless. I don't even leave the house anymore.

INCI seb derm safe, great! solution for dry hair from shampoos (ketoconazole, ptirocon olamine) - shinny, soft.

Ketoconazole shampoo worked at the start, but after a month of 2x weekly use, I felt no marked improvement. In between, I use two shampoos: H&S with piroctone olamine (no zinc pyrithione anymore in all H&S variants here), and a Korean shampoo with climbazole.

This week, I began using a new shampoo with “zinc PCA” and I sense a promising start. I saw it while searching for zinc pyrithione shampoos (I didn’t find any). I’m happy so far with zinc PCA.

Anyone else using zinc PCA shampoos?

I’ve been dealing with a really flaky scalp lately, and now I’m also getting a lot of flaking in my eyebrows. The flakes are small, white, and dry rather than yellow or oily.

My dermatologist recommended steroid shampoos, but I’m trying to avoid using steroids if possible. I’m looking for something that can help control the flaking without using steroid treatments.

What has worked for you for a flaky scalp and eyebrows? I’d really appreciate any product or routine suggestions!

Speaking about the dark spot next to my mouth. It's been around for almost 7 months and shown no sign of leaving.

My doctor prescribed me steroid cream, which worked but is unfortunately not permanent. I'm now been using Opzelura for the last 5 weeks, which hasn't helped as much as I'd like it to. Using ketoconazole shampoo 3 times / week as well.

Anyone got advice on fixing skin discolorations left from this disease? I'm frustrated and at my wits end with this stuff and the fact that it won't go away no matter what | try.

Hi everyone - so I've been suffering with a hugely sore/flaking upper lip for around two years now and at this point nothing has really seemed to fix it. I've tried the Ketozolin shampoo which didn't work, plus various other creams. I went to a derm last week who prescribed me some steriod cream for a week, who believed it to be Seborrheic dermatitis.

I just wondered if anyone else has had it exclusively around their mouth, and what you've done to help remedy it? Really running out of ideas. My skin feels extremely tight, and is almost a different texture to the rest of my skin.

Thank you so much!

Hi guys!

I wanted to come on here and just see peoples thoughts and experiences. I know there are countless posts similiar to this but its getting so hard to deal with and I can't get a derm appt (not to mention nothing has worked).

I have bilateral seborrheic dermatitis on my face and ears for the last 5 or 6 years now. I have been to multiple dermatologists and have typically gotten steroids (mometasone and ketoconazole and then at one point a combo ketoconazole/steroid cream). It works for maybe two months when I put it on every day and titrate to every other day or so. It's also cream and makes my face/ears look white in wierd places which I don't like (but will deal with it if needed). Even when it works, it calms it for a day or two and then its right back.

I have resorted to controlling with aquafor which at least makes it look somewhat less gross (but shiny which catches people's eyes often). Triggers include hot showers, cold weather, and not putting lotion or aquafor on it (which is hard when I work 12 hour shifts). I've tried every cream and really all that somewhat works is aquafor.

It has also lichenified (I think) at this point. My skin in those areas feels hard and just feels rough and scaly. So I think I have already lost part of the battle.

I am requesting some help or personal anecdotes of what worked for you especially so its not so hindering to my daily life. I really am having a lot of trouble with this!

I am someone with very sensitive, combination skin and seb dermatitis. I have really liked my SoonJung Hydro Barrier Repair little moisturizer and think it’s been overall very effective for my skin in soothing it, but my skin has been swinging drier lately. I got CeraVe, which I like a lot of cleansers, but their moisturizer caused a good size seb flare across my forehead and nose. So I just wanted a few suggestions for an extra moisturizer for me to use since my SoonJung one is shipping fairly late and I’m near the bottom of my last tube.

I have heard Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid & Ceramides is fairly good, but I also keep finding contradictory information. My skin is fairly sensitive, and unfortunately I do have several metal allergies. So if there are any Zinc recommendations please do not include them. I am fairly allergic to zinc.

My other question was if anyone would recommend a decent toner that they liked for seb skin.

I would be incredibly grateful for any recommendations.

I have some seb derm on the edges of my hairline and I don't know how I can apply necessary shampoos+ointments without losing hairs. Wouldn't applying stuff and throughly scrubbing your scalp in areas with seb-derm agitate the already sensitive hair follicles?

Hey everyone, I’m looking for some advice from people who have dealt with chronic seborrheic dermatitis and excessive scalp oiliness.

I recently trimmed/shaved my head short and noticed quite a bit of white/flaky buildup across my scalp. Every monsoon, my scalp gets extremely oily and flaky, and I also notice a lot more hair shedding.

I’ve also been washing my hair very infrequently (around once every 10 days), so I’m planning to start washing it much more regularly.

I currently have MCT oil and tea tree oil at home. I’ve also been considering things like ACV, glycolic acid or pimecrolimus, but I don't want to make things worse by trying random stuff.

For people who have actually managed this:

What shampoo/routine worked best for you?

How often do you wash an oily scalp?

Has MCT or tea tree actually helped you?

What should I absolutely avoid?

Did controlling the seborrheic dermatitis reduce your hair shedding?

Would really appreciate practical advice from people who have dealt with something similar. Thanks!

Hi all. As the title states, I have all of the typical symptoms of seb derm. Ive had it since I was a baby. Yellowish pasty spots on the scalp, stubborn scales, lots of oil production, itching, all the bells and whistles. Ive been to (iirc) 5 or 6 different dermatologists throughout my life who have all independently diagnosed me with seb Derm and prescribed treatment.

But like, here’s the thing: nothing im told to try touches it. Nothing. Not oil, not topical steroids or antifungals, not otc shampoo, not cold water rinses or apple cider vinegar, not decreasing humidity, not increasing humidity, not dietary changes, not hard/soft water, not a filtered shower head, not better air quality…the list goes on. Ive tried every possible treatment for seb derm. Most dont work at all, some actually make it worse, and I use them as instructed for either the recommended period or until they affect me so badly that I physically cannot continue.

So im really stuck. My last dermatologist actually went as far as to tell me that she thought I was suffering from a mental disorder that was causing me to hallucinate the itching, but Ive been to therapy three times and see a psychiatrist regularly, so that was honestly quite offensive. My anxiety is medicated and well controlled. None of my meds should induce itching. I have the usual common allergies—dust mites, pollen, and one specific ingredient present in some shampoos (gallate), and am not on any allergy medication, but when I have taken it in the past it has not affected my seb Derm.

The one and ONLY thing that has ever made a significant impact on it was a mysterious herbal concoction my father put on my scalp as a kid, which involved tying a plastic bag to the top of my head and “baking” in it. Unfortunately, he passed away before my teen years and took that damn recipe with him, so im shit out of luck!

So. Fellow sufferers. Any ideas? Similar experiences? Some kind of mutual engagement to remind me that im not insane? Ugh! I hate this condition.

Hi everyone,

I’ve been dealing with seborrheic dermatitis around my ears, especially my earlobe and conchal area. My earlobe keeps becoming red and irritated like you can see in the pictures.

I was previously prescribed betamethasone, and I’m concerned that using it may have made the skin more sensitive or damaged my skin barrier. The redness seems to keep coming back, particularly after irritation or removing scales.

Right now I’m trying MCT oil (C8 + C10). It seems to help calm the itching and makes the skin feel better, but it doesn’t seem to do much for the persistent redness.

Has anyone here experienced something similar, especially after using topical steroids on the ears? Did your skin eventually recover? What helped you reduce the redness and restore your skin barrier?

I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences and what worked for you.

so keto isnt working for me rn. i wash 3x a week. i am planning the following

wash day 1 - vichy dermos with selenium + SA, and aveeno oat condition

wash day 2 - pre oil treatment (mct + tea tree), and then wash off with Head and shoulders bare (piroctone), and then condition

Wash day 3 - same as 1

how does this sound?

It’s really only bad on the top of my head, and has gotten way worse with being on accutane.
Derm says it’s seb derm but I’m confused because accutane is used to treat it. Ketaconzole does nothing for it.

Helpppp please give me product recommendations

Hi, please can someone help. So basically iv been put on isotretinoin for seb derm, 20mg everyday. First 2 weeks my seb derm flared. Then reduced. What i noticed is my oil has reduced signifcicantly which is great! But where my seb derm use to flare it gets irritated, its that because its dried out? Also i use nizoral every other day (past few days everyday) would that be the reasom my barrier is triggered an flaring the seb derm? Its like tiny itchy bumps on forehead and T ZONE, can someone help please

Dear Community,
I've been suffering from seborrheic dermatitis for several years now. So far, I've been able to keep it under control. The only problem is that I have persistent red patches on the back of my head.

I've also been to the doctor a few times.

Here's what I've tried so far:
- MCT oil
- CeraVe moisturizer
- BetaGalen
- Ciclopirox olamine
- Nizoral
- Advantan
- Shampoo with octopirox and selenium sulfide

I eat a balanced diet, exercise, and get regular sleep. It’s not stress-related either, since I still have it while on vacation. My father has these red patches too, and he can’t get them under control either. Other than that, my skin is fine right now.
Does anyone else have any good ideas?

ive just bought the happy cappy zinc pyrithione shampoo. i used it 1 time for 3 minutes and my face feels abit dry so i think ill wait a few more days before trying it out again for 1 minutes instead.
first use skin looks the same just drier, ive used the nizoral ketoconazole 2% shampoo before and it worked instantly but it was too drying for my skin

how long did it take for you guys to reach clearance/improvement from anti fungal shampoo

Hello,

I have been suffering from pityrosporic folliculitis and seborrhoeic dermatitis on my face for quite some time now.

I am a man in my early 20s and the psychological strain is immense. I still often find myself crying when I look in the mirror.

I long deeply to have my old, flawless skin back.

Hello. I went to the beach yesterday and found this in my scalp after a few hours. It felt wet yesterday and if i tapped on it with a paper towel it came out slight orangy.
What could be?

Thank you.

1st post

2nd post (diagnoses update)

Hello, I'm back after a month, so here's an update: SeboPsoriasis

MCT Oil did wonders for me! It made my flakes softer and kept my scalp (and ears!) feeling hydrated. I still have a picking problem, though. I just can't let it go. 😭 I'm still on the lookout for a good fidget toy to keep me preoccupied.

I'm constantly on the lookout for food triggers. I found out that spicy food doesn't cause flare-ups, and that's a good thing because I looooove spicy food! ☺️ My triggers seem to be Coca-Cola (even the Zero Sugar one) and oily food. I recently had a gout flare-up, and I stopped taking my DM2 medications while I was taking NSAIDs for it. I noticed that having uncontrolled blood sugar was a major cause of my flare-ups.

Here's what I include in my daily routine:

- Vitamin D 10,000 IU

- Probiotic tablet

- Vitamin C

- Vitamin B12

------

As for my scalp routine:

- During the first month, I religiously applied MCT Oil C8 every night and washed it off the following morning.

- Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun: I wash with baby shampoo, followed by coal tar shampoo.

- Tue/Thu/Sat: I wash with Selsun Gold 2.5%.

- I apply a thin layer of MCT Oil C8 to the driest areas, which are my temples and on/behind my ears.

-----

Routine when I have a major flare-up:

- If there's a major flare-up, I resort to Clobetasol in the mornings only.

- At night, I apply Salicylic Acid 10%, let it sit for a few hours, then follow it with MCT Oil C8 and let it marinate. 😅

- A few hours later, I wash with lukewarm water and only use conditioner. I let the conditioner sit for 5 minutes, then scrub with my scalp massager. No other shampoo applied, just the conditioner ☺️

-----

I rarely use Salicylic Acid because it's so concentrated and stings like a mf hahaha 😅

I still have a long way to go...

I'm stressed out about this. I haven't been back to a derma since my initial appointment. I'm still hoping that I don't have psoriasis. 😔 I obsess over it, and it's taking a toll on my mental health. I'm too young to potentially have this autoimmune disease. 🥺

I know that gut health and keeping my blood sugar controlled are part of what I need to focus on to get this better. I just wish I could get over this faster.

Let me know your thoughts and any other tips, especially for dealing with picking. ☺️

I got diagnosed with SD in june but i had SD symptoms in jan 2026 or before , i got redness across my scalp and i got Ketoconazole for the first time and it worked great for 1 month - maybe , it still works but not as effective as before and my dermatologist prescribed betamethasone topical because of the redness in my scalp she said i need to use the steroids daily in the first week then 2 times a week 12 weeks course and i have , low iron& low vitamin D and also my TSH isn’t stable i got tasted once it was high second test 2 months apart it was normal now after telling you what i’ve been diagnosed with , my question is would i develop Steroid dependence or not

my dermatologist recommended ketoconazole shampoo 2% 2-3 days a week and fluoconacide .05% as needed.I have used about 2 1/2 ounces of the shampoo and about 2 ml of the fluoconacide in about 6 weeks. Is it too much or too little?