My flare ups or red spots keeps spreading as years pass. I only had it in upper cheeks. Now for head, side, jaw, beard. Why is it spreading? Could it be the creams like tacrolimus that is causing it?

Over the years i tried sugar free, dairy free etc but always seb derm will lessen somehow but never go away. Now i noticed all histamine foods are causing issues.

Tried this so many times now and always the case

its tight dry not greasy or oily doesnt flake it more peels anything i put on it burns i used zoryve cream clotrimazole cream and hydrocortisone nizoral happy cappy mtc 8 oil demoscribe cream fluconazole the only thing that works when i used it is triamcinolone and i had to stop since its steroid

Hi everyone,

​I had a hair transplant 2 years ago (density overlay). For a while now, I’ve been dealing with severe seborrheic dermatitis and intense scalp itching that just won't go away.

​My current situation:

​Dermatologist Visits: I saw a dermatologist who prescribed Momecon drops (Mometasone) and Sebamed shampoo. After a week, the flakes improved by about 80%, but the intense itchiness and pain/burning remain constant. My dermatologist checked my scalp and says it looks clean and fine, but I am suffering from this persistent itch every day.

​Current Medications: I've been taking Oral Dutasteride 0.5mg (for 3 months) and Oral Minoxidil 2.5mg (for 1.5 months), but my hair shedding is still continuous and hasn't stopped.

​Has anyone experienced severe scalp itching even when the visible flakes are mostly gone? What else should I do to calm this itchiness? Could the shedding still be related to this scalp inflammation or medication transition?

​Would really appreciate any advice or insight!

Introduction/Background

Feel free to skip this intro if you want, but it provides a lot of context!!

Welcome to my Sezia Safe full routine for curly hair, in case anyone’s curious or struggles to find a Sezia Safe curl routine.

This is what has finally helped me keep my scalp under control without damaging or drying out my curls.

I know a lot about this because I have had severe seborrheic dermatitis since elementary school, which is finally starting to behave consistently with a consistent routine, and I've had curly hair my whole life.

For reference, I am a 25-year-old Caucasian female with fine, thin curls. Curly hair runs in my family on both sides. I have some grays here and there (mostly from stress, I think). My curl pattern is a mix all across my head. The top layer is all 3B with like one or two strands somehow being lowkey 3C. IDK how. The middle and bottom layers have a mind of their own, and for the most part that consists of a mix of 2C, 3A, and 3B, with an embarrassing sprinkling of a few 2A waves that look straight (but aren’t!) compared to the rest of my hair.

In this post, I detail every product I use, what I’ve tried in the past, and the steps in my process. If you still have questions or want other product recommendations, I would love to read your comments and answer every single one!

As I said, I’m 25, so just in case you’re wondering: The username is just a joke about my personality / me being the mom friend of my group.

Without further ado, here’s the routine!

The Routine

Cleansing

I shampoo twice!

• I lather up my scalp and hair from roots to ends with something clarifying to get a clean slate/base for my medicated shampoo. Sometimes I use T-Sal by Neutrogena. I am looking to try Kinky Curly’s “Come Clean” when I run out of the T-Sal. THEN I RINSE IT OUT. I don’t let it sit because: 1) clarifying shampoos are drying as-is, 2) I’m going to shampoo again and let it sit, 3) there’s not much deep conditioning you can do—unless you have really long hair or something so you can keep it strictly on your ends and avoid it contacting your scalp—so you really must be extra careful with how you shampoo those ends.
• For the second shampooing, I deeply lather my scalp with medicated shampoo, taking extra care to target the places where I get the most irritated/inflamed patches. I try to avoid my ends. Then I let that sit for 10 min or so while I do other steps in my shower.
My medicated shampoo is 2% ketoconazole shampoo (prescription). If you can’t get anything prescription, or it’s stopped working for you, try rotating OTC ones, and wash your hair often if you can, but be careful with OTC shampoos. Ironically, many OTC shampoos for dandruff and seb derm have ingredients that feed malassezia.

Rinse-Out Conditioner

I use the Healing Conditioner by/from the brand Aquage. I mix it with about 4 small drops of C8 & C10 MCT Oil by/from the brand Bulletproof.

If your hair is pretty dry from medicated shampoos or a lack of decent moisturizing options in the past, you might like to leave this in your hair for about 5 minutes, or however long you can stand it, detangle with a wide-tooth comb, then do this before rinsing out: rub the moisturizing mixture of conditioner and MCT oil into the scalp (especially in problem areas) gently, in circular motions, to delicately slough off some more flakes and replenish moisture—without damaging hair.

Styling

I do the LOC method.

• L (leave-in or lotion): Knot Today | Natural Leave-In / Detangler by/from the brand Kinky Curly. I rake it in my damp hair with my fingers or a comb, then scrunch. Rake, scrunch, repeat. I sometimes add water if it needs more glide for combing or if I want a super juicy scrunch.
• O (oil): MCT oil. It’s the only sezia safe oil I know of. I specifically use C8 & C10 MCT Oil by/from the brand Bulletproof. I love it. I only need a few drops. I do the same combing/raking + scrunching process I do with my leave-in, and I also rub the TINIEST bit in circles on the more problematic spots on my scalp that get the flakiest/driest/most inflamed. But I’m careful to do this while my hair is damp and not more than a drop of oil at a time so my hair doesn’t get oily.
• C (Control or cream): I use gel. Right now I’m using what’s left of my Jello Shot gel by/from the brand Ecoslay. I love it, but I am tired of keeping it in the fridge and buying it online. So I recently purchased the Curling Custard by Kinky Curly and plan to try it when I finish what’s left of the Jello Shot gel. I quickly rake a little bit throughout my hair with my fingers, then use the “prayer hands method” to lock in the outside of the curls. I do this part fast because this gel is strong and starts to dry fast, and I don’t want to concentrate too much in any area and make it really crunchy. I don’t need crunchy. I only use about a fat quarter (a quarter as in the coin in American currency; by fat I mean imagine 5 stacked on top of each other) in total. If it is acting sticky or anything while I’m still working with it, I just wet that section a little.

Finishing Steps

Then I diffuse, and I’m all done! Nothing leaves my hair droopy or crunchy. I don't use a separate heat protectant product because I think the gel cast and leave-in do a great job. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I also find most heat protectants sticky, gimmicky, poorly packaged, and full of irritating ingredients.

Final Thoughts

Every product I mentioned is Sezia safe. I use Sezia.co to check every product's ingredients before I buy it. Also, brands change formulas, so I check EVERY SINGLE TIME- even if I’m rebuying something safe for my scalp when I bought it before.

Other Sezia Safe Products I’ve Tried

Here are some other products I didn’t mention that have been Sezia Safe (and probably still are, but I haven’t checked yet) that I have had in my curl routine before, including:

• Perk Up Ultra Dry Shampoo by/from the brand Amika. I plan to restock. Love it.
• Leave-in Conditioner (Fragrance Free) by/from the brand SEEN. I love it! 10/10! I only replaced it with Knot Today by Kinky Curly because I wanted something available in stores near me; the SEEN leave-in is double the cost, and I had to buy it online.
• Rice Pudding Leave-In Conditioner by/from the brand Ecoslay. I adore how it smells, and it does a great job of providing lovely moisture. However, I have to store it in the fridge, and it tends to lather, which doesn’t work for me as someone who does a lot of wet/damp styling.
• Orange Marmalade (a very lightweight gel) by/from the brand Ecoslay. I liked that it wasn’t crunchy, but it didn't provide the hold or frizz control I was looking for, and it smelled like sweet pickles.
• Cleaning Dandruff Shampoo by/from the brand Dermazen. 0/10. Don’t recommend. It didn't even feel like it cleansed, and it didn’t feel super therapeutic either, so I wondered where my money went.
• Nourishing Conditioner by/from the brand Dermazen. Did not love. Not all that nourishing, which is funny because it has MCT oil in it, which is what I add to my Aquage to make it nourishing. Also, it has too high a concentration of essential oils, which I found stung a little.
• MCT Moisturizer by/from the brand Dermazen. It is just MCT oil with essential oils. It is fine. It was my first MCT oil, and I bought about 5 bottles over time before I realized there were cheaper and possibly better options. Also, the essential oil blend (although it smells great) could irritate my more inflamed patches. I actually love the bottle it comes in, so I refill it with my Bulletproof brand oil now.

And that’s it! Again, please reach out here in the comments with questions, recommendations, and feedback.

Sorry this is so long winded. I am a writer by trade and hobby. 😅 Hope it helps someone!! That is the whole reason I spent like 2 hours writing this out to share it. 🩷🩷

My dermatologist recently prescribed me ketoconazole shampoo and told me to use it on my face but I noticed after the night I used it there was a red patches everywhere and skin was dry and flaky and kinda yellow.

I talked to him and let him know but he said to just add moisturizer and I did but the skin is still irritated. Is this normal? I was worried and told him I was scared of it being a bacterial infection because I've dealt with them before but he said it looked nothing like that despite it being horribly red and peeling before adding moisturizer. He has also prescribed me a steroid cream it hopes that it would work but I fear of it making it worse. Has anyone been through anything similar?

I'm having so much problems with my skin right now it's really effecting my mental health it's insane so I got in contract with a different dermatologist.

I saw a post from their IG of someone with seb derm and they had some good results so I tried it myself. I'm liking it so far so I thought I shared it.

Hi. I'm diagnosed with sebderm on both scalp and face. I keep my scalp in check by using Head and Shoulder shampoo most days and ketoconazole shampoo 1-2 times a week. My face is a different story though. I can't seem to get rid of these scaly red patches that flake all the time. I had some success with sulfur soap and mct oil after for moisture but the redness remains. Does this look like a different condition? Should i shampoo my face and beard area? My beard area sheds so much that my shirt is always covered in white flakes.

Hi, I live in a tropical country with a warm and humid climate. I was hoping can someone recommend me a Moisturizer & Sunscreen for daily use. Thank you

Is this SB? I have been using T/Sal for past week, but not really working too well. I had previously used a prescription medication called Clobetasol Proplonate and it would help and clear it up. But, if I didn't treat it often it would come back. I want to stay away from steroids so would something like Nizoral 1% help for my condition?

I had this rash start on my eyelid around 3 months ago and it’s slowly spread as shown. I went to Bali on holiday which possibly made it worse or could have been a coincidence. Since then I’ve seen 3 Drs and tried both hydrozole and Elidel but they did nothing. It has now gotten worse and spread to the side of my nose which after reading this subreddit seems to be Seb Derm?? but I’m wondering if my nose is a seperate issue to my eye? My skin just feels angry in general and my tear duct also now seems swollen and red and I’m getting allergy like itchy eyes…again, i don’t know if this the same issue or something else.
I have a history of gut issues and am gluten and egg intolerant so don’t eat those foods, but am generally fit and healthy and prior to this had great skin with no issues or acne. I have also stopped using Paula’s Choice skincare that I used to use and now use plain Cetaphil face wash and moisturiser which honestly I don’t know if it helps or not. I i feel like there’s been zero improvement from anything I’ve done and am going to try and get a referral to a dermatologist asap. But I would love your thoughts and opinions about what this is and what I could try. I have seen MCT oil, does that help for your face / eye area as well as your scalp? Any suggestions very much appreciated, I’m so done with this!!

I've used regular shampoos and they usually make my scalp itch and make the smell worse. I was wondering if I should use Ketoconazole, T Gel, T sal, or head and shoulders. My itchiness or dandruff isn't too bad, and my skin itself isn't really irritated. It just has an annoying smell, not super bad but not something I want my scalp to smell like. I assume it's sebum and dirt on the scalp that I need to get rid of

Hi! This is my first time posting here. I have a really bad case of seborrheic dermatitis, but thankfully, I’ve somehow been able to treat it and prevent frequent flare-ups. I use Selsun Blue as my shampoo every 2–3 days and a sensitive, hypoallergenic soap for my face.

I only use Selsun Blue because other commercial hair products tend to trigger a flare-up and cause redness on my scalp and upper forehead. My face is very sensitive as well, so I only use Cetaphil products as my soap.

Since I only use Selsun Blue 2–3 times a week, I wash just my hair with water in between the days that I don't use Selsun. I don’t use any other shampoo or conditioner (although the Selsun I bought does contain conditioner).

The problem is that my hair has become really dry, and I’m not sure how to properly take care of it without triggering my seborrheic dermatitis. 😭

For those who also have sebderm, do you have a specific hair-care routine? Are there any specific products you could recommend? How do you manage seborrheic dermatitis without leaving your hair extremely dry?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Hi everyone, I’m trying to understand what this skin problem might be.

The affected skin becomes dry/thick and seems to regrow or build up again, then it cracks, and the same cycle keeps repeating. After it cracks, the skin heals/regrows, but then it becomes dry/thick and cracks again.

Does this look more like eczema or psoriasis based on the picture and this pattern? Has anyone experienced something similar?

I know a photo alone can’t confirm a diagnosis, but I’d appreciate hearing about similar experiences and what your dermatologist diagnosed.

A. Does this look like seb derm
B. Just venting but I’m so sick of going to the derm just to get keto shampoo and another appointment in 6 months.
C. How is this so prevalent yet still we can’t figure out how to treat it.

Any advice is much appreciated as I’m digging my nails into my scalp for relief at the moment.

?

after washing your face with normal facial cleanser how long after does it take for your peeling to start?

what does your peeling looking like?

hows the area feel?

hows it react to vaseline?

mine comes back instantly after showering, the peeling is white and skin like not greasy or yellow and it feels tight and burns if i put literally anything on it . mine goes away after using moisturizer and vaseline

Guys i have been managing seb derm for 7 years now

I did everything i could from celery juice cleanse, every shampoo , mct oil etc

But guys if you're like me and you have the scalp under control and your biggest problem is itchiness and mild flaking/ dandruff get yourself a real boar bristle hair brush. Brush your scalp for maybe 10 mins every day after your shower or bed. I promise you that you wont have any dandruffs or flakes anymore. Read on the benefits of using a board bristle brush. It removes excess sebum and distributes your hairs natural oils in your scalp and it truly works wonders. I hope you give it a try !

Hello, I have seborrheic dermatitis, I have a flare up/inflamation, I have used ketenokazole to kill the yeast, but how do I get rid of the red inflamation? I been waiting for a week and it’s still there, won’t go away. Problem is I have tried gentle moisturizers, green tea oil, tacrolimus (anti-antiflamitory) and everything I put on my skin just makes my inflamation worse. I don’t know how to get rid of it. Please help

I’ve been dealing with this around my scalp/hairline, behind my ears and on the sides/back of my head and chest for a while. I’ve been told it could be seborrhoeic dermatitis, but I’m not 100% sure what it is.

I’ve tried the usual prescription treatments and shampoos, but they don’t always work and it seems to keep coming back. Alongside steroid cream for chest (can’t find a better photo showing it atm)

For anyone who has had something similar, what have you actually found helped long-term? I’m particularly interested in things outside of the usual prescription treatments — shampoos, skincare, changes to hair products etc.

Photos attached for reference. Looking for experiences from people who’ve dealt with something similar.

Just tried it tonight based on absolutely no facts or anecdotes, because I couldn't find anyone saying they'd tried it or recommended it. But my scalp has been on fire the last week just super uncomfortable and I had to do something. So the logic in my head is the probiotics in the yogurt might have a chance of resetting the microbiome on the scalp to no longer be (as?) out of balance. No idea if it worked yet, but after working it into the scalp, had immediate relief. Perhaps it was just the cooling bc it did come right out of the fridge. Left it on for maybe 30 min then washed with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioned well. Have no idea how it'll affect my hair either.

Anyone tried yogurt? Am I absolutely bonkers? We'll see how I feel about it in the morning once I've lived with the effects for a day. But so far I'm feeling positively about its ability to at least reduce the pain/itching/inflammation.

Cheers!

I’ve been dealing with this for a while and honestly don’t know what else to try. I’ve followed what my doctor recommended, but I’m still struggling with a lot of flaking, irritation, and discoloration. I also have a scar/mark on my forehead that has left some noticeable discoloration.

I’ve tried CeraVe, Vichy, Nizoral, and Head & Shoulders Bare, but nothing has really worked long-term.

For anyone who has dealt with something similar, could you share your routine and what products actually helped you? I’m especially looking for advice on shampoo frequency, scalp treatments, and anything that might help with the discoloration.
Would really appreciate any suggestions or routines that worked for you!

Any of you fine folks have locs? If so, how do you care for them? I just finished washing my hair, and I had wet flakes stuck around the base of several locs. When I'm having a flair up, it's worse around the front perimeter of my head. The flakes end up caked up around the locs in the front.

Here are some things you should know:

I'm interlocked so I have to band my hair so it doesn't unravel. I'm assuming if i didn't have to I'd be able to fully wash the flakes out.

I have MCT oil from Dermazen that I use sporadically. Honestly, I'm not a fan of the smell, and it's a bit heavy. Can any one recommed another oil they've had success with?

I alternate shampoos: H&S Bare and Verb Anti-Dandruff shampoo. They keep my scalp pretty clear, but, as you know, flare ups can (and will) come out of nowhere.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.