Why Use Essential Oils For Best Possible Relief In Seborrheic Dermatitis?
Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition commonly seen in areas where sebaceous glands have a more prominent presence. The condition is neither infectious nor harmful but it can cause persistent discomfort in your life. It is observed that one in every 20 Americans suffers from this condition, which can have extended inactive durations followed by flare-ups.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Seborrheic Dermatitis?
Scaling and soreness are the two dominant features of seborrheic dermatitis. In addition, there might be oily or grainy scales on your face and other parts of body causing a burning sensation. The extent to which this condition can affect your day-to-day life can vary from a minor case of dandruff to thick and scaly patches on your body that cause uncontrollable itching. The most common areas on the face that are prone to being affected from this condition are the folds around your nose, your forehead, your inner eyebrows, and the external ear canal. The upper eyelids and eyelid margins can also be added to the list of body parts that are vulnerable to this disease.
What Essential Oils Can Best Be Used For Relief In This Condition?
If you are suffering from seborrheic dermatitis and have tried every kind of pharmaceutical medication, then essential oil therapy by an experienced naturopath is just what you need for sustainable relief. Below are some of the best essential oils I can confidently recommend for seborrheic dermatitis.
12 Essential Oils To Treat Seborrheic Dermatitis
1. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil functions as an immune system stimulant that improves the body’s ability to ward off infections. Its highly effective anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal abilities makes it one of the most preferred oils that pharmaceutical companies want to use in natural soaps, hair shampoos and creams. This oil is a tested weapon that can be used against conditions like Seborrheic Dermatitis.
2. Organic Golden Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil makes an outstanding moisturizer that permeates deep into the skin. This oil helps in loosening the scales, unclogging the pores and managing the sebum production. It also has anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-oxidant properties.
3. Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
It would take an entire book to cover all the health benefits of coconut oil. On the skin, this oil works as a calming moisturizer that is anti-fungal, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory in nature. Its medium-chain fatty acids eliminate the yeast that is often known to appear with conditions like Seborrheic Dermatitis.
4. Neem Oil
Neem oil has been used for centuries in traditional medicines of several cultures to help in the recovery of patients suffering from skin conditions like acne, rashes, psoriasis and eczema. It is also an extremely efficient anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and dermatological agent.
5. Himalayan Cedarwood Oil
This oil eases the itching due to its sedative nature. Its astringent action is considered to be most effective for treating conditions like seborrheic dermatitis.
6. Cedarwood Oil
Cedarwood has properties that are similar to that of its Himalayan counterpart. This oil is shown to be very effective in conditions like Seborrheic dermatitis due to its antifungal and anti-bacterial properties.
7. Lavender Oil
Due to its stress relieving abilities, Lavender oil has been used for all kinds of skin issues since ages. It anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties make it even more effective for conditions like seborrheic dermatitis.
8. Rosemary Oil
Rosemary stabilizes the oil secretions and offers relief in most of the issues of the scalp, especially dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. It also nurtures the scalp and promotes growth of hair by improving the blood circulation.
9. Patchouli Oil
I have found Patchouli to be very effective in taking care of rough, split and dehydrated skin. For the same reason, this oil has been used to treat dandruff, sores, acne, eczema, and fungal infections like seborrheic dermatitis. This oil also features anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antibacterial properties.
10. Oregano Oil
The fact that Oregano oil can eliminate yeast and other fungi has been confirmed by various research studies that were conducted on this oil. This oil is also a potent anti-fungal agent.
11. Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil helps to alleviate the itching caused by conditions like seborrheic dermatitis, while at the same time reducing the inflammation. This oil is really comforting in nature.
12. Eucalyptus Oil
While battling with conditions like seborrheic dermatitis, if one thing that is bothering you most is inflammation, then Eucalyptus is the essential oil for you. This oil relieves inflammation almost instantly and is considered effective for treating several skin disorders.
The L’orpur Problem Skin Relief Natural Cream is designed to treat and prevent recurrence of difficult skin conditions including seborrheic dermatitis. It has unmatched anti-bacterial and healing properties and provides instant and long-lasting relief for scaly patches, dry, flaky, peeling and irritated skin.
4 Best Ways To Use Essential Oils For Seborrheic Dermatitis
In order to obtain relief in seborrheic dermatitis, essential oils can be used in several different ways. Here is how you can use them in order to fight seborrheic dermatitis:
No. 1 – Combining the essential oil with carrier oil
The most popular and most extensively used technique for fighting seborrheic dermatitis is creating an easy mix of your preferred essential oil and carrier oil and thereafter applying it over the affected areas. This technique is simple and there are no hassles involved. You just have to mix about 90 % carrier oil with 10 % tea tree oil and apply over the affected parts of your skin. The solution should be left as it is on the skin for 5-10 minutes and then cleansed using a soft and warm washcloth.
No. 2 – Cleaning the affected skin with anti-fungal soap enriched with essential oils
There are specialized anti-fungal soaps available in the market, most of which consist of essential oils as their vital ingredient. Few of the essential oils that are generally found in such soaps include neem, peppermint, oregano and lavender.
No. 3 – Facial Rinse
This approach is the least likely of all the above methods to have side effects. Simply blend a couple of drops of pure essential oil in about a half cup of clean water (either boiled or prepared through reverse osmosis). Rinse your face with this solution for at least three times in a day for quick relief.
No. 4 – Clay mask
One of the best ways to fight seborrheic dermatitis is preparing an essential oil clay mask. Prepare the clay mask referring to the instructions mentioned on the product package and add just 2 drops of tea tree oil into it. As soon as the tea tree oil is mixed, follow the instructions written on the clay mask package for correct application.
Few Precautions To Bear In Mind
- Some essential oils can cause irritation to the eyes and hence it is not advised to apply them on the skin near the eyes.
- If there is any sign of inflammation that you suspect to be caused due to the essential oil you are using, do not delay in getting the guidance of a certified healthcare professional.
The Bottom Line
Considering that essential oils work generally well for most of us, I suggest that anybody suffering from seborrheic dermatitis should try them at least once.
While pharmaceutical treatments can be helpful in some cases, they are generally limited to only suppressing the symptoms. The multifaceted healing abilities of essential oils, whether anti-fungal, antibacterial or antispasmodic can be used to address the root cause of the disease while at the same time allowing the skin to heal, renew and restore in a gradual and natural way.
Hi, been looking for a helpful tips coz i am starting to mix essential oils for SD. Is jt good to mix all essential oils for topical use. Like for example jojoba as carrier oil mix with lavender, rosemary, teatree oil and argan oil?
Can i mix the same to existing organic shampoo for SD. Thanks!
Hi Piai,
Yes absolutely – you can make up a blend of essential oils diluted in carrier oil for topical use. And yes you can add essential oils to your existing shampoo.
Regards,
Olivia
I got the cedar, oregano and rosemary oil. I mix the cedar and oregano in mineral oil. I read that mineral doesn’t feed the yeast. Rosemary with mineral. To help with hair growth . My seborrhea has seems to act up in phases. This has helped and makes my hair very soft. I apply the oil mixture to my scalp put on cap leave it for hour then shampoo out. I’m Black America so I wash once a week or every two weeks.
Hi Pamela,
Thanks a lot for sharing your tips and which essential oils and recipes work for seborrheic dermatitis.
Regards,
Olivia
Question from AC:
Dear Olivia,
I had a quick question in regards to this informative article:
https://essentialoilbenefits.com/12-essential-oils-for-seborrheic-dermatitis/
I have extreme seborrheic dermatitis and I am looking to make a pomade to put into my hair to hold my style, but to also offer hair health benefits.
In regards to the essential oils – I can add a few oils, but wanted to ask which are truly the strongest to stop extreme dry hair and scalp and the crusty flakes that develop from that.
Out of the 12, what are probably the most powerful 3 or 4 in your opinion? I was thinking Neem, Tea Tree and Rosemary would be a good combination for my issue and for hair health in general.
I would really appreciate your feedback here and look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you
Olivia’s Response:
I would suggest you go with neem, rosemary, lavender and cedarwood (a drop or two of tea tree is also ok) diluted in argan or jojoba or castor oil.
Hi Olivia, I have just used a bit of oregano oil, and it did irritate my skin right away, though I washed it off after 15 minutes (hope it did no harm). Then I read it had to be mixed with jojoba oil.
How much Jojoba and Oregano Oil would I have to use? Do I dip it on cotton? And after how long should I wash it off?
Thanks!
Hi Tom,
Indeed, essential oils should always be diluted in a carrier oil. Use 12 drops of oregano in 1 ounce (30ml) jojoba oil. You can apply using a Q-Tip or cotton ball. There’s no need to wash away as you want the blend to work through the affected areas. If irritation continues, we’ll have to swap the oregano for something else.
Regards,
Olivia
Hi Olivia, thanks for the response! I just wanted to ask one more thing. I have a beard and mustache where the Seborrhea occurs, and I try to keep it kind of short. Is there no problem applying the oils over the hair, or would I have to shave?
Thanks.
Hi Tom,
There’s no issues to apply the blend over the hair. If it becomes itchy, perhaps a few drops of almond oil or similar to moisturize.
Regards,
Olivia
I have been suffering with SD for a year on the back of my head. I have been treating it with essential oils because I have heard there is no cure and I do not want to use steroids and creams that are not going to fix it!! I do think the oil use is personalized because I first tried tea tree and that did nothing for me! I found that using a shampoo with pyrithone zinc (ie..head and shoulders) was most helpful but now I have a 2oz glass bottle that I mix 20 drops of the Now brand Peace, Love and Flowers (patchouli, ylang ylang and orange) and 5 drops of Peppermint oil into the shampoo and give it a good shake before each use. I have to wash my hair everyday for it to be most effective. Now my favorite part! I use a 10ml roll on stick with 10drops of Oregano oil and then Peppermint oil! My head rarely itches and it has kept the inflammation down pretty well and very dry instead of it weeping like it did at first. When this first sprung up I was like what in the world!! The itching was unbearable and uncontrollable how embarrassing!! Now I run around smelling like a ball of peppermint itch free lol!!
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks for sharing some of your secrets and for letting us know what worked for you to combat Seborrheic Dermatitis. Much appreciated.
Regards,
Olivia
Just started using Castile soap and wow is all I can say. Sure has made a difference in the short amount of time that I have used it for the SD. I was wondering if I can add my essential oils to the Castile or if it would be better to wash it then use a carrier oil/essential oil after.
Hi Paula,
It is perhaps best to use essential oils diluted in a carrier oil both during and after for optimum results.
If you have more questions, please don’t hesitate.
Regards,
Olivia
I have been suffering with sebborhoeic blepharitis for over a year. I can only see scales if I look extremely carefully. I occasionally get greasy eyelids. I have been losing allot of eyelashes with this condition which is deeply distressing. I also suffer with dehydrated skin&Acne. Can you help advice on essential oils for my eyes/eyelashes/eyelashes. I wish so much for my lashes to be the same again and hope the hair will grow back. Thank you.
Hi Lydia,
To cure seborrheic blepharitis, dilute 2-3 drops of tea tree oil in 1 tsp of coconut oil. Soak a cotton ball in the oil blend and place it over your eyelid for 10-15 minutes. Repeat twice a day.
For deal with the loss eyelash hair, you can use a blend of 2-3 drops lavender in 1 tsp of castor oil (emu oil is a great substitute as well). Use your finger or cotton ball and apply the mixture from the eyelash roots to the eyelash ends. Just make sure you wash the area prior to application. You can also massage the eyelash area every night to promote blood circulation / enhance hair growth.
Regards,
Olivia
How long does it take before I should start seeing results? I’ve been doing the the essential oil treatments 1 time a day consistently now for a few weeks and don’t think I’ve seen much change. I don’t know what is enough time to give it, before I change or stop attempting. It’s quite nasty in my hair. Lol
Hi Erica,
Patience is key and results should generally be seen in about 4-6 weeks of consistent use of essential oils. Which recipe or treatment in particular are you following.
Could you please do the treatment / recipe at least twice a day instead of only once. If that still does not show results, I would change the essential oil recipe to another one. Just let me know which one you are currently on.
Regards,
Olivia
I’ve used neat tea tree oil. And a recipe of coconut oil, tea tree, neem, peppermint & eucalyptus.
Any suggestions on how to not make your hair look so gross from the oil. Main treatment areas are all around my hairline which is very visible at work.
Hi Erica,
You can add a bit of floral water or vinegar to the blend that you have prepared. You could also substitute coconut oil with jojoba oil as the latter is more easily absorbed into the skin.
Regards,
Olivia
This sounds weird, but it works for me. I do tea tree and roman chamomile and then I comb just around my hairline with a lice comb, This loosens and removes the dead skin/crusty stuff. I do not use a carrier oil, but because of this blog post, I have ordered jojoba. Notice that the tea tree recipe says to wash it off after 10 minutes. I don’t do that, but if you feel it is noticeably oily when you go to work, you can rinse it off first. I keep a lice comb and one of thise round, rubber hair/scalp brushes in the shower. I have noticed that a lot of websites say to wash your hair less often, but I have found that if I do not wash at least every other day, it flairs up badly. It also gets bad when I eat too much gluten and sugar. I have not found a way to make it stop forever, but these things definitely have helped. I have been struggling with this for about 20 years.
Hi E,
Thanks for taking the time to write and for your detailed explanation for combatting seborrheic dermatitis. It is really appreciated.
Regards,
Olivia
Olivia, How many drops of essential oils do you recommend to use, with 1 Tablespoon of carrier oil? How often can it be applied to scalp, for sebbhoriac dermatitis? I plan to use either Coconut or Aragon oil with patchouli and rosemary oil. Thank you.
Hi Kae,
You can use 3-4 drops essential oil per 1 tsp of carrier oil. You can apply up to twice per day, once in the morning and once at night. Do a skin test patch beforehand.
If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate.
Regards,
Olivia
Hi Olivia,
I have been reading that cold pressed organic Avocado Oil and cold pressed Hexane free Castor Oil is are helpful with the above mentioned skin conditions, most specifically Seborrheic Dermatitis.
Many articles say they can be used on the skin and also the scalp?
Also, what essential oils are safe to use to treat SD near or around your genitals?
What is your opinion?
Thank you.
SR
Hi SR,
Thanks for sharing. Both the cold pressed organic Avocado Oil and cold pressed Hexane free Castor Oil are good oils. You could try them out for a couple of days and see if they show positive results for the condition.
For Seborrheic Dermatitis around the genitals, you can go with the above oils or try the essential oils within the article, however make sure you dilute them in a carrier oil. Use about 12 drops of essential oils (tea tree, rosemary, eucalyptus, etc.) in total for 30ml carrier oil (almond or jojoba). Always do a skin test patch beforehand.
Regards,
Olivia
Thank you! 🙂
You are welcome.
Hi Olivia, thank you for sharing other items to assist SD. I use essential oils and I am very pleased to use them to support in any health issue.
Hi Darlene,
You are welcome.
Olivia
Question from RH:
i have tried everything possible for the last 2 years it gets better for a week or so and as soon as i stop ANY OF THE CHEMICAL CREAMS etc i get it back. i do have a bad kidney. can you help?
Olivia’s Response:
I am sorry to hear that. Can you please clarify what sort of fungal infection you get. If ringworm or athlete’s foot, you can refer to the following:
https://essentialoilbenefits.com/best-essential-oils-for-ringworm-relief/
https://essentialoilbenefits.com/best-5-essential-oils-and-7-recipes-for-athletes-foot/
Please refer to this post for dermatitis:
https://essentialoilbenefits.com/12-essential-oils-for-seborrheic-dermatitis/
Regards,
Olivia
Great article, thanks for the information , its absolutely spot on, could you advise which oil should be useful for me? I have all the minor symptoms of scales around ear canal,nose folds and forehead, In addition ,I also have itchy scalp and feel that I might have lost a little hair in the past few months . The scales seem to be intermittent every few months, Can seborrheic dermatosis cause a bit of hair loss as well? What should I do to keep a healthy skin and hair ? I have seen NHS practitioner but it has not been of much help . Thanks
Hi Subho,
There are various essential oils and recipes for seborrheic dermatitis as per the above article that you can use.
Yes seborrheic dermatitis can cause hair loss to some extent, however this is not permanent and the hair will grow back.
For more info about essential oils for healthy hair, please refer to the following article:
https://essentialoilbenefits.com/best-essential-oils-and-recipes-for-healthy-hair-hair-loss-and-hair-growth/
For more info about essential oils for healthy skin, please refer to the following article:
https://essentialoilbenefits.com/essential-oils-and-recipes-for-beautiful-skin/
Regards,
Olivia
Question from DH:
Love information you give on oils. Wondering what oil would be good to get rid of
seborrheic keratosis growths. Thank you.
Olivia’s Response:
You could add 3 drops of oregano oil to 1 tsp almond oil. Apply on the growth, cover with a Band-Aid and repeat twice a day. If you want an alternative, you could also use tea tree oil diluted in fractioned coconut oil.
Argan oil is what worked for me. Specifically, I used Argan Oil and let the oil soak into my scalp. I used to wash it off, but I found it heals the dermatitis better if you leave it on!
Hi Siri,
Thanks for sharing your experience of Argan oil and how you have been able to get rid of dermatitis.
Regards,
Olivia
I just bought neem oil today & the instructions say apply directly to skin. I want to use it as a daily cleanser. Is it safe to apply directly every day? Should I mix it with something & create my own oil cleanser?
Hi,
Neem oil is quite potent and applying it neat (i.e. undiluted) may irritate your skin or scalp. You may dilute 3-4 drops in 1tbsp of coconut oil or sweet almond oil. As always do a skin test patch before any application. At a later stage, you may increase the concentration as you feel appropriate.
Regards,
Olivia
I’ve been using many oils for a skin condition (not sure exactly what it is) that causing my face to flake and peel, then heal for about 3 days, then peel again. Its been going on for 2+ years. Anyway seems like whatever I use works for a few weeks then back to crappy skin. Anything prescription has made it much worse by irritating the skin further. Right now I’m using Tea Tree oil and love it. I do about a tsp. coconut oil with 1 or 2 drops tea tree anything more starts to burn. If neem oil is particularly harsh I’d do 1 drop for awhile then increase to 2 and so on. When it comes to essential oils less is more.
Hi Annie,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with using essential oils for your skin condition. For some people, you are absolutely correct – single essential oils work best; for others, essential oil blends/recipes are necessary due to one essential oil enhancing the other. I always remind all my valued customers to always dilute essential oils in a carrier oil as well as do a skin test patch before any application. Trust your condition improves and you can finally get rid of it altogether.
Regards,
Olivia
Hi Olivia… I have dry flaky and very itch scalp which can have clusters of large dry areas. I was thinking about tea tree, peppermint and/or eucalyptus…. would you recommend a blend of all or some of these ?? Or add something else such as rosemary or lavender ?
Hi Richard,
You can use 3-4 drops of tea tree oil in one tbsp. of jojoba oil. Apply this blend 2-3 times per day to the affected areas.
Before washing your hair, you may also add Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) to water (1:1) and let this mixture soak on your scalp for a few minutes before rinsing off. Please do a skin test patch beforehand to make sure you are not sensitive to any of the ingredients.
Regards,
Olivia
Can I mix apple cider vinegar, water, and tea tree?
Hi Tina,
Yes you can mix them in the ratio of 1 part ACV, 2 parts water and 15-18 drops of tea tree oil. Store in a jar and apply 2-3 times a day. Make sure to use the best quality ingredients for optimum results.
Regards,
Olivia
Thank You for sharing such great information. My only question would be, which oils are considered carrier oils?
Hi Marilyn,
Not a problem. Examples of Carrier oils are jojoba oil and coconut oil. Other common carrier oils include sweet almond oil and olive oil.
Regards,
Olivia
Hi Olivia! Can I leave the tea tree/carrier mix on my scalp, or does it have to be washed off?
Thanks
Hi Jen,
It is best to not to leave essential oils on the skin for an extended period of time. You may leave it for up to 2 hours and then wash it off. You can repeat that up to 3 times daily. If any skin irritation occurs, please rinse off immediately.
Regards,
Olivia