How to Manage Seborrhoeic Dermatitis—Conventionally and Holistically

Hormones, Skin

If your skin keeps flaring up around your nose, eyebrows, scalp, or ears — with flaky, itchy, or oily patches — it could be seborrhoeic dermatitis.

This common condition isn’t “just dry skin.” It’s a chronic inflammatory issue that can worsen with hormonal shifts, stress, and even gut imbalance — and perimenopausal women often find that it flares more during hormonal dips or stress spikes.

In this blog, we’ll break down:

  • What seborrhoeic dermatitis is (and what causes it)
  • Why it can worsen in perimenopause and menopause
  • How to manage it with both conventional treatments and holistic support
  •  Smart prevention strategies for long-term skin peace

👀 What Is Seborrhoeic Dermatitis?

Seborrhoeic dermatitis (SD) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that affects areas rich in sebaceous (oil) glands. Think: scalp, eyebrows, sides of nose, behind ears, chest, and even eyelids.

It’s often:

  • Flaky or scaly (sometimes yellowish)
  • Red or pink beneath the flakes
  • Itchy, burning, or tender
  • Worse with cold weather, stress, illness, or hormonal shifts

🔍What Causes It?

Seb derm is a multi-factoral condition. The three key players:

  1. Malassezia yeast overgrowth
  2. Sebum (oil) production
  3. Immune hypersensitivity

Your body’s immune system overreacts to the natural yeast on your skin (Malassezia), leading to inflammation, scaling, and redness.

🌀Why It Flares During Perimenopause & Menopause

Many women report SD flares in their 40s and 50s — and here’s why:

🧬 Estrogen helps regulate oil production and inflammation. As it drops, skin becomes:

  • Drier and more sensitive
  • More prone to imbalance in the skin microbiome
  • Less able to regulate yeast and barrier function

💣 Combine that with stress, sleep shifts, and cortisol fluctuations in midlife — and you’ve got the perfect storm.

What It Can Look Like:

🚩What Can Worsen Seb Derm?

  • 🧠 Stress → Spikes cortisol, alters immunity
  • 🥵 Weather extremes (especially cold/dry)
  • 🧴 Over-cleansing or harsh skincare
  • 🍷 Alcohol, sugar, yeast-heavy foods
  • 💊 Certain meds, (e.g., lithium, antipsychotics)
  • 🧖‍♀️ Hormonal drops in perimenopause & menopause
  • 🦠 Immunity dips from illness or fatigue

How to Manage Seborrhoeic Dermatitis

🛠️ Conventional Tools

  • Antifungal shampoos: Ketoconazole 2% (Nizoral), Ciclopirox
  • Zinc pyrithione: (Head & Shoulders, DermaZinc)
  • Selenium sulfide: (Selsun)
  • Topical steroids: For short-term flares only (e.g.m 1% hydrocortisone)
  • Calcineurin inhibitors: Tacrolimus or pimecrolimus for sensitive areas like eyelids

👉 Pro tip: Rotate shampoos to avoid resistance.

🌿Holistic & Integrative Support

🌱 Topical Soothers

  • La Roche-Posay Kerium DS Cream – non-steroidal, gentle, antifungal
  • Clinisoothe+ Spray – hypochlorous acid to calm skin
  • Aloe vera gel + QV Cream for soothing and barrier repair

🍽 Nutrition & Supplements

  • Omega-3 (e.g., Bare Biology) – reduces inflammation
  • Zinc + Biotin – supports skin repair
  • Vitamin B-complex – especially B6 and B2
  • Probiotics – support gut-skin axis

🧪 Functional Testing (if chronic/severe)

  • GI-MAP – checks for gut dysbiosis and yeast overgrowth
  • Micronutirent Panel – look for zinc, selenium, B2, B6 deficiencies
  • DUTCH Hormone Test – if flares follow cycle or menopause

🔄 How to Prevent Flares (When You Know You’re Prone)

  • Keep a low-sugar, anti-yeast diet (especially in winter)
  • Manage stress (magnesium, adaptogens, journaling, yin yoga)
  • Don’t over-wash or over-exfoliate
  • Use lukewarm water, avoid hot showers on face
  • Stick with gentle, fragrance-free skincare
  • Consider monthly maintenance with zinc shampoo or antifungal cream

💬 Final Thoughts

Seborrhoeic dermatitis may be common, but it’s not “just cosmetic.”

It’s a reflection of barrier breakdown, immune activation, and microbial imbalance — often stirred by the hormonal and emotional shifts of midlife.

With the right support (internally and externally), your skin can rebalance and calm again.

✅ Need Help Getting to the Root?

Book a consultation to personalise your plan— whether it’s restoring your barrier, rebalancing your hormones, or microbial environment from the inside out.