One of the most commonly suggested treatments to control and reduce seborrheic dermatitis flare-ups is steroid topical creams. However, the most common form of topical steroids, hydrocortisone cream, can cause skin to become thinner, increase the risk of acne, or even cause blisters. Thankfully, there are other options that can help to control seborrheic dermatitis, and this guide will explain them.
The Root Cause of Seborrheic Dermatitis
Scientists and doctors aren't completely certain what causes seborrheic dermatitis. It might be due to an excess of oil production, a sensitivity to a form of naturally-occurring skin yeast, inflammation, or something else. The best way to treat SD without steroids is to control the oil, production of yeast, and inflammation on your skin.
Minimizing Oil Production
Minimizing the oil on your face is a two-part process: you need to reduce the amount of oil your face produces, and reduce the amount of products you use with oil in them.
To reduce the oil on your face, eliminate any products containing oil from your daily facial care regimen. Then, make sure that you wash your face and take special care to cleanse the oiliest parts of your face. However, you should use a good moisturizer that provides all-day moisture. Products that contain hyaluronic acid help to pull water from the atmosphere into your skin, keeping your skin hydrated. Overly dry skin can produce even more oil to compensate, so you have to keep your skin moisturized.
Changing pH Level
Another thing you can do for your skin is to apply apple cider vinegar to your skin. Apple cider vinegar has a slightly acidic pH level, which creates a hostile environment for the yeast that may cause seborrheic dermatitis. Using apple cider vinegar can help to control and reduce the amount of yeast on your face, which can help to reduce the effects of seborrheic dermatitis.
Anti-Inflammatory
One of the problems that seborrheic dermatitis creates in the skin is inflammation. Your skin may become inflamed and red. You can help to control this symptom by applying witch hazel as a toner after washing your face. Witch hazel has natural anti-inflammatory properties that will help to reduce these effects, and may reduce the redness in your skin.
Taking care of your skin disorder doesn't have to involve topical steroids. Try these tips to reduce the effects of seborrheic dermatitis, but make sure to consult with a dermatologist, such as Advanced Dermatology Care, if your skin condition doesn't improve or worsens.
Share10 November 2015
As a child, I used to spend my days roaming through the woods. I climbed trees, smelled the flowers, and laid in the grass looking at the clouds. My love for nature continued through my teen years, but when I turned 23, I began to sneeze whenever I left my home. I could no longer enjoy my outdoor hikes and I started taking antihistamines so I could at least open my windows on warm days. My allergies got worse though and I met with an allergist who completed a variety of skin tests. I started receiving allergy shots and my allergist taught me about natural cleaning processes and sinus rinses. The injections and natural treatments improved my quality of life greatly. Even if you do not want to start allergy injections, you have a variety of options that can lessen your symptoms, and you should learn what these options are.