Does seborrheic dermatitis go away?

Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin condition that results in red, itchy patches on the face, scalp, and neck. The condition can flare up at any time, but it usually goes away on its own within a few weeks.

Seborrheic dermatitis usually doesn’t go away permanently. This relapsing and remitting pattern can be quite frustrating. However, there are some things you can do to help keep it under control.

Let’s take a deep dive:

Does seborrheic dermatitis go away?

Seborrheic dermatitis often goes away over a few weeks after a flare provided the triggering factor has been resolved. However, it’s important to seek treatment if the condition does not improve. There are many factors that can contribute to the severity of seborrheic dermatitis, including stress, lack of sleep and irritating ingredients in skin care products.

Identify your triggers and avoid them. Adopt a non-irritant skincare regime. Boost your skin with both topical nutrients and a good diet according to the symptoms you have of seborrheic dermatitis. See your doctor for medication if it doesn’t get better.

The MooGoo Scalp Cream is one of the only moisturizers I use. It’s natural, soothing and emulates our natural sebum:

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Unfortunately despite doing your best, SD often comes back.

Does seborrheic dermatitis come and go?

Seborrheic dermatitis is a skin condition that can come and go throughout your life. It’s usually triggered by certain skin care products, food, stress, lack of sleep, or other environmental factors.

Once the trigger is removed, the flare slowly improves and seborrheic dermatitis goes away. But it may return if you’re exposed to a trigger again. Unfortunately, there are often multiple triggers that can cause an SD flare.

All these factors contribute to seborrheic dermatitis waxing and waning and it can sometimes feel like we don’t have control over when SD will strike next.

How long does seborrheic dermatitis take to clear up?

Seborrheic dermatitis is a lifelong issue that may or may not clear up on its own. Some people find that their symptoms go away over a week or two, but others need to use prescription medicines and home remedies to treat the condition.

Seborrheic dermatitis is most commonly found on the face, but can also be found on the scalp. Treatment options include antifungal medicines, corticosteroid lotions and sulfur products. Your doctor will prescribe cream, shampoo, or antifungal pills if necessary to get the best results from a mix of treatments

The most common treatment for scalp SD is to use over-the-counter dandruff shampoo with one of these ingredients: Coal tar, ketoconazole, salicylic acid, selenium sulfide or zinc pyrithione.

You can by ketoconazole 1% shampoo over-the-counter but will need a prescription for the 2% formulation.

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How long does a seborrheic dermatitis flare up last?

Seborrheic dermatitis is a lifelong condition that comes and goes. A flare-up can last for a few days to a few weeks, but it eventually goes away. Flare-ups are usually triggered by stress, but there are treatments available that can provide relief.

If you’re exhausted and under lots of chronic stress, your flare might last for a lot longer as your immune system is dysregulated. If you you continue exposing yourself to triggers that usually cause your SD to flare, it won’t remit.

Does seborrheic dermatitis go away without treatment?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the severity of seborrheic dermatitis and how long it lasts can vary from person to person. In general, however, seborrheic dermatitis will usually go away once the trigger is removed.

When you improve your health and strengthen your immune system, it will eventually recover and not be hyperactive anymore. This in turn should help clear up any seborrheic dermatitis symptoms.

Can seborrheic dermatitis be cured permanently?

Seborrheic dermatitis can be cured permanently if you treat the root problem, which is your hyperactive immune system. The first step is to identify and address any factors that may be triggering your immune response. This could include dietary triggers, environmental factors, or stress.

Once you have addressed all potential triggers, it’s important to take steps to calm and balance your immune system. There are a number of natural remedies that can help with this, such as probiotics, herbs, and supplements. A qualified naturopath or integrative physician can help you create a personalized treatment plan that will work best for you.

How do I stop seborrheic dermatitis from coming back?

There is no way to guarantee that SD won’t ever come back. However, there are two main ways you can try to prevent another SD flare. One way is to keep the levels of Malassezia low on your face and scalp by using anti-fungal creams and anti-dandruff shampoo regularly.

Clotrimazole is my favorite over-the-counter anti-fungal cream to use:

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Another way is to repair your immune system so it is functioning normally and won’t be hyper-reactive to Malassezia.

To wrap up

Seborrheic dermatitis can go away even without treatment. But using anti-fungal creams can help it go away quicker. Unfortunately, SD often comes back. The only way to prevent it from coming back is to work on your immune system.