Hi,

A balanced skin microbiome is essential for maintaining overall skin health. Your skin hosts a diverse community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, which together form the human skin microbiota. These microbes play a crucial role in preserving the integrity of your skin and protecting it against harmful pathogens.

When the balance of these microorganisms is disrupted, it can contribute to various skin diseases, including seborrheic dermatitis. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of microbial imbalances on the skin surface as a potential contributing factor to Seb derm.

Researchers have found not only an overgrowth of Malassezia (which we knew about already) but also an imbalance in skin Cutibacterium and Staph with seborrheic dermatitis, shedding light on the link between the skin microbiome and the development of this condition.

Check out this article to find out the most common causes of skin microbiome imbalance (it’s what you do, not what you don’t do) and how to keep your skin microbiome happy and zen. 

Does your scalp feel oily and itchy by Day 2? Wish you didn’t have to shampoo more often but commercial dry shampoo leaving you with residue? Try a natural dry shampoo instead. They work well and comb out easily without leaving any nasty chemical residue.

Check out the new Plant Therapy Dry Shampoo:

Q: Thank you for telling us what oils to avoid with Seb Derm. What oil should we use on our face instead?

Most Seb Derm sufferers tend towards oily skin and don’t actually need a face oil. A gentle moisturizer will do. If you h ave Seb Derm and dry skin, first ask if you’re causing your dry skin by using too many products that can cause dry skin e.g tea tree oil, retinol etc. before you slather oil on.

If you indeed do have dry skin and want to use a face oil, then squalane oil, jojoba oil and MCT oil are my recommendations.

* Every week I answer one reader question. If you have any questions for me, just hit reply and ask away. Don’t worry, I never use your name or any other identifier.

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P/S: If you read through to this last bit of the email, thank you for being a reader! I really appreciate you taking the time. I’m going to be pulling back on email (and the blog) for a few months while I sort out the rest of my life. Therefore I’ll be emailing 2-weekly instead of weekly for the short term.

Obviously if you have any questions, feel free to send me an email any time.

Stay healthy, happy, safe and rash-free!

Until next week,

Sharon G.