The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Keith (Charlotte, NC)
★★★★★
I have been suffering from s/d for atleast 10 years. i started to see a doctor for it about 7 years ago. i have tried every cream and pill and shampoo they perscribed me and it will work for about a month and then come back. i had s/d real bad to the point where when i went to the barber shop , i will be very embarrassed by the time i was ready to leave from the mountain of flakes that would fall from my scalp. on monday 11/28/05 i logged on to this website and read some stories then i went to the store and purchased some a/c vinegar for $1.00 and some peroxide for $.88 and used it right away. today is friday and i took my shower and used my mixture like i have now for a week and i am happy to say that not one flake fell from my scalp when i brushed my hair!!!! i have spent hundreds of dollars on perscriptions and they were all garbage, i go to my local supermarket and spend 2 bucks and i get results in a week. i plan on using the mixture for one more week then once a month after that. i hope i have finally beat this thing. i also plan on telling my rich dermatologist how 2 bucks cured me. thank you for the info.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Rudi (Propect Park, NJ) on 02/13/2006
★★★★★
I have suffered from dandruff, then later to become, Seborrheic Dermatitis since I was 15 years old! I've used ALL, every single kind of dandruff shampoo known to the human consumer, and all of them only were able to treat or control my problem but only temporarily. Eventually, my scalp grew accustom to the "shampoo of the month" I was using, then I would begin to develop those ever so common flaky scales on my scalp, which forced me to look for yet another new dandruff shampoo. I'm now 35, and I'm now using Selsun Blue's new seborrheic dermatitis formula which seemed to control my SD, but just like the great many of them, after a couple of years using it, I already began noticing that my scalp was once again flaking. Many dermatologists told me to change my diet, to alternate shampoos, to use cortizone creams, that it's stress related and to "relax", and NONE of those suggestions worked!
A month ago, I browsed online and found a website claiming of a cure to SB..., Apple Cider Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide! It states to mix 1 part ACV, 1 part Hydrogen Peroxide, and 10 parts water. Simply soak your head with the solution for 2 to 3 minutes (I did it for 5 minutes), then wash/shampoo your hair as usual. I AM NOT LYING TO YOU, this ACTUALLY WORKED! It's been over 2 month now, and I have NOT seen any signs of flaking whatsoever! NONE! Furthermore, with my condition, if I didn't wash my hair every day, by the second day, I would already have flakes, and, if by some unusual circumstance I could not wash my hair a third day, I would have so much visible flaking and itching, that it would actually be to the point of embarrasment. (No weekend camping trips for me.) However, to test to see if this really worked, I purposely did not wash my hair for 3 days! And still NO FLAKES, GONE! What I did was wrap an old towel all around my head, making sure to cover all my hair lines, and I slowly poured the mixture slowly over my covered head, letting the towel soak it in, but not to the point of it dripping everywhere. I just used the wet towel to rub all around my scalp mainly in my problem areas, for a good 5 minutes. I then showered and washed my hair as usual, and VIOLA, this God forsaken problem is gone! After all these years, completely GONE! Don't get me wrong I'm still being a little skeptical, but still have no flakes! Of course, I'm still using my same shampoo, but once it's finished, the real test will be to use something like Johnson's Baby Shampoo. I'll keep you posted if something happens. Good Luck!
Chamomile Tea
Posted by Becky (Port Townsend, WA) on 01/22/2006
★★★★★
I used the acv and it works but I have a hint for people with winter scalp (flaky tight scalp). Steep 2 bags of chamomile tea in 2 cups warm water for 10 minutes. Add a dash of lemon juice and 15 drops of calendula (marigold) extract then pour onto scalp and let sit for 10 minutes and shampoo and condition as normal. I have done this 2x a week wince winter set in and it is perfect. No more flaking or redness.
DMSO
Posted by Garrett (Mt. Juliet) on 06/15/2006
★★★★★
What happened was I had dandruff bad and found that I had dermititis so the doctor that said that I had it said that it was caused by hormones. I didn't believe her so i tried everything -- a pokeroot concoction to meds. I did not like the meds I was on, so I soon found out that SD was caused by a fungus infection so I found a shampoo that had not long chemical names and put half a 4 oz bottle of dmso in it. Within a week it was gone and has been for almost 5 months. dmso will pull anything into your skin so no long named chemicals.
Cold Laser Therapy
Posted by Hillary (Salt Lake City) on 07/02/2006
★★★★★
I have extreme seborhic dermatitis on both my scalp and eye lids. I went to a naturopathic chiropracter who practes applied kinesology and cold laser therapy. The best dermatologist and doctors in the Salt Lake Valley kept prescribing sterorids, and medicine and nothing worked. I finally went to a doctor who did cold laser therapy on my eye and scalp three times a week for six weeks and it is completly gone, and hasn't come back as of yet, and it has been over six months, I call him my miracle doctor. If you want more info on this type of doctor they use all natual cures, no prescriptions etc. check them out online.
Tea Tree Oil and Salicylic Acid
Posted by Ted (Bangkok, Thailand) 392 posts
Salicylic acid is a power chemical that causes skin peeling or possibly scalp damages in some cases depending on the concentration but it does kill certain fungus causing the condition. Dermatologist used the salicylic acid, likely in higher concentrations to remove scarring tissue too. I however prefer a milder solution if given a chance such as using acetyl salicylic acid, which is actually a plain aspirin dissolved in water and apply to the scalp, plus some epsom salt for example and alternate that with tea tree oil. I would probably also try a saturated borax in 1% hydrogen peroxide that was not considered also, since borax seems to be most effective against the fungus, without damaging the scalp.
Tea Tree Oil and Salicylic Acid
Posted by Chris (Chicago, Illinois) on 03/15/2007
★★★★★
The only thing that helped me with my Seborrheic Dermatitis is tea tree oil and the Scalpicin with salicylic acid, but then started using Rite Aid Brand of Scalpicin which I had better results. I don't have that many flakes, but the itching is unbearable. What's funny is when I tried the tea tree oil by itself it did not do much. And when I tried the salicylic acid by itself I only receive temporary relief. But when I alternated the tea tree oil and the salicylic acid every other day I received tremendous results. What I do is one night I put on Scalpicin and leave it in all night and take a shower in the morning, and the next night I apply the tea tree oil. I had a really bad case, so I put on a lot (almost half the bottle per application). The tea tree oil has a strong odor that could smell up the house, just to warn you. Also note that there are two Scalpicin's. One contains hydrocortisone and one contains salicylic acid. So if you try my method make sure you get the right one. For me, the hydrocortisone only temporary relieved my itching. I would by the Rite Aid brand or the CVS brand that says Scalp Relief of Scalp Itch and Dandruff Relief, as I received good results with these. Again I tried almost all of the products on the market, also Apple Cider Vinegar and Lemon Juice, and this is the only thing that has helped me. Another thing to note is your itching might occur on the day after the night you used the tea tree oil, but it will go away the next day when you take a shower the day after you put on the salicylic acid. I used to have a rough scalp and this has truly helping my scalp return back to normal.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Max (Atlanta, Ga) on 12/24/2006
★★★★★
I've been a vegetarian for many years. And although I'm not 100% vegan, I rarely eat dairy (except yougart). I get plenty of exercise and I don't smoke and I rarely drink (red wine once a month). In spite of all this, I have been suffering from CFS for the last 7 years. Through diligence and hard work, many of the symptoms have slowly faded away. Recently, I got one of Kevin Trudeau's books and in that book he talks alot about the wonders of apple cider vinegar and pure distilled water. I've also researched this on the net and it all seems to be true. So for the last two weeks I've been drinking 8 full glasses of distilled water everyday and I've been taking 2 tablespoons of vinegar a day. I've noticed some obvious improvements. The most significant thing that I noticed is that I no longer have such dry skin and my scalp isn't flaky anymore. Also, it seems I'm sleeping better and I don't crave sweets has been lessened. Nonetheless, in spite of all the good news, I've been experiencing something that's totally unexpected and very unusual. I'm constipated. I've never had a problem with constipation. Even in my worst days with CFS I was never constipated. But now, every other day it seems I'm struggling to get something to come out. This is really baffling to me because I'm drinking more water than ever before and I have more energy, yet I'm suffering from constipation. Do you know what may be causing this?
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Josh (Elk Ridge, UT) on 01/12/2007
★★★★★
Hi all! What a great website this is...finally; I've been looking for a resource like this for years! Anyway, I have moderate to severe eczema that flares up in the winter and is more mild in summer. Anyway, I went several days without using steroid creams or immune system inhibitors (Protopic ointment)when I tried the following regime. I would take a cold shower, then spray myself with potassium alum (dissolved in water and put into a spray bottle) when I was still slightly damp. Also, I was taking 1 T apple cider vinegar internally twice a day. My eczema didn't seem to get worse until I missed 2 days of the potassium alum treatment. I even had a semi-cold bath with 1 C ACV and soaked for about 20 minutes, but I forgot to do the alum. When I do the alum, it helps my skin to calm down. It gets softer. I don't use lotion.
A friend of mine gave me the potassium alum stone with his story of severe eczema in Thailand. The generous people there gave him this stone to try and it cured his eczema. I've been using it as deodorant and it works very well; no chemicals or additives. I think you can get the stones at a health food store (or do a google search for them).
Get a clean spray bottle and break up about 1-2 Tablespoon size chunks of alum. Put this in about 1 cup of water and then fill your spray bottle with it. I spray a few sprays on my hair and massage it in my scalp. Some under arms for deodorant and then I give a few sprays all over my limbs and body, rubbing it into my skin. It has a weird texture; it seems to sink into your skin quickly - that's why the spray works so well. I'm thinking of trying an application in the evening as well and maybe by then I'll have more of a cure. Experimenting with the frequency... Let me know how this works for you. I used to have bad eczema in my hair that would flake all over; very embarrassing. I cured it by soaking my head with straight ACV and covering that with a shower cap overnight, but I don't like smelling like a pickle throughout the day. :) Now, the potassium alum has prevented it without the smell. Good luck to all, and hopefully we can cure our debilitating eczema.
Jojoba Oil
Posted by Steve (Solon Springs, WI) on 02/27/2007
★★★★★
I'm 39 years old and have been struggling with severe seborreheic dermatitis since the age of 14. apple cider vinegar was a BIG NO for me. I recently started using pure simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) oil.Leave in for an hour or so,than lightly rinse. My scalp, forehead, and eyebrows have been my problem areas. This seems to be working great for me.
Kefir
Posted by Jim (St. Louis, MO) on 04/01/2007
★★★★★
I have had a worsening case of suborrheic dermatitis for several years. It started around my upper lip and chin and ended up in my ears. Prescriptions mildly controlled it, but not well, are expensive, and frankly I don't trust them very much. I tried several reccomended natural and "home" remedies, none of which worked very well. And then I started drinking kefir, a cultured milk beverage. I started drinking it because it's really tasty and I can digest it (I'm lactose intolerant), but found that when I drink it regularly my suborrheic dermatitis goes away. When I don't drink kefir for several days it starts to come back. Typically I've found myself drinking a 32 oz. bottle every two to three days. I've tried a couple of brands, but the Helios brand seems far superior to the other brand I tried (which I had trouble digesting). So I really reccomend it. At the very least, you'll be drinking something that tastes great and is good for you (live foods rock). And if it works for your skin ailements too, all the better. Good luck!
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Ana (Vancouver, Canada) on 05/04/2007
★★★★★
I was diagnosed with SD some 3 years ago and was prescribed Nizoral shampoo by my dermatologist who said that my condition will go away "just don't know when"! I also suffered with constipation, bloating and flatulance after every meal but never mad a conection with the two problems. Then I started reading about Yeast Overgrowth and did the saliva test which was positive for candida. I took one therapy (2 weeks) of a product called CandiGone by Renew Life, started taking probiotics in pill form, cut sugar and carbs in my diet, started drinking kefir and eating lots of yougurt enriched with probiotics. The results - I just did the saliva test and there are no more nasty little legs in it. I will slowly start to introduce carbs and sugar back into my diet, although in very small amounts since I don't crave it anymore. For my scalp I did the following: I would mix 15 drops of tea tree oil, 10 drops of lavander oil, 4-5 drops of grape seed extract in my organic jojoba shampoo and apply that to my scalp. I would leave it on for 15 min and then rins out. I repeated that every night for the first week and then switched to every second day. I don't have anymore lesions in my hairline, the itching is almost all gone now. I've been doing this for three weeks now and I'm really happy with the results. I hope my story will help other pople suffering from candida and seborrheic dermatitis. PS. Great site! keep up the good work.
Look for What Is Causing the Imbalance
Posted by Tom (Sarasota , USA FL) on 06/30/2007
★★★★★
I keep reading how everyone is looking for a cure to their ailment, Seborec Dermatitis, Dandruff etc .. Your never going to find the cure using creams , lotions or even vinigar ! All your doing is covering a symptom of some other problem within the body. The reason these symptoms mainfest is due to some sort of imbalance. Your body is designed to heal and protect itself. Stress is one problem that manifests in our skin, food are another. Try diet restriction and meditation. Bring peace into your life and watch out for certain foods. Dairy , Milk and Cream specifically, Beer Caffeine.. these all can cause severe skin reactions.. Meditate for 20 minutes asking the question.. " what will fix this ?" listen cloase and you will get an answer.. Good luck .. and Trust Me.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Reader (Boston, MA)
★★★★★
I'm so happy that I found this site. I have applied straight apple cider vinegar 30 min before washing my hair and the flaking is almost gone. It has taken five treatments and WOW what a difference. It make my hair shiny too (extra bonus).
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Brijette (Bettendorf, Iowa)
★★★★★
My chiropractor told me to use vinegar on my baby girl's cradle cap. I applied it straight and let it sit for 10 minutes before her bath. I've done this only four times now and her cradle cap is almost gone already!!! Maybe this straight vinegar treatment could work for other scalp problems as well.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Marissa (USA) on 04/09/2006
★★★★★
I have suffered with pretty severe seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp for about 2 years now. I have been to 3 different dermatologists for it. None have been able to give me anything that even begins to help. I have spent tons of money on prescription medicine for this as well as over the counter products. I happened to come across this website a few days ago and started reading the success stories. I said this is something I have to try. So, I went to the store and got some white vinegar which was super cheap, I put it in a hair dye bottle and squirted it all over my scalp 2 nights ago. I had washed and dried my hair before I put it on. I did not rinse it off at all or dilute it at all. I just put the straight vinegar all over my scalp after washing and drying my hair. I let it sit for 30mins, then dried my hair again. Well, I have done this the past 2 nights, and what a difference! This is remarkable ! My scalp still has a long way to go, but I see so much improvement. The redness is much less and so is the itchiness. I did notreally have a lot of flakes. I mostly had a very oily, itchy, inflamed scalp with pretty bad hair loss as well which I think is because my s/d is from a skin fungus (I think). My plan is to apply vinegar every night except once a week when I will do vinegar and hydrogen peroxide together. I don't dilute it because my condition was bad and I needed the treatment to be very strong. Don't let the smell stop you from trying this. If you leave it on all night, by the time you wake up the next morning, you can't even smell it. I hope this is able to help others with this VERY uncomfortable condition. I also hope my scalp does not become immune to it as it has to so many different things, but I'm optimistic here because I think the vinegar will eventually kill the fungus. Please repond to this if you have any other helpful tips or "cures" for dealing with s/d. Thanks
