Seborrhea

Symptoms

Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin disease, also known as dandruff in adults and cradle cap in infants. It begins with an inflammation, which produces patches of red and yellow scaly skin. Although it is not usually itchy, the skin flakes easily. Winter weather conditions tend to aggravate the problem. In more severe cases, a yellow rash appears along the hairline. Sometimes, this is accompanied by an eyelid infection, called blepharitis, where yellowish crusts form at the base of the lashes.

Seborrhea is easily confused with other similar-looking skin disorders like eczema and psoriasis. Seborrhea can be in combination with other conditions. If itching is severe, for instance, an additional candida fungal infection is likely. Seborrhea is not always confined to the scalp. It can spread to the face, especially between the brows and around the nose, and cause the skin to become redder and scalier than normal. The chest and skin folds near the genital area are also affected in some cases.

Seborrhea Causes

Like most skin problems, there is not one sole cause for seborrheic dermatitis. Problems like seborrhea are often the external expressions of internal imbalances and toxemia. Stress, emotional factors, nutritional deficiencies, food allergies and digestive function abnormalities such as low stomach acid, low pancreatic enzyme levels, bowel infections or a severe intestinal flora imbalance can all be related to scalp inflammation. Diets lacking in wholesome foods, rich in nutrients and natural enzymes, are often at fault. Most important are the B vitamins and the essential fatty acids. Although seborrhea can be controlled through nutrition and good health, the predisposition to it does not go away.

Seborrhea Nutrition

Diet should be as natural as possible. You may have food allergies, but until you know exactly which foods are the most harmful to you, avoid high-sugar foods, fruit, fruit juice, fermented foods (such as beer, wine and cheese), bread, stored grains, high fat dairy products, peanuts, cashews, pistachios, dried coconut, seeds and refined foods. Eat more fish and fish oils, garlic, onions, olives, olive oil, green vegetables, herbs, spices, soy products such as tofu, yogurt, psyllium, pectin and flax seed.

Unrefined, cold-pressed flax seed oil will provide the body with the essential fatty acids which prove effective in treating seborrhea. Flax seed oil is the best natural source of the omega-3 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid and also contains the other essential fatty acid, omega-6 linoleic acid. These fats are needed by the body to manufacture hormone-like substances called prostaglandins, which play an important role in maintaining clear, healthy skin. Use unrefined, cold-pressed flax seed oil daily on salads and baked potatoes, mixed into yogurt or quark or added to rice, pasta and vegetable dishes after cooking. Do not heat since this damages the essential fatty acids.

Eating more eggs can also improve seborrhea. Eggs contain cholesterol, but they also contain lecithin, which emulsifies cholesterol and prevents it from being deposited on artery walls. Eggs from free-range chickens are a treasure chest of nutrients, notably an excellent source of B vitamins. A deficiency in B vitamins is a possible cause of seborrhea. Eggs also provide biotin. Although babies have difficulty digesting egg whites until they are one year of age, they can eat crushed, hard-boiled egg yolks with their first solid food. In addition, eggs contain vitamin A and sulphur (sometimes called the beauty mineral), both of which are needed for healthy skin.

Further good sources of B vitamins, in particular biotin, are brown rice, nutritional yeast and green vegetables. Drink carrot, watercress and dandelion juice to cleanse and nourish the blood. Juice fasting is helpful.

Another reason for not eating foods with refined sugar or white flour is that they deplete the body of B vitamins. Eat natural plain yogurt containing live culture every day to keep the intestinal flora healthy. Regular bowel movements will help clear the skin, another major organ for the elimination of toxins.

Seborrhea Nutritional Supplements

Seborrhea is unlikely to occur when sufficient B vitamins are present. Most important are B6, B12, folic acid and biotin. Vitamin B12 is often poorly absorbed; sublingual tablets should be used.

Treatment of seborrhea also requires the essential fatty acids. Essential fatty acids, especially the gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) found in evening primrose and flax seed oil, are building blocks for the body's own anti-inflammatories, as well as being nutrients for the skin. If the skin is very dry, vitamins A and E should also be added, as they maintain skin health.

Daily dosages:

Most Important

Vitamin B complex, 50 mg three times daily.

Vitamin B12, sublingual form, 100 mcg

Evening primrose oil, two 500 mg capsules three times daily

Flax seed oil, 1 tbsp

Vitamin A, 25,000 IU (avoid during pregnancy)

Vitamin E, with mixed tocopherols, 400 IU

Helpful

Colloidal silver, or apply externally, 1/4 tsp.

Seborrhea Herbal Remedies

Eradicating the problem usually requires a good bowel cleansing program. This might include aloe vera juice, senna, buckthorn or cascara sagrada. To stimulate the scalp and blood circulation, loosen scales and disinfect, rub the scalp with one of the following herbal combinations.

Tea tree oil, aloe vera, silica gel and calendula cream can be applied topically to relieve the skin.

Chaparral, goldenseal or red-clover tea help clear up the condition. Add 1 tsp. of herbs to
1 cup of boiling water; steep, strain, let cool and rub into scalp.

Combine 1/2 tsp. each of lavender oil, calamus oil, burdock root oil and 2 tsp. of gentian tincture. Add rosemary spirit to make 1/4 cup. Shake well before rubbing into scalp. To make rosemary spirit, fill 1/2 cup with rosemary herbs, cover with vodka and let stand in a sunny place for four to six weeks, shaking several times. Rosemary is both antiseptic and astringent. Soak 1 tbsp. of rosemary herb in
1/2 cup of ordinary shampoo for two weeks before using.

Stinging nettle and gentian tincture, St. John's wort oil, calamus oil, lavender oil, rosemary oil, burdock root oil or onion juice rubbed into the scalp provide relief. Pour
1 cup of boiling water over 1 tsp. of herbs, steep for thirty minutes, strain, add 2 tbsp. of vinegar and rub into scalp.

Soap bark has anti-inflammatory and cleansing properties. Mix 1 cup of decoction of herbs with 1/2 cup of soft soap and use as shampoo.

Seborrhea Homeopathy

Chronic conditions can be resolved by an experienced homeopath who can achieve lasting results. See also related conditions such as dandruff and cradle cap.

Seborrhea Tissue Salts

Symptoms caused by this condition can be remedied with tissue salts recommended in these related sections: cradle cap, dandruff, eczema, eyelid problems, fungal infection, itching, psoriasis and rash.

Seborrhea External/Physical Therapies

Apply vitamin E oil onto the affected area or break open a capsule and apply externally.

Seborrhea Other Suggestions

Ozone or hydrogen peroxide therapy are beneficial for seborrhea.

You may want to consider a series of colonic irrigations to cleanse the bowels of accumulated waste and toxins.

See a natural health care practitioner for biochemical individuality testing (e.g., blood, urine, hair analysis, food allergy testing, CDSA) (For more information, see Appendix 1 ).

Seborrhea Available Brand Name Products

Nutritional Supplements

Ascorbate/Non-acidic Vitamin C (Ester-C)

Efamol Evening Primrose Oil 1000 mg Capsules (Flora)

Efamol Evening Primrose Oil 500 mg Capsules (Flora)

Efamol Evening Primrose Oil 30 ml Liquid (Flora)

Flax Oil (Flora)

Flax-O-Mega 1000 mg (Flora)

Udo's Choice: Ultimate Oil Blend (Flora)

Udo's Choice: Ultimate Oil Blend Capsules (Flora)

Micel A (Klaire Laboratories)

Micel E (Klaire Laboratories)

E 400 IU Mixed Tocopherol 100% Natural (Natural Factors)

Flax Seed Oil 1000 mg (Natural Factors)

Flax Seed Oil Liquid (Natural Factors)

Hi Potency Multi (Natural Factors)

Super Multi Plus (Natural Factors)

Ultra Multi Plus (Natural Factors)

Ultra Prim Evening Primrose Oil

(Natural Factors)

Vitamin A (Natural Factors)

Nutricap Capsules (Yves Ponroy Canada)

Other Nutritional Supplements

Aloe Vera Gel (Nature's Herbs)

Herbal Remedies

Bilberry Extract (Natural Factors)

St. John's Wort Extract (Natural Factors)

Bilberry-Power (Nature's Herbs)

Cascara Sagrada (Nature's Herbs)

Cayenne-Power (Nature's Herbs)

Echinacea-Power (Nature's Herbs)

Golden Seal Root (Nature's Herbs)

Psyllium Seed (Nature's Herbs)

Red Clover Combination (Nature's Herbs)

Senna Extract (Nature's Herbs)

St. John's-Power (Nature's Herbs)

External Therapies

Clary Sage (Karooch Essentail Oils)