Questions and answers
Can you use face oil with seborrheic dermatitis?
Short answer: carefully. Seborrheic dermatitis is linked to the yeast Malassezia, which lives on the skin's lipids. Some oils can give it more to feed on. Choose few ingredients, avoid oils such as olive oil and patch test first.
What is seborrheic dermatitis?
Seborrheic dermatitis causes redness and yellowish or white flaking where the skin has many oil glands: around the sides of the nose, in the eyebrows, along the hairline, behind the ears and on the scalp, where it shows up as dandruff.
It is linked to the yeast Malassezia, which lives on everyone's skin but triggers an inflammatory reaction in some people. It often gets worse in winter, with stress and with lack of sleep, and comes and goes in periods.
Treatment is usually an antifungal shampoo or cream, sometimes a short course of a mild steroid cream. A pharmacist or GP can advise you. Skincare does not replace that, but it can either help or make things worse.
What usually helps
Stick to your treatment
Antifungal shampoo or cream is the foundation. Don't stop using it to try something new.
Be careful with kitchen oils
Olive oil and similar oils rich in free fatty acids are often not recommended for seborrheic dermatitis, because Malassezia can feed on them.
Sleep and slow down
Stress and lack of sleep are known triggers for new flares. It sounds simple, but it often makes a difference.
Patch test
Try a new product on a small area for a few days before using it on your whole face.
Which oils can work?
The research here is thin, so we don't want to overpromise. MCT oil (caprylic/capric triglyceride) is often mentioned as one of the gentler options for seborrheic dermatitis. Jojoba is technically a wax rather than a typical oil, and resembles the skin's own sebum.
Our products are built on exactly those two. Au Naturel Makeup Remover contains only MCT oil and CBD, and can be used to cleanse the skin without foaming cleansers. TA-DA Serum contains only jojoba oil and CBG. It is not proven that CBD or CBG helps with seborrheic dermatitis, but short ingredient lists make it easier to see how your skin reacts.
Frequently asked questions
Is dandruff the same as seborrheic dermatitis?
Dandruff is the mild form of seborrheic dermatitis on the scalp. On the face it shows up as redness and flaking.
Does CBD help with dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis?
There are no clinical studies showing that. CBD affects inflammation in lab experiments, but we cannot promise any effect on seborrheic dermatitis.
Should I stop my antifungal cream if I start using an oil?
No. Follow the treatment you have been given. An oil can be a complement, not a replacement.
Sources
- Baswan SM, Klosner AE, Glynn K, et al. Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol (CBD) for Skin Health and Disorders. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol 2020;13:927–942.
- Oláh A, Tóth BI, Borbíró I, et al. Cannabidiol exerts sebostatic and antiinflammatory effects on human sebocytes. J Clin Invest 2014;124(9):3713–3724.
- Tóth KF, Ádám D, Bíró T, Oláh A. Cannabinoid signaling in the skin: therapeutic potential of the c(ut)annabinoid system. Molecules 2019;24(5):918.
- Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL. Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils. Int J Mol Sci 2017;19(1):70.
Article reviewed by Christopher Genberg, founder of 1753 SKINCARE.
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