Seborrheic Dermatitis: What You Need To Know

by Eric Bakker N.D.

Seborrheic dermatitis is quite a common condition. It’s estimated that about six million people in the USA have seborrheic dermatitis.

It’s very easy to get seborrheic dermatitis mixed up with psoriasis. Many doctors get confused themselves. I urge you to take a look at Google images to get some sense of how seborrheic dermatitis presents.

Many of psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis clients I have seen have periods when the skin is not so bad and times when their skin is much worse. There are several possible triggers for a skin rash flare-up:

1. Emotional stress and depression: Numerous studies have demonstrated that skin conditions can be triggered by the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol is one of the key hormones involved in increasing and decreasing inflammation. The adrenals produce cortisol in response to any stressful event. Trauma, depression, and anxiety can all be real triggers for pro-inflammatory levels of cortisol in your body.

2. Poor sleep: Fatigue and lack of sleep can trigger a flare of a skin condition.

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3. Immune disrupting factors: Steroids, antibiotics, or other medications may be a causative factor for seborrheic dermatitis. There are seven or eight drugs associated with psoriasis. That is also probably valid for

seborrheic dermatitis. If you’re on medication and then develop a skin rash, alert your doctor to this possible side effect.

4. Systemic infections: For example, Lyme disease, Candida, SIBO, viral infections, and parasitic infection can wreck your immune system and allow seborrheic dermatitis to surface.

5. Exposure to certain conditions in the workplace. Exposure to chemicals at work can increase the incidence of skin conditions. It may be that the workplace is too drying or too moist, leaving your skin vulnerable to a variety of disorders.

Take a good look at these possible causative factors. If any of them seem relevant, you need to take steps to address the triggers.

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About Eric Bakker N.D.

Eric Bakker ND has completed almost ten years of study and has almost almost 25 years of clinical experience in natural and integrative forms of medicine, and has pursued continuous post-graduate study in Australia, America, India as well as in New Zealand.

Eric is the past Vice President of the NZ Natural Medicine Association and is currently on their editorial advisory board.