Seborrheic Dermatitis

What is seborrheic dermatitis?

Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that commonly affects areas rich in oil glands, such as the scalp, eyebrows, sides of the nose, ears, and chest. It is characterized by flaking, scaling, redness, and sometimes itching or irritation.

The condition is associated with an inflammatory reaction to a naturally occurring yeast on the skin called Malassezia. When combined with increased oil (sebum) production and a sensitive skin barrier, this can lead to persistent inflammation and visible flaking.

Seborrheic dermatitis often follows a pattern of flares and improvement and may be influenced by environmental, microbial, and systemic factors.

Why seborrheic dermatitis develops

Seborrheic dermatitis is driven by several interacting processes in the skin.

Malassezia yeast activity

A naturally occurring yeast interacts with skin oils and can trigger inflammation in susceptible individuals.

Sebum production

Oil-rich areas of the skin create an environment that supports yeast growth and inflammation.

Skin barrier dysfunction

A compromised barrier allows irritation and inflammation to persist.

Immune response

The skin’s immune system becomes reactive to microbial and environmental factors.

These combined factors contribute to chronic flaking, redness, and irritation.

Common triggers

Common Triggers for Seborrheic Dermatitis Flares

Seborrheic dermatitis can worsen when certain internal or external triggers are present.

Common triggers include:

• stress
• cold or dry weather
• hormonal changes
• excess oil production
• harsh skincare or hair products
• infrequent or excessive washing
• microbiome imbalance
• illness or immune changes

Managing these triggers can help reduce flare frequency.

Our Approach to Seborrheic Dermatitis

Dr. Larivee provides physician-led care for patients with chronic seborrheic dermatitis. Rather than focusing only on controlling flaking, care focuses on identifying the factors contributing to inflammation, microbiome imbalance, and barrier dysfunction.

Treatment plans are individualized based on severity, location of involvement, prior treatments, and overall health.

Approaches may include:

1.Clinical evaluation

Review of symptom patterns, triggers, and previous treatments.

2.Microbiome balance

Addressing yeast and microbial factors contributing to inflammation.

3.Skin barrier support

Strategies to reduce irritation and improve skin resilience.

4.Targeted therapies

Use of dermatologic treatments or integrative therapies when appropriate.

5.Long-term skin stability

Focus on reducing recurrence and maintaining control over time.

Who This Care Is Designed For

This care model may be appropriate for patients who:

• have persistent dandruff or scalp flaking
• experience redness or scaling on the face or ears
• have recurrent seborrheic dermatitis flares
• have not achieved lasting improvement with conventional care
• want a physician-guided integrative dermatology approach

This practice focuses on chronic inflammatory skin conditions and may not be appropriate for urgent dermatologic care.

Schedule an introductory consultation to discuss your skin concerns and determine whether our integrative dermatology approach is appropriate for your care.

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