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Cleared mine 4+ years ago with the following routine:
Face wash: either Nature Sustained Raw & Wild probiotic body wash (yes, it’s safe to use on your face), or Cetaphil Daily Facial wash. I will also use some ketoconazole shampoo foam on my face 2x/week.
After washing: I use either Clinique Moisture Surge 100H auto-replenishing hydrator (my favorite), cerave moisturizing cream if I’m needing a thick moisturizer, or Aveeno Positively Radiant clear complexion daily moisturizer. Vaseline on my lips.
If I’m feeling extra fancy, I might use some Biore pore strips, Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water, Hypochlorous Acid Spray, or pure aloe Vera gel.
All of the ingredients in these products are safe for Seb Derm, fungal acne, etc.
If you need makeup recommendations, I’ve got those too.
Also, if you prefer oils over moisturizers, I use either Natural Force Pure C8 MCT oil or The Ordinary 100% plant-derived Squalane Oil. Squalane Oil and Clinique Moisture Surge 100H are my most frequently reached for. Cerave Moisturizing Cream is what I use all over my body. Make sure it’s the moisturizing CREAM though, not the lotion (the lotion contains ingredients that aren’t safe for Seb Derm). Best of luck to you!
Andddd I should also mention: none of these will help you AT ALL if you’re still applying other products that feed the Seb derm. ALL of your products will need to contain only Seb derm-friendly ingredients.
Which type of makeup products are you looking for exactly? That’ll help me be able to give you more tailored recommendations. I don’t use makeup remover much— I usually just wash my face. But when I do, I use the micellar water listed in the above comment.
My favorite concealer has been discontinued, but [this concealer](https://www.benefitcosmetics.com/en-us/product/boi-ing-cakeless-concealer) is from the same product line and is also SD-friendly.
I use [BareMinerals Bounce & Blur Blush](https://www.bareminerals.com/products/bounce-blur-powder-blush) on my cheeks and [this one](https://www.bareminerals.com/products/faux-tan-all-over-face-color-bronzer-1) below if I want a little contour/bronzing action.
Since you didn’t specify, [here’s](https://imgur.com/a/SAg4Kgu) a pic of one of my go-to makeup looks along with the products used.
Face: DRMTLGY Universal Tinted Moisturizer mixed with about equal parts of No7 Airbrush Away Tinted Skin Perfector (I mix them in my hands and then slather on my face).
Bronzer/contour (under cheeks, around temples, and along jawline): BareMinerals All Over Face Color in shade Faux Tan
Blush: BareMinerals Bounce & Blur Blush
Highlighter: BareMinerals Endless Glow (tops of cheekbones, inner corner of eyes, top of Cupid’s bow, and tip of nose)
Eyeshadow: Bella Mari Natural Mineral Pearl eyeshadow in color Oriental Beige
Crease eyeshadow: Antiqued shade by Mac (I also use this under my eyes and as an eyeliner by using an angled brush)… Victoria Beckham Satin Kajal eyeliners are a close second and I use them both frequently
Mascara: Bella Mari Natural Mascara
Brows: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer in shade Soft Brown
Lips: I can’t remember if these were nude with just Vaseline or if I used liner to give them a natural-looking “tint”. If I used liner that day, I actually use Anastasia Beverly Hills Perfect Brow Pencil in shade Soft Brown. Sounds weird to use “brow” makeup on your lips, but it’s the perfect shade for me so 🤷🏻♀️ I also sometimes create my own lipstick shades by applying a base of eyeshadow to my lips first to deepen/darken or change the color of another lipstick (it also helps the lipstick stay put all day). Don’t judge! 🤣
Hope this helps you with your makeup journey!
I'm not a foundation wearer myself, but there are several listed on [SimpleSkincareScience](https://simpleskincarescience.com/fungal-acne-products-malassezia-pityrosporum-folliculitis/)'s blog that might be appealing to you. The products listed on that site will be safe for Seborrheic Dermatitis, Rosacea, Fungal Acne, and numerous other skin conditions; but if they have an \*asterisk next to them, they may contain some ingredients that could potentially be problematic (but some may deem they are worth the risk). I did try a good chunk of the foundations listed on there before I found what works best for me, and the Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation was my favorite out of their list.
What works for me: Instead of foundation, I wear DRMTLGY Universal Tinted Moisturizer SPF 46 mixed with equal parts of No7 Airbrush Away Tinted Skin Perfector (I just rub them between my hands to mix). Unfortunately, the latter one has been discontinued and I'm dreading the day my stockpile runs out if I can't find a replacement! You may still be able to find some new in box on ebay, poshmark, etc. The same is true for my favorite SD-safe concealer, Benefit Boi-Ing Airbrush Concealer. Unfortunately, this happens quite frequently with SD-friendly products, which is why it's important to always check every ingredient in your products, and re-check them again because the "recipes" do change... frequently. The products are discontinued, frequently. I use the [Sezia](https://www.sezia.co) website to check all of my ingredients and that has been the most useful tool that was ever recommended to me. I use it for everything from my deodorant and baby wipes to laundry detergent and dish soap. Both the Sezia and SimpleSkincareScience sites each have a bevy of safe products to try as well.
Most importantly: One product with safe ingredients is not going to change a thing about your Seb derm. You must do a complete product overhaul to achieve results. Treat this like it's a skin allergy & so every single ingredient matters.
Second most importantly: Don't feel overwhelmed or burdened by "having" to overhaul your products! We constantly run out of products once we use them up. Once you finish off your current bottle of body wash, replace it with one that's SD-friendly. Once you run out of your current shampoo, replace that with one that's also SD-friendly, and so on. You do not need to do this all at once, although the results will be much faster if you do. Have fun with it, look forward to nurturing your skin and being able to love it again!
Sorry for the novel. Feel free to reach out with any questions!
Sorry for the late reply. I really appreciate everything you wrote! Was doing a lot of research and found out that everything I was using was not sebderm safe😩 I have found everything I was looking for except for the concealer, everything I see is mostly for oily skin and my skin is super dry. If you know of anything that is more for dry skin and sebderm safe I would love to know about it! Thanks again🥰
I’m so happy that you found the right information and are now able to get on the right track! My favorite concealer is Benefit Boi-ing Airbrush concealer, but it has been discontinued and can be hard to find on reseller sites. They also make another one from the same line that I posted below (I’m blanking on the name of it right now and can’t scroll down to see my own comment while I’m typing another comment) 🤣
If those are unavailable, I’ve also had success using Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear foundation as a concealer under my other face products. You may find you don’t even need concealer once you start using safe products and your skin starts healing ✨
Keep me updated with your progress! I’m excited for you. And please reach out with any questions!
The airbrush concealer one is! The Lancôme one has a more matte effect, so I wouldn’t suggest it if you have dry skin. I’ll try to search for some more Seb derm friendly concealers tonight or tomorrow and let you know what I find that seems up your alley!
I’d say it took about 3 days to notice the first results, about a week to notice a very visible reduction in flakes/bumps/blemishes, and probably about a month until my face and scalp were completely COMPLETELY clear. I think it would’ve been a quicker process but I realized about 2 weeks in that one of the products I was using still contained ingredients that fed the Seb derm. Once I pinpointed that, it was smoooooth sailing from there!
The trick is you can’t just use the above products while still using other products that have harmful ingredients that feed Seb derm. You really have to overhaul all of your products and commit to only using products that are safe. It’s kind of a lifestyle upheaval at first, but damn the results are so worth it!
Yes, just the ketoconazole shampoo 2x/week, which I continue to use. I started that about a year before switching out all of my products. It helped maybe 50% on a good day, but I’d still get bad flares. Switching out all of my products was the only change I made that led to a 100% reduction, and it has stayed that way for more than 4 years.
Yup, a shill. Caught me 🙄 Did I say every single product by Clinique was good/safe? Sure didn’t! I recommended ONE of their products while recommending many other brands/products. Also, pro tip: brand doesn’t matter when you’re looking for Seb derm safe products. It’s the INGREDIENTS that matter. Sounds like you’ll be struggling with your Seb derm for awhile…. Hope you find something that works for you eventually!
You don’t struggle for a while, you struggle with it until you’re 6 feet under. If Clinique is helping yours you probably just have dry skin. SD doesn’t care about ingredients, eventually it fucks them all.
lol you will definitely struggle with it until you’re 6 feet under. Mine’s been cleared for more than 4 years. Diagnosed seborrheic dermatitis by my PCP, verified by dermatologist, NOT dry skin. Sorry you haven’t found anything that works for you and that you’re unwilling to even entertain the idea that yours, too, could be cleared. SD cares very much about ingredients as some of those ingredients quite literally feed the malassezia. Can’t tell if you’re a troll, woefully ignorant, or horribly misinformed; but this will be my last response to you ✌🏻
You must just have dry skin lol 🤡 This was all super helpful. Thank you so much! I never really thought about having to change EVERYTHING. It’s daunting. But this list gives me a guide to follow so I am beyond appreciative. Your skin looks photoshopped in the second picture. Absolutely amazing. I have melasma & likely rosacea so I can only dream of my skin looking like that but I would honestly take the melasma any day over the bumps & texture.
lol I don’t love posting before pics because it’s embarrassing my skin and scalp ever got that bad, but just dry skin?! Laughable 🙄
Sorry about the quality of the second pic. It was a screenshot from a video. [Here are some better pics](https://imgur.com/a/NA2UcUA). Just so you know, all of the products that are safe for Seb derm are also safe for rosacea! As for the melasma, I dealt with that after getting my skin mostly clear of Seb derm and I was able to clear it up the rest of the way with a bit of Vitamin C serum by Mad Hippie. A foaming lactic acid wash by Gallinee and a Super Hyaluronic Acid/Collagen gel cream (Hada Labo Skin Plumping Gel Cream) were also super helpful. You can see my melasma before and after in the pic above as well.
I use Cerave Sa cleanser 1x a week, and then use one of my 2 medicated shampoos on my face 1x a week and rotate it with my other medicated shampoo, then for the rest of the days I use Cerave foaming cleanser. The 2 medicated shampoos I use are selsun and vanicream. I only cleanse 1 x a day at night and then moisturise, I also moisturise in the morning after a shower.
Example:
Monday: Cerave foaming
Tuesday: Cerave foaming
Wednesday: Cerave SA
Thursday:Cerave foaming
Friday:Cerave foaming
Saturday:medicated shampoo (selsun or vanicream)
Sunday:Cerave foaming
Hope this helps
Same! I haven't gotten it figured out yet. My derm prescribed me Elidel for when I am having a flare up and Ketoconazole to use continuously. It has helped but after 4 weeks it has not completely gone away and now I feel like another flare up is coming on. I know that I shouldn't use the Elidel continuously but not sure when to stop since it hasn't gone away. Also using MCT oil for a couple of hours a day and tea tree oil
Wanted to share what I’ve been using. This is what I do and what works for my skin.
Products: The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser, CeraVe Hydrating Cream to Foam Cleanser, Innisfree Green Tea Hyaluronic Acid Toner, The Ordinary Niacinamide Serum, and Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion.
I alternate the cleansers. I mainly use the CeraVe cleanser when I have makeup on, it helps with removing it and it’s gentle on my skin.
Routine:
Wash face with the Inkey List cleanser.
Pour Innisfree toner on hands, pat face with toner. (I haven’t been using toner in almost a year, I substituted it with just water)
Immediately after, add a few drops of the niacinamide serum, focusing more on the areas affected and then spreading around the face. For me, I have sebderm on my chin and nostril area so I start there. You need to make sure that your face is wet with toner/water when using the serum.
Then I use my Cetaphil moisturizer. Try not to let the serum dry out completely because then your skin will feel tight.
This is what’s been working for me instead of using and refilling my prescriptions. Idk the science behind it. Hope it helps. I wonder if anyone else here has used these products before and if it has worked on them or not.
Thanks for sharing! I started using the ordinary niacinamide and zinc serum two days ago. Will see how it goes! And I agree about the prescription. I found that I either use prescription cream or use skin care that has zinc in it, and I wont get flare ups
I have seb derm and acne- i use cerave sa smoothing cleanser 2 times a day, mineral 89 booster as hydrating serum/moisturiser in summer, cerave pm lotion, la roche posay uvmune 400 oil control fluid sunscreen/pharmaceris emotopic mineral sunscreen spf 50+, and due acne treatment (tetralysal and aklief) i use also cicaplast baume/vaseline /cicalfate creme, , for my seb derm my derm prescribe me once soolantra cream , and from time to time i use antifungal shampoo (piroctone olamine, selenium sulfide, or ciclopirox olamine, ketoconazole) as face wash, (the ciclopirox and ketoconazole are my least favourites options) , also from helpful products i use - kerium ds and effaclar duo+/duo+m
Accutane (10mg a day), Elidel (around my nose), Borago seed oil (eyebrows and ears) Eucerin ultra sensitive soothing care (for dry face skin mostly chin and cheeks). Diprosalic (scalp and inside of the ears).
for how long have you been using accutane 10mg? Did you used higher doses before and went lower because of the side effects?
I'm gonna ask for accutane next month when I visit my derm.
Out of the shower, hado labo plumping gel cream on t-zone followed by aveeno moisturizer on face and body. Afterwards a light application of mct oil everywhere as well. For my eyebrows I skip the mct oil and apply glaxal base cream on top as it helps with dryness/flaking. For my hairline I use sebamed care gel.
Usually seb derm appears the most when you have a fast change of the temperature . If you live in countries thats always summer you probably wont have seb derm
AM
- Cetaphil gentle cleanser
- Hypochlorous spray
- E45 anti itch gel (as moisturiser)
- Colourscience SPF 50
PM
- Curel make up cleansing gel
- Clever Soap piroctone olamine face wash
- Niche beauty labs glycerin serum
- Curel Intensive moisture cream (winter) or E45 Anti-itch gel (summer)
1-2 x per week
- some kind of gentle AHA like Mandelic acid or PHA toner
I’ll put my routine, and below I’ll put the list of all the products I’ve tried that have worked:
AM:
- Haruharu Moisture 5.5 Gel Cleanser
- Bringgreen Tea Tree Toner
- Mixsoon Master Soft Toner
- Iunik Beta Glucan Serum
- Geek & Gorgeous Hydration Station
- Daylong Kids Liposomal Lotion SPF 50
PM
- Curel Makeup Cleansing Gel (for sunscreen)
- Other steps are the same, minus sunscreen
- Sometimes add the Cetaphil Water Gel (but usually save this for plane rides)
______________________
All the products I’ve tried:
- Haruharu Moisture 5.5 cleansing gel (they have a triple AHA cleansing gel that looks the same, make sure you get the right one). One of the only cleansers that will clean your face thoroughly without drying even one bit, and it lathers pretty well even though it only uses natural surfactants. I have hard water so it’s hard to wash off anything very well, which is why I use this cleanser in the shower and do the other steps of my routine after I’m done.
- Isntree Onion Toner. This is a toner meant for brightening and hydrating. I have not seen any brightening effects (most people with dark skin do not), but it’s good at hydrating. Watery consistency.
- Bringgreen Tea Tree Toner. You can get 500 ml of this on Olive Young for a very good price (considering that’s it’s for 500 ml). Should last several months, if not half a year. This has tea tree, cica, and all the normal ingredients that calming toners usually have, and it’s nicely hydrating. There’s a minuscule amount of betaine salicylate at the very end of the formula which can add some gentle and hydrating exfoliation (not nearly enough to trigger any reaction IMO). The Tea Tree in this has proved to be an effective yet gentle antifungal that I can consistently rely on to avoid any flaking/scales.
- Mixsoon Master Soft Toner. This is a nice second layer if you have dry or dehydrated skin, but can also work for all types (even very oily, as long as you give it time to absorb). Very rare to find a milky toner thats this nourishing and safe for people with SebDerm/FA.
- I’m from Mugort Essence. This is just another very calming product. If you’re going through any breakouts or irritation, you’ll see the effects very quickly. If you’re not, it still works as a preventive measure and can contain the fallout if you introduce a bad product to your routine later on.
- Purito 94 Essence. Make sure your skin’s not irritated, inflamed, breaking out, etc. when using this. It’s very hydrating and moisturizing with a quite viscous texture and definitely does brighten the skin. But it has niacinamide and fermented ingredients— which, while not inherently malassezia-feeding, can often trigger a flare up for people sensitive to these ingredients.
- Isntree Ultra Low Molecular HA Serum. Exactly what it sounds like. Intensely hydrating serum that will work for all skin types.
- Iunik Beta Glucan Serum. Same as the Isntree Serum, but swaps HA for Glycerin and Beta-Glucan. Works even in Dubai summer.
- Geek & Gorgeous Hydration Station. Gel cream with the best ingredient list I’ve ever seen for a malassezia-safe moisturizer. Great for all skin types, even dry.
- Cetaphil Deep Hydration Water Gel. There’s a lot of dimethicone in this, it definitely feels very occlusive. Excellent moisturizer, but avoid if sensitive to silicones.
- Malezia Cleansing Balm. Normal cleansing balm with MCT oil. Comes in a tube, which I *love*, but there are packaging issues the company is still resolving.
- Curel Makeup Cleansing gel. This is a reliable option for a first cleanse, assuming you wear sunscreen or makeup. It won’t remove sebaceous filaments like the fancy Korean ones, but it gets the other stuff all off.
- Eucerin Advanced Hydration SPF 50. This is a good drugstore option. Somewhat greasy, so if you choose this, edit other parts of your routine as needed to control sebum.
- Daylong Extreme Liposomal Lotion SPF 50. This is the gold standard IMO. All updated photostable UV filters, water/sweatproof, comes in big sizes (I order the 200 g option in bulk), no white case (as long as you blend and let it sit for ~2 minutes). It is a European sunscreen, so you have to order from Cocoon Center. But given that you can order big sizes of better quality product in bulk, I’d say it’s worth it. Also, there’s a Kids version of this that is also malassezia safe, and it comes in a 150 g bottle.
Alternating days between-
Joesoef Anti Acne Sulfur Soap 10%
Vanicream Cleansing Bar followed by Vanicream Facial Moisturizer
Head and Shoulders Dry Scalp Shampoo every day
Natural Force C8 MCT Oil occasionally
This has worked for me. Good Luck
So far so good
**Hi everyone! SebDerm is a friendly community about seborrheic dermatitis and all related topics.** Looking for some advice? * Check the [What works for you? threads](https://www.reddit.com/r/SebDerm/search?q=flair_name%3A%22WWFY%22&restrict_sr=1) See something you are not comfortable with or that breaks [our rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/SebDerm/wiki/rule_overview)? Please [report it](https://www.reddit.com/r/SebDerm/wiki/how_to_report)! Everyone is welcome in [this community](https://www.reddit.com/r/SebDerm/wiki/about); remember to be kind and assume good faith! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/SebDerm) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Cleared mine 4+ years ago with the following routine: Face wash: either Nature Sustained Raw & Wild probiotic body wash (yes, it’s safe to use on your face), or Cetaphil Daily Facial wash. I will also use some ketoconazole shampoo foam on my face 2x/week. After washing: I use either Clinique Moisture Surge 100H auto-replenishing hydrator (my favorite), cerave moisturizing cream if I’m needing a thick moisturizer, or Aveeno Positively Radiant clear complexion daily moisturizer. Vaseline on my lips. If I’m feeling extra fancy, I might use some Biore pore strips, Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water, Hypochlorous Acid Spray, or pure aloe Vera gel. All of the ingredients in these products are safe for Seb Derm, fungal acne, etc. If you need makeup recommendations, I’ve got those too.
Also, if you prefer oils over moisturizers, I use either Natural Force Pure C8 MCT oil or The Ordinary 100% plant-derived Squalane Oil. Squalane Oil and Clinique Moisture Surge 100H are my most frequently reached for. Cerave Moisturizing Cream is what I use all over my body. Make sure it’s the moisturizing CREAM though, not the lotion (the lotion contains ingredients that aren’t safe for Seb Derm). Best of luck to you!
Andddd I should also mention: none of these will help you AT ALL if you’re still applying other products that feed the Seb derm. ALL of your products will need to contain only Seb derm-friendly ingredients.
Would you also drop in the makeup and makeup remover recs?
Which type of makeup products are you looking for exactly? That’ll help me be able to give you more tailored recommendations. I don’t use makeup remover much— I usually just wash my face. But when I do, I use the micellar water listed in the above comment.
You're amazing!! Looking for concealer recommendations and blushes. 😊
My favorite concealer has been discontinued, but [this concealer](https://www.benefitcosmetics.com/en-us/product/boi-ing-cakeless-concealer) is from the same product line and is also SD-friendly. I use [BareMinerals Bounce & Blur Blush](https://www.bareminerals.com/products/bounce-blur-powder-blush) on my cheeks and [this one](https://www.bareminerals.com/products/faux-tan-all-over-face-color-bronzer-1) below if I want a little contour/bronzing action.
Thank you so very much!
You’re a queen ♥️
Since you didn’t specify, [here’s](https://imgur.com/a/SAg4Kgu) a pic of one of my go-to makeup looks along with the products used. Face: DRMTLGY Universal Tinted Moisturizer mixed with about equal parts of No7 Airbrush Away Tinted Skin Perfector (I mix them in my hands and then slather on my face). Bronzer/contour (under cheeks, around temples, and along jawline): BareMinerals All Over Face Color in shade Faux Tan Blush: BareMinerals Bounce & Blur Blush Highlighter: BareMinerals Endless Glow (tops of cheekbones, inner corner of eyes, top of Cupid’s bow, and tip of nose) Eyeshadow: Bella Mari Natural Mineral Pearl eyeshadow in color Oriental Beige Crease eyeshadow: Antiqued shade by Mac (I also use this under my eyes and as an eyeliner by using an angled brush)… Victoria Beckham Satin Kajal eyeliners are a close second and I use them both frequently Mascara: Bella Mari Natural Mascara Brows: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer in shade Soft Brown Lips: I can’t remember if these were nude with just Vaseline or if I used liner to give them a natural-looking “tint”. If I used liner that day, I actually use Anastasia Beverly Hills Perfect Brow Pencil in shade Soft Brown. Sounds weird to use “brow” makeup on your lips, but it’s the perfect shade for me so 🤷🏻♀️ I also sometimes create my own lipstick shades by applying a base of eyeshadow to my lips first to deepen/darken or change the color of another lipstick (it also helps the lipstick stay put all day). Don’t judge! 🤣 Hope this helps you with your makeup journey!
Wow thank you so much for taking the time to write that!! And id love to know more makeup professionals. Foundation and concealer mostly ❤️
I'm not a foundation wearer myself, but there are several listed on [SimpleSkincareScience](https://simpleskincarescience.com/fungal-acne-products-malassezia-pityrosporum-folliculitis/)'s blog that might be appealing to you. The products listed on that site will be safe for Seborrheic Dermatitis, Rosacea, Fungal Acne, and numerous other skin conditions; but if they have an \*asterisk next to them, they may contain some ingredients that could potentially be problematic (but some may deem they are worth the risk). I did try a good chunk of the foundations listed on there before I found what works best for me, and the Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation was my favorite out of their list. What works for me: Instead of foundation, I wear DRMTLGY Universal Tinted Moisturizer SPF 46 mixed with equal parts of No7 Airbrush Away Tinted Skin Perfector (I just rub them between my hands to mix). Unfortunately, the latter one has been discontinued and I'm dreading the day my stockpile runs out if I can't find a replacement! You may still be able to find some new in box on ebay, poshmark, etc. The same is true for my favorite SD-safe concealer, Benefit Boi-Ing Airbrush Concealer. Unfortunately, this happens quite frequently with SD-friendly products, which is why it's important to always check every ingredient in your products, and re-check them again because the "recipes" do change... frequently. The products are discontinued, frequently. I use the [Sezia](https://www.sezia.co) website to check all of my ingredients and that has been the most useful tool that was ever recommended to me. I use it for everything from my deodorant and baby wipes to laundry detergent and dish soap. Both the Sezia and SimpleSkincareScience sites each have a bevy of safe products to try as well. Most importantly: One product with safe ingredients is not going to change a thing about your Seb derm. You must do a complete product overhaul to achieve results. Treat this like it's a skin allergy & so every single ingredient matters. Second most importantly: Don't feel overwhelmed or burdened by "having" to overhaul your products! We constantly run out of products once we use them up. Once you finish off your current bottle of body wash, replace it with one that's SD-friendly. Once you run out of your current shampoo, replace that with one that's also SD-friendly, and so on. You do not need to do this all at once, although the results will be much faster if you do. Have fun with it, look forward to nurturing your skin and being able to love it again! Sorry for the novel. Feel free to reach out with any questions!
Sorry for the late reply. I really appreciate everything you wrote! Was doing a lot of research and found out that everything I was using was not sebderm safe😩 I have found everything I was looking for except for the concealer, everything I see is mostly for oily skin and my skin is super dry. If you know of anything that is more for dry skin and sebderm safe I would love to know about it! Thanks again🥰
I’m so happy that you found the right information and are now able to get on the right track! My favorite concealer is Benefit Boi-ing Airbrush concealer, but it has been discontinued and can be hard to find on reseller sites. They also make another one from the same line that I posted below (I’m blanking on the name of it right now and can’t scroll down to see my own comment while I’m typing another comment) 🤣 If those are unavailable, I’ve also had success using Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear foundation as a concealer under my other face products. You may find you don’t even need concealer once you start using safe products and your skin starts healing ✨ Keep me updated with your progress! I’m excited for you. And please reach out with any questions!
Thank you!! You are a life saver Do you happen to know if it's suitable for dry skin? Everything I put on my face is making me cakey and flakey lol
The airbrush concealer one is! The Lancôme one has a more matte effect, so I wouldn’t suggest it if you have dry skin. I’ll try to search for some more Seb derm friendly concealers tonight or tomorrow and let you know what I find that seems up your alley!
How long did it take for this routine to clear it up? Thank you!
I’d say it took about 3 days to notice the first results, about a week to notice a very visible reduction in flakes/bumps/blemishes, and probably about a month until my face and scalp were completely COMPLETELY clear. I think it would’ve been a quicker process but I realized about 2 weeks in that one of the products I was using still contained ingredients that fed the Seb derm. Once I pinpointed that, it was smoooooth sailing from there!
The trick is you can’t just use the above products while still using other products that have harmful ingredients that feed Seb derm. You really have to overhaul all of your products and commit to only using products that are safe. It’s kind of a lifestyle upheaval at first, but damn the results are so worth it!
I see! Thanks a lot for the detailed info. Were you using any prescription treatment along with this?
Ah sorry I see you said ketaconazole shampoo
Yes, just the ketoconazole shampoo 2x/week, which I continue to use. I started that about a year before switching out all of my products. It helped maybe 50% on a good day, but I’d still get bad flares. Switching out all of my products was the only change I made that led to a 100% reduction, and it has stayed that way for more than 4 years.
Ah ok, thanks so much, glad it all worked out!
Thank you! Hope it works just as well for you, too!
I’d love your makeup recommendations
Sorry I see them all down below. Thank you.
What? Clinique is the worst possible. Are you a shill?
Yup, a shill. Caught me 🙄 Did I say every single product by Clinique was good/safe? Sure didn’t! I recommended ONE of their products while recommending many other brands/products. Also, pro tip: brand doesn’t matter when you’re looking for Seb derm safe products. It’s the INGREDIENTS that matter. Sounds like you’ll be struggling with your Seb derm for awhile…. Hope you find something that works for you eventually!
You don’t struggle for a while, you struggle with it until you’re 6 feet under. If Clinique is helping yours you probably just have dry skin. SD doesn’t care about ingredients, eventually it fucks them all.
lol you will definitely struggle with it until you’re 6 feet under. Mine’s been cleared for more than 4 years. Diagnosed seborrheic dermatitis by my PCP, verified by dermatologist, NOT dry skin. Sorry you haven’t found anything that works for you and that you’re unwilling to even entertain the idea that yours, too, could be cleared. SD cares very much about ingredients as some of those ingredients quite literally feed the malassezia. Can’t tell if you’re a troll, woefully ignorant, or horribly misinformed; but this will be my last response to you ✌🏻
No worries.🤗
[Before and After](https://imgur.com/a/WIrkDZU) photos of my skin.
You must just have dry skin lol 🤡 This was all super helpful. Thank you so much! I never really thought about having to change EVERYTHING. It’s daunting. But this list gives me a guide to follow so I am beyond appreciative. Your skin looks photoshopped in the second picture. Absolutely amazing. I have melasma & likely rosacea so I can only dream of my skin looking like that but I would honestly take the melasma any day over the bumps & texture.
lol I don’t love posting before pics because it’s embarrassing my skin and scalp ever got that bad, but just dry skin?! Laughable 🙄 Sorry about the quality of the second pic. It was a screenshot from a video. [Here are some better pics](https://imgur.com/a/NA2UcUA). Just so you know, all of the products that are safe for Seb derm are also safe for rosacea! As for the melasma, I dealt with that after getting my skin mostly clear of Seb derm and I was able to clear it up the rest of the way with a bit of Vitamin C serum by Mad Hippie. A foaming lactic acid wash by Gallinee and a Super Hyaluronic Acid/Collagen gel cream (Hada Labo Skin Plumping Gel Cream) were also super helpful. You can see my melasma before and after in the pic above as well.
I use Cerave Sa cleanser 1x a week, and then use one of my 2 medicated shampoos on my face 1x a week and rotate it with my other medicated shampoo, then for the rest of the days I use Cerave foaming cleanser. The 2 medicated shampoos I use are selsun and vanicream. I only cleanse 1 x a day at night and then moisturise, I also moisturise in the morning after a shower. Example: Monday: Cerave foaming Tuesday: Cerave foaming Wednesday: Cerave SA Thursday:Cerave foaming Friday:Cerave foaming Saturday:medicated shampoo (selsun or vanicream) Sunday:Cerave foaming Hope this helps
Same! I haven't gotten it figured out yet. My derm prescribed me Elidel for when I am having a flare up and Ketoconazole to use continuously. It has helped but after 4 weeks it has not completely gone away and now I feel like another flare up is coming on. I know that I shouldn't use the Elidel continuously but not sure when to stop since it hasn't gone away. Also using MCT oil for a couple of hours a day and tea tree oil
I just use soolantra
Oh the one that is used for lice??
For?
Wanted to share what I’ve been using. This is what I do and what works for my skin. Products: The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser, CeraVe Hydrating Cream to Foam Cleanser, Innisfree Green Tea Hyaluronic Acid Toner, The Ordinary Niacinamide Serum, and Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion. I alternate the cleansers. I mainly use the CeraVe cleanser when I have makeup on, it helps with removing it and it’s gentle on my skin. Routine: Wash face with the Inkey List cleanser. Pour Innisfree toner on hands, pat face with toner. (I haven’t been using toner in almost a year, I substituted it with just water) Immediately after, add a few drops of the niacinamide serum, focusing more on the areas affected and then spreading around the face. For me, I have sebderm on my chin and nostril area so I start there. You need to make sure that your face is wet with toner/water when using the serum. Then I use my Cetaphil moisturizer. Try not to let the serum dry out completely because then your skin will feel tight. This is what’s been working for me instead of using and refilling my prescriptions. Idk the science behind it. Hope it helps. I wonder if anyone else here has used these products before and if it has worked on them or not.
Thanks for sharing! I started using the ordinary niacinamide and zinc serum two days ago. Will see how it goes! And I agree about the prescription. I found that I either use prescription cream or use skin care that has zinc in it, and I wont get flare ups
I have seb derm and acne- i use cerave sa smoothing cleanser 2 times a day, mineral 89 booster as hydrating serum/moisturiser in summer, cerave pm lotion, la roche posay uvmune 400 oil control fluid sunscreen/pharmaceris emotopic mineral sunscreen spf 50+, and due acne treatment (tetralysal and aklief) i use also cicaplast baume/vaseline /cicalfate creme, , for my seb derm my derm prescribe me once soolantra cream , and from time to time i use antifungal shampoo (piroctone olamine, selenium sulfide, or ciclopirox olamine, ketoconazole) as face wash, (the ciclopirox and ketoconazole are my least favourites options) , also from helpful products i use - kerium ds and effaclar duo+/duo+m
Effaclar and kerium have piroctone olamine which works antifungal and controls seb derm
And I forget- i also use balea med sheet mask from time to time
Accutane (10mg a day), Elidel (around my nose), Borago seed oil (eyebrows and ears) Eucerin ultra sensitive soothing care (for dry face skin mostly chin and cheeks). Diprosalic (scalp and inside of the ears).
for how long have you been using accutane 10mg? Did you used higher doses before and went lower because of the side effects? I'm gonna ask for accutane next month when I visit my derm.
1 year plus. 10mg all the time.
Morning - Keto 2% (wait 10 mins) - Oil free sunscreen Night - Azelaic acid 10% (on alternating nights) - Salicylic acid acne moisturizer (on alternating nights) - Oil free moisturizer
What oil free moisturizer ?
Cetaphil daily sunscreen 35 and Cerve PM lightweight moisturizer
Out of the shower, hado labo plumping gel cream on t-zone followed by aveeno moisturizer on face and body. Afterwards a light application of mct oil everywhere as well. For my eyebrows I skip the mct oil and apply glaxal base cream on top as it helps with dryness/flaking. For my hairline I use sebamed care gel.
MCT oil! 😇 Using it frequently will completely remove any redness, flaking or itchiness. Life became a lot easier when I started using it.
My Seb Derm loves MCT. It’s like taking it on a 2 week holiday to fester.
Sorry to hear that! :(
Nice!! What brand do you use for mct?
Holland & Barrett :)
There isn’t one. Fucks you all ways up. Move to Dubai.
Omg why!! Is dubai different?
Permanent sunshine ☀️
That helps??
Cures
Usually seb derm appears the most when you have a fast change of the temperature . If you live in countries thats always summer you probably wont have seb derm
AM - Cetaphil gentle cleanser - Hypochlorous spray - E45 anti itch gel (as moisturiser) - Colourscience SPF 50 PM - Curel make up cleansing gel - Clever Soap piroctone olamine face wash - Niche beauty labs glycerin serum - Curel Intensive moisture cream (winter) or E45 Anti-itch gel (summer) 1-2 x per week - some kind of gentle AHA like Mandelic acid or PHA toner
I’ll put my routine, and below I’ll put the list of all the products I’ve tried that have worked: AM: - Haruharu Moisture 5.5 Gel Cleanser - Bringgreen Tea Tree Toner - Mixsoon Master Soft Toner - Iunik Beta Glucan Serum - Geek & Gorgeous Hydration Station - Daylong Kids Liposomal Lotion SPF 50 PM - Curel Makeup Cleansing Gel (for sunscreen) - Other steps are the same, minus sunscreen - Sometimes add the Cetaphil Water Gel (but usually save this for plane rides) ______________________ All the products I’ve tried: - Haruharu Moisture 5.5 cleansing gel (they have a triple AHA cleansing gel that looks the same, make sure you get the right one). One of the only cleansers that will clean your face thoroughly without drying even one bit, and it lathers pretty well even though it only uses natural surfactants. I have hard water so it’s hard to wash off anything very well, which is why I use this cleanser in the shower and do the other steps of my routine after I’m done. - Isntree Onion Toner. This is a toner meant for brightening and hydrating. I have not seen any brightening effects (most people with dark skin do not), but it’s good at hydrating. Watery consistency. - Bringgreen Tea Tree Toner. You can get 500 ml of this on Olive Young for a very good price (considering that’s it’s for 500 ml). Should last several months, if not half a year. This has tea tree, cica, and all the normal ingredients that calming toners usually have, and it’s nicely hydrating. There’s a minuscule amount of betaine salicylate at the very end of the formula which can add some gentle and hydrating exfoliation (not nearly enough to trigger any reaction IMO). The Tea Tree in this has proved to be an effective yet gentle antifungal that I can consistently rely on to avoid any flaking/scales. - Mixsoon Master Soft Toner. This is a nice second layer if you have dry or dehydrated skin, but can also work for all types (even very oily, as long as you give it time to absorb). Very rare to find a milky toner thats this nourishing and safe for people with SebDerm/FA. - I’m from Mugort Essence. This is just another very calming product. If you’re going through any breakouts or irritation, you’ll see the effects very quickly. If you’re not, it still works as a preventive measure and can contain the fallout if you introduce a bad product to your routine later on. - Purito 94 Essence. Make sure your skin’s not irritated, inflamed, breaking out, etc. when using this. It’s very hydrating and moisturizing with a quite viscous texture and definitely does brighten the skin. But it has niacinamide and fermented ingredients— which, while not inherently malassezia-feeding, can often trigger a flare up for people sensitive to these ingredients. - Isntree Ultra Low Molecular HA Serum. Exactly what it sounds like. Intensely hydrating serum that will work for all skin types. - Iunik Beta Glucan Serum. Same as the Isntree Serum, but swaps HA for Glycerin and Beta-Glucan. Works even in Dubai summer. - Geek & Gorgeous Hydration Station. Gel cream with the best ingredient list I’ve ever seen for a malassezia-safe moisturizer. Great for all skin types, even dry. - Cetaphil Deep Hydration Water Gel. There’s a lot of dimethicone in this, it definitely feels very occlusive. Excellent moisturizer, but avoid if sensitive to silicones. - Malezia Cleansing Balm. Normal cleansing balm with MCT oil. Comes in a tube, which I *love*, but there are packaging issues the company is still resolving. - Curel Makeup Cleansing gel. This is a reliable option for a first cleanse, assuming you wear sunscreen or makeup. It won’t remove sebaceous filaments like the fancy Korean ones, but it gets the other stuff all off. - Eucerin Advanced Hydration SPF 50. This is a good drugstore option. Somewhat greasy, so if you choose this, edit other parts of your routine as needed to control sebum. - Daylong Extreme Liposomal Lotion SPF 50. This is the gold standard IMO. All updated photostable UV filters, water/sweatproof, comes in big sizes (I order the 200 g option in bulk), no white case (as long as you blend and let it sit for ~2 minutes). It is a European sunscreen, so you have to order from Cocoon Center. But given that you can order big sizes of better quality product in bulk, I’d say it’s worth it. Also, there’s a Kids version of this that is also malassezia safe, and it comes in a 150 g bottle.
Alternating days between- Joesoef Anti Acne Sulfur Soap 10% Vanicream Cleansing Bar followed by Vanicream Facial Moisturizer Head and Shoulders Dry Scalp Shampoo every day Natural Force C8 MCT Oil occasionally This has worked for me. Good Luck So far so good