What is the best face wash for seborrheic dermatitis? Facial seborrheic dermatitis, also known as seb derm, can be tricky to treat.
It’s an itchy skin condition that’s also a form of facial dandruff, similar to cradle cap on a baby. In this blog post I’ll discuss treatment options in the form of facial cleansers.
There is no single best treatment for seb derm, as everyone responds differently to different active ingredients. Hopefully this post will give you the knowledge to find a treatment plan that works best for you to achieve healthy skin.
Disclaimer: some of the links in this article are affiliate links, meaning I might make a small % if you choose to make a purchase.
What is facial seborrheic dermatitis?
Seb derm is a common skin condition that can flare all year round, but particularly flares in winter. Some individuals don’t have any issues all year, until winter comes around and immune systems are a little weaker.
It is a condition that involves malassezia yeasts (fungus) but it is not a fungal infection. We all have the yeast, malassezia, present on our skin.
The difference with seb derm is that it is our immune system overreacting to the presence of the yeast, rather than it being a problematic infection.
Occasionally it may be a combination of a slight overgrowth of yeast, and the immune system overreaction.
The immune response causes inflammation of the skin which results in the red, flaky skin that you see. Many people find this a little gross, but seb derm is actually the same thing as regular scalp dandruff!
Because it’s an inflammatory reaction, you really need to baby this condition! It can be tempting to use a gritty exfoliant on the area to slough away any flakes.
However, I recommend aiming to get the condition under control instead, because this’ll mean your skin stops flaking in the first place. Therefore, the best face wash for seborrheic dermatitis is one that’s gentle yet effective.
Symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis
Seb derm can be confused with a few other conditions like eczema, another inflammatory response, however it’s the placement of the flaky skin and dead skin cells that gives it away.
Eczema can appear allover the body, such as the elbows, hands, eyelids etc. The most common symptoms of seb derm are:
- Around the eyebrows (usually above or in between the brows)
- Around the nostrils and nasolabial folds
- If you have facial hair, it tends to hang out around and in your beard
Essentially, in the areas you have more sebaceous glands and a lot of oil-producing areas, such as the t-zone of the face.
Many people have mild cases without realising there’s a problem at all. If this is the case, there’s no real need to treat the seb derm unless it’s causing you distress. Seborrheic dermatitis isn’t really harmful to anyone, it’s more just annoying and can be itchy!
Effective treatments for seborrheic dermatitis
I had this condition between September and December of 2023 and it drove me mad! Mad enough to visit a dermatologist and pay through the nose for a treatment plan.
Looking back, I don’t really feel the treatments worked that well, but I’m happy to discuss them so you know what options you might have.
Topical steroids
Topical steroids for seborrheic dermatitis are a hot topic! Personally I haven’t tried these and I aim to avoid them. As someone with sensitive skin and generally bad ‘skin luck’, I just don’t fancy getting involved.
Steroids suppress your immune system’s response to the yeast, which means they’re very effective at clearing up things like eczema and seb derm.
However, people often experience a rebound response when they stop using the product. This is called topical steroid withdrawal.
The rebound response is often much worse than the original condition, unfortunately. This means that people find themselves chained to the steroid, afraid of topical steroid withdrawal when they stop using it.
If you’re offered steroids, I would recommend trying out other solutions and using them as a last resort.
Calcineurin inhibitors
Calcineurin inhibitors are not steroids but function in a somewhat similar way. The most common examples are Elidel (pimecrolimus) or Protopic (tacrolimus). I did use Elidel myself and I think it worked… sort of?
The potential side effects are:
- Burning sensation (but no redness, its very odd! – I even had dreams about being too hot while it was burning in my sleep)
- Rebound reaction, similar to a steroid withdrawal
Even though calcineurin inhibitors are not steroids, they do function quite similarly which is why I decided to stop using it after a week. I didn’t want to be hooked on a cream that wasn’t working too well anyway.
That being said, it may well work for you. Whatever you do, just use it with caution and trial stopping using it after a couple weeks to see how you respond.
Are antifungal shampoos the best face wash for seborrheic dermatitis?
Since seb derm is an immune response to the fungus that naturally occurs on your skin, anti-dandruff shampoo can be helpful.
Antifungal creams and anti-yeast shampoo basically all contain one or more of the following antifungal agents:
- Miconazole
- Ketoconazole
- Clotrimazole
These are all part of the imidazole family that treat fungal issues such as dandruff, cradle cap, seb derm, athlete’s foot and jock itch.
Personally I do find these effective, but I would make sure not to apply them all over the face. Only apply them to the affected area, such as the nasolabial folds or eyebrow area.
Anything that contains one of the above ‘azoles’ has antifungal properties, but which one your seb derm responds to might differ from others.
I therefore recommend trying out a few and seeing which works the best. Many people like to keep one in the shower so they can use it every few days to keep things under control.
The best face wash for seborrheic dermatitis: anti fungal properties
I will separate the list of 10 cleansers into two sub-lists: ones with antifungal properties and ones that are simple gentle cleansers that suit sensitive skin.
Realistically you might need both, because using solely an antifungal cleanser can be quite drying. The ideal scenario is to find a routine that works for you, with a regular cleanser, and every few days you top up with your seb derm maintenance cleanser.
1. Clever Soap 1% Piroctone Olamine Face Wash With Salicylic Acid
Clever Soap make a lot of good cleansers for seborrheic dermatitis and other skin conditions. This one would be great for oily skin, because salicylic acid is a little better suited to oily than dry skin.
It also contains aloe vera extract to soothe the skin, counteracting the potential dry side effects.
Piroctone olamine also has antifungal properties and is often found in Head & Shoulders shampoo.
Shop the Clever Soap 1% Piroctone Olamine Wash
2. Clever Soap 3% Sulphur Face Wash
Sulphur is a popular ingredient for inflammatory skin conditions as it can be very soothing. It’s also antibacterial so often helps with acne, too.
Sulphur may not be enough on its own to completely solve your seb derm, but for some people it really helps.
Shop the Clever Soap 3% Sulphur Wash
3. V55 MAX Salicylic Acid, Tea Tree Oil and Sulphur Soap Scrub
Annoyingly, a lot of seb derm treatments are made in a soap bar format. Maybe you’ll like that but I find it quite annoying! This is by V55 and it combines salicylic acid, tea tree oil and sulphur.
Tea tree oil is not usually one of my favourite ingredients, but remember we’re using this only on the affected area.
When it comes to seb derm, it’s really a case of ‘if it works for you, it works for you’. Tea tree oil is anti microbial and salicylic acid is gently exfoliating.
4. Neutrogena T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo Treatment
The famous T Gel shampoo by Neutrogena uses coal tar as its active ingredient to fight against seborrheic dermatitis.
Tar-based shampoos are helpful with skin conditions like eczema etc, because it helps to slow down skin cell proliferation.
Shop the Neutrogena T Gel Shampoo Treatment
5. Selsun Suspension Anti Dandruff Shampoo
Selsun is another popular anti dandruff shampoo that can be used to treat areas with seborrheic dermatitis. It uses the active ingredient selenium sulfide which can relieve the itchiness and redness you might be seeing.
Shop the Selsun Selenium Sulfide Topical Suspension Shampoo
The best face wash for seborrheic dermatitis: gentle cleansers
Now I’ll list some of the best face wash for seborrheic dermatitis that are simply gentle, cleansing washes.
6. Dermatica Balancing Glycerin Gel Cleanser
If you’re in the UK I recommend Dermatica’s glycerin based cleanser. It’s definitely no-frills, which should be what you’re looking for if you deal with sensitive skin and want fewer side effects.
7. SOS Cleanse Facial Cleanser
SOS is a great brand for anyone looking a very simple skincare routine, and this cleanser only has eight ingredients.
Especially for when you’re cleansing in the morning, you really don’t need a deep cleanse!
8. Aveeno Calming Oat Cleanser
Aveeno make great products and this cleanser is a cult favourite. I posted about this cleanser a year or so ago now, and lots of people have gotten back to me to say how much they liked it.
It is non-foaming, like the SOS cleanser, which might take some getting used to for some.
9. Dr Sam’s Flawless Water Based Cleanser
This has been my ride or die cleanser for four years. I originally heard about the brand on Instagram (I think?) and the cleanser was the first product I tried.
I fell in love with the jelly-like texture, and my skin just loves it.
Shop the Dr Sam’s Flawless cleanser
10. Hyram Centella and Green Tea Hydrating Gel Cleanser
Hyram’s skincare line seems to have slowed down a little, but this cleanser is very much a reliable product for anyone with sensitive skin – plus it’s only £6! For as long as it’s still available, I’ll still recommend it.
Bonus ingredients for seborrheic dermatitis
In general, zinc bar soap and products containing and zinc pyrithione may show up in your searches. I also recommend this ingredient for its soothing, anti microbial properties.
Remember to always baby your skin, never turn to harsh exfoliants or trying to scrub away the flakes as this will just leave you sore!
Always use luke warm water, never hot, and avoid exfoliating tools and cloths.
