For Seborrheic Dermatitis, which can make a sensitive face and scalp itchy and cause flaking, reducing inflammation in the body and restoring skin immunity should come first. Seborrheic Dermatitis is one type of inflammatory dermatitis that is limited to areas with high sebum production, such as the scalp, face, and upper trunk, is accompanied by erythema and scales, and often recurs over a long period. It tends to occur especially in areas with high sebum production, such as the head, forehead, chest, and armpits, and may be accompanied by erythema and fine scales, or dandruff, due to infection or inflammation.
It occurs more frequently between the ages of 40~70 and is known to be more common in adult men, but recently it has also been increasing among younger patients regardless of gender due to cosmetics, harmful substances, and improper food intake.
For Seborrheic Dermatitis, reducing inflammation in the body and restoring skin immunity should come first. Seborrheic Dermatitis is one type of inflammatory dermatitis that is limited to areas with high sebum production, such as the scalp, face, and upper trunk, is accompanied by erythema and scales, and often recurs over a long period. It tends to occur especially in areas with high sebum production, such as the head, forehead, chest, and armpits, and may be accompanied by erythema and fine scales, or dandruff, due to infection or inflammation. It occurs more frequently between the ages of 40~70 and is known to be more common in adult men, but recently it has also been increasing among younger patients regardless of gender due to cosmetics, harmful substances, and improper food intake. A characteristic feature is dry or oily white or yellow scales that appear on top of erythema. Itching may occur, and in severe cases pain may develop. Because it can repeatedly improve and worsen and, if prolonged, may spread throughout the body, including the back of the neck and chest as well as the face and facial area, attention is needed.
The exact Causes of Onset have not yet been clearly identified, but hormonal influences, mental stress, external factors, and genetic factors have been reported as Main Causes. As an internal factor, it is also viewed as an abnormality of immune function that occurs as the skin barrier function weakens. When exposed to chronic stress, stress hormones are secreted and sebum production may increase. At this time, the body’s resistance may decrease, various bacteria can proliferate and lead to inflammation, and keratin may form as a product of this inflammation. If these Seborrheic Dermatitis symptoms are left unattended, they can develop into a systemic inflammatory disease, so treatment should be provided without irritating or neglecting the affected area. In Western medicine, symptoms are generally relieved with steroids applied to localized areas, ultraviolet Phototherapy, and immunomodulators. However, these only improve symptoms temporarily and cannot be a fundamental treatment for Seborrheic Dermatitis, which often recurs.
At Kyunghee Ryu Korean Medicine Clinic, we aim to identify the fundamental cause based on constitutional Causes while also correcting imbalances of the internal organs. To help prevent Seborrheic Dermatitis in daily life, we recommend washing the face gently and paying attention to cleanliness, while avoiding cleansers that contain strong exfoliating ingredients and also caring for moisturization. In addition, because Seborrheic Dermatitis can also occur on the scalp, we provide guidance on washing methods to ease scalp symptoms and combine home-care methods suited to each patient so that improvement may be supported through Korean medicine treatment.
Seborrheic Dermatitis can improve and then easily recur, so identifying the cause is important Skin Conditions cannot be viewed as only a problem of the Skin. They are expressed as Skin symptoms due to other problems occurring inside the body. Therefore, when treating Skin Conditions, it is necessary to understand them and establish a treatment plan from a broader perspective, rather than looking only at the Skin.
Treatment for Seborrheic Dermatitis at Kyunghee Ryu Korean Medicine Clinic focuses on relieving symptoms and preventing recurrence through fundamental Korean medicine treatment without relying on steroid preparations, helping patients feel at ease. We provide Korean medicine treatment in various ways, including herbal medicine, acupuncture and moxibustion treatment, pharmacopuncture, bloodletting therapy, Phototherapy, topical herbal medicine preparations, and lifestyle and dietary guidance, showing notable effects for difficult Skin Conditions with unknown Causes.
(1) Through immunity, the Skin can overcome Skin Conditions on its own.
Infections or inflammation caused by the entry of external harmful substances can affect not only the affected area but also the body’s own recovery, and this is related to overall immunity. In other words, when Skin immunity declines, the Skin’s self-healing ability to protect our body from external harmful substances decreases. When immunity is low at this time, symptoms last longer and recovery becomes slower. The same applies when eczema occurs due to internal inflammation or waste products because immunity has declined. In Korean medicine, immunity is connected not only to the strength that protects our body from external harmful substances, but also to the balance of the functions of the five viscera and six bowels and the circulation of qi and blood. Our goal is to raise immunity by strengthening the spleen and stomach or enhancing self-healing ability so the body can overcome these Skin symptoms.
(2) Chronic inflammation can be harmful to the Skin.
Even when inflammation levels on blood tests are normal, many people with various difficult Skin Conditions have latent inflammation in the body. Skin inflammation cannot be seen simply as a problem of the Skin barrier alone. The health status reflected by Skin inflammation, which can also be viewed as a measure of overall health, may primarily be a problem of the Skin itself. Further, it can affect blood circulation and lymphatic circulation, hormonal and metabolic status, and even gut health such as Digestion and the large intestine. Ultimately, the overall condition of the body must be assessed, and through this, treatment aims to reduce inflammation.
(3) Waste products in the body can be harmful to the Skin.
For most people who have not had a serious illness or surgery, waste products in the body often arise from food. Waste products accumulate due to improper eating habits. If they are discharged appropriately, they do not become a problem, but if elimination is not smooth, waste products accumulate and can cause Skin inflammation. Therefore, this must be addressed in Skin Conditions treatment, and the goal is to improve blood circulation through detoxification and help discharge accumulated waste products from the body.
Seborrheic dermatitis: are you relying only on medication that helps only for the moment? First, when seborrheic dermatitis is suspected and you visit a dermatology clinic, you are usually diagnosed based on clinical findings and then prescribed antihistamines to reduce itching and steroids to relieve symptoms. Of course, these can help reduce itching right away. However, because these medications are intended to ease current symptoms rather than provide fundamental treatment, symptoms often recur when the medication is stopped. With repeated use, the same medication may no longer be effective, and tolerance can develop.
In particular, long-term exposure to steroid medications can weaken skin tissue. Along with this, secondary infections such as bacterial or viral infections may occur, and the affected area may become wider, so caution is needed. The concern is that symptoms may gradually worsen, with wounds forming more easily, taking longer than before to heal, and oozing. During this process, itching may become severe, leading to scratching and often making the condition worse.
Therefore, at Kyunghee Ryu Korean Medicine Clinic, even if it takes a different path, we make it our basic approach to identify and treat the fundamental causes of dermatitis. Our goal is for the skin to develop its own recovery capacity so that it can improve, and to help prevent recurrence. In addition to managing each person’s possible lifestyle and dietary causes, we aim for a more fundamental treatment by helping improve skin immunity, reduce inflammation, and support the smooth elimination of accumulated waste products in the body.