In the clinic, I often hear patients say their face itches and feels hot, but they are not sure whether it is acne or dermatitis. Seborrheic dermatitis often occurs on areas with high sebum production, such as the face, scalp, and chest, and redness, scaling, and itching may recur. It can improve and then flare up again when you are tired or stressed, making it emotionally exhausting as well.
It may look like acne, but it can be different
Seborrheic dermatitis can sometimes look similar to pimples, folliculitis, rosacea, or contact dermatitis. For that reason, some people apply irritating cosmetics on top of it or repeatedly use ointments on their own, which can make the skin barrier even more sensitive. If facial redness, oily scaling, itching, and scalp dandruff appear together, it is necessary to distinguish the causes.
We look not only at the surface of the skin, but also at the body’s balance
In Korean medicine, seborrheic dermatitis is not viewed only as inflammation on the skin surface. We also consider an imbalance of heat, digestion and metabolic circulation, sleep, and stress responses. When greasy foods, spicy foods, alcohol, or overwork repeat, heat sensations in the face and sebum production may become more noticeable. However, because the causes differ from person to person, we determine the treatment direction by checking the skin condition, constitution, and lifestyle patterns together.
Treatment addresses inflammation and lifestyle factors together
Korean medicine treatment focuses on calming the skin’s chronic inflammatory response and regulating heat that rises to the upper body and circulation imbalance. Depending on the need, we choose appropriate methods from herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, and pharmacopuncture, and also adjust eating habits and sleep management. If the skin is already sensitive, it may be helpful to reduce use and choose gentle cleansers and moisturizers.
We recommend a consultation in these cases
- When facial itching and redness repeat for more than 2 weeks
- When scalp dandruff, discharge, scabs, or stinging occur together
- When your skin becomes more sensitive each time you change ointments or cosmetics
- When you are worried about pigmentation or scarring
- When symptoms clearly worsen after stress, overwork, or drinking alcohol
For seborrheic dermatitis, it is important to calmly examine why it keeps recurring, rather than only suppressing surface symptoms for a short time. I first recommend building lifestyle habits that irritate the skin less, while also working to regulate internal imbalances. If discomfort of the face and scalp continues for a long time, I recommend receiving care rather than repeatedly treating it based on your own judgment.