Does applying oil worsen seborrheic dermatitis
Does oil make seborrheic dermatitis worse?
If you have seborrheic dermatitis, you might be wondering if oil makes it worse. The answer is yes, oil can definitely make seborrheic dermatitis worse. Oil applied on the skin, scalp or hair can clog pores, irritate the skin, feed Malassezia and trap flakes, which can lead to more irritation and inflammation.
Lets take a deep dive:
Does oil make seborrheic dermatitis worse?
Seborrheic dermatitis is a skin condition that is thought to be caused by a few main factors, one of which is oily skin.
There are only 2 ways you can get oily skin:
- overproduction of sebum this is when your body produces too much oil. This can happen due to a multitude of factors including hormones, stress, and even dry skin.
- applying oil on your skin this is when you use topical oils or heavy creams and emollients that dont get absorbed well, leaving your skin feeling greasy
Having oily skin doesnt increase your risk of getting seborrheic dermatitis if you have no other predisposing factors. However, if you already have SD, oil on the skin causes a 2 major issues:
- feeds Malassezia, increasing the number of yeasts on your skin (read about the role of Malassezia in SD)
- irritates the skin and causes more inflammation
This can aggravate symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis and prolong your flare. Not all oils are bad for seborrheic dermatitis. Some oils may even help prevent flares and improve SD symptoms.
Can I put oil on seborrheic dermatitis?
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Essential oils like tea tree oil, peppermint oil and black seed oil have antifungal activity against Malassezia while chamomile, lavender, rose and other essential oils can sooth the skin and reduce inflammation.
Apply a few drops of diluted oil directly to troubled patches, or mix it in with your favorite moisturizer for an extra boost of essential nutrients.
Further reading:The 19 best essential oils for seborrheic dermatitis.
Just make sure you dilute these essential oils with carrier oils that are safe for seborrheic dermatitis.
Which oils are safe for seborrheic dermatitis?
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There are only a few oils that I deem safe for seborrheic dermatitis. These oils are easily absorbed by the skin and dont contain long-chain fatty acids (LCFA). This is because Malassezia yeast feeds off LCFAs. Oleic acid and other LCFAs have also been shown to cause skin irritation in people with seborrheic dermatitis.
My list of safe oils include:
Mineral oil is technically also safe for seborrheic dermatitis but I dont like using mineral oil on the skin if possible.
Oils to avoid when you have seborrheic dermatitis
Every other oil in this world should be avoided. I go into detail for some of the most common oils in Seborrheic dermatitis: common oils to avoid.
In general, the facial oil you choose to apply on your face needs to be:
- quickly and easily absorbed, leaving no greasy residue
- does not contain long-chain fatty acids like oleic acid, lauric acid, linoleic acid etc.
- dont contain irritating ingredients like retinol, perfume, and other synthetic chemicals
When to stop using oils on your face and scalp
Even if an oil is supposedly safe for seborrheic dermatitis and you hear loads of anecdotal success stories on how people with seborrheic dermaititis or dandruff have cured themselves, it doesnt mean that the same oil (or treatment) will work for you.
Everyones skin is different and certain ingredients and compounds can be irritating to your skin even if they are generally beneficial to the skin. If you find that your skin feels greasy or itchy, even if there is no obvious sign of rash, its time to lay off on the oil. On the scalp, you may find itchy little bumps that resemble pimples pop up.
I also find that my skin accepts oils a lot better in the colder months and during summer, when its more humid, oils and even heavier creams can leave my skin greasy, aggravating SD.
Does eating oily food worsen seborrheic dermatitis?
There is no direct correlation between seborrheic dermatitis and oily food. However, greasy food can affect your immune system, increase inflammation and cause a whole load of other problems which indirectly affects control of seborrheic dermatitis.
I also find it almost impossible to cook or eat oily food without some of that oil transferring to my face. In fact, Ive taken to washing my face even after stir-frying or cooking a roast in the oven just to remove some oil.
To wrap up
Facial oils may be useful, especially if you have dry skin. Essential oils are also very beneficial as some have strong anti-fungal properties and can be used as home remedies for seborrheic dermatitis. However, use oils with caution as you can easily aggravate your condition if youre not careful.
The Merits of Castor Oil for Seborrheic Dermatitis Treatment
Castor oil is a popular skin remedy that has a long history of use in the African continent. Its use in Western medicine remains limited, but this hasnt stopped growing online support for the treatment of many skin conditions.
Due to its growing popularity, castor oil has also been touted as a solution to seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff. But is this really the case and is there any evidence to support this.
Review conclusion: Despite historic records citing the use of castor oil in the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis, there is currently not enough modern evidence to support this. And while the anti-inflammatory and occlusive properties may be sufficient to resolve symptoms in mild cases, additional studies would be required.
History/usage of castor oil in skincare
Though there isnt too much recent research examining the use of castor oil for the treatment of skin disorders, older references can be found [1]:
- The 1929 edition of the Ethiopian Flora Medica (herbal medicine) listed it as a possible treatment for seborrhea of the scalp and tinea infection
- The 1973 edition of the Erboristeria Italiana (Italian Herbal Medicine) recognized castor diluted in an alcoholic solution had anti-seborrheic action and promoted the growth of hair
- Many other claims and uses have been noted all around the world for all sorts of different types of extracts from both the seeds and leaves in the treatment of a variety of skin ailments (the list is quite large and includes warts, eczema, pustules, impetigo, wounds, and ulcers just to name a few)
Despite this long list of possible uses and benefits, modern use of castor oil in skincare mainly focuses on the occlusive, skin conditioning, and viscosity increasing characteristics [2].
Potential beneficial properties of castor oil
One of the more prominent effects of castor oil appears to be derived from its main constituent, ricinoleic acid. This unique lipid (oil) is abundant in castor oil (nearly 90% of the total composition) and is the primary reason why castor oil has strong laxative effects.
Anti-inflamattory
While it may cause diarrhea when ingested, ricinoleic acid has also been shown to have significant anti-inflammatory effects when applied to the skin of mice:
- Effect of ricinoleic acid in acute and subchronic experimental models of inflammation [3]
- Anti-inflammatory effects of a novel ricinoleic acid poloxamer gel system for transdermal delivery [pubb id=25542985]
Unfortunately, its difficult to judge how much these effects carry over to humans and just how significant they would be in human trials.
If the effects do carry over, this would offer a suitable explanation to the myriad of beneficial reports from the large variety of skin ailments. After all, the major component of most skin disorders, seborrheic dermatitis included, is the run-away inflammatory response (see the article reviewing the possible causes seborrheic dermatitis for more information).
Anti-fungal
In addition to anti-inflammatory properties, some papers have noted the potential of ricinoleic acid to act as an antifungal agent:
- In a dental study, castor oil (not fully clear if it was pure castor oil the study makes mention of castor oil extract and then castor oil detergent) was briefly able to control Candida Albicans growth [4]
- Some inhibition was noted for a variety of ricinoleic acid derivatives, but the effect was only slight and only presented itself under specific controlled conditions (pH, nutritional availability, temperature, etc) [5]
But both studies only report marginal effectiveness and cite more effective antifungal solutions to be superior (undecylenic acid is one such option see notes section).
Many unfounded claims flood the internet
Despite the general lack of scientific evidence (apart from the historic reports cited above) to support the use of castor oil in skin disorders, the internet is full of such claims. Its touted as a remedy for a wide list of ailments and is reported to have miraculous results.
Unfortunately, many of these claims either fail to cite references or blatantly skew the study outcomes to support their statements. For example, its common to see castor oil being promoted as the magic solution to dandruff, eczema, hair loss, and even psoriasis. Yet, there arent any studies that support any single one of these claims (please let me know if you find anything in the comments).
Possible merits of castor oil for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis
Based on the evidence presented, its difficult to presume that the anti-fungal properties of castor oil would be substantial enough to explain its historic use in the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis.
What we do know, is that seborrheic dermatitis is not strictly driven by fungi on the skin surface. More-so, it is our immune systems out-of-sync response which triggers the symptoms. And these symptoms include inflammation, skin barrier disruption, dryness, and the drastic increase of oxidized lipids on the skin surface which characterize the condition.
So while castor oil may not best fit for all the parameters of the condition, the anti-inflammatory and occlusive properties of castor oil could potentially explain some of the success reported. And for some people, the relief of these symptoms alone may provide enough support to allow for the runaway immune system to stabilize.
Additional notes
- As easy it is to theorize possible effects, the real-life outcomes are much harder to predict due to a large number of variables
- Undecylenic acid (common in creams for foot fungus) can be produced by heating ricinoleic acid under vacuum and is a much more potent antifungal agent [6]
- Numerous allergic reactions to castor oil have been reported [7, 7, 8]
- The Latin name for the castor oil plant is Ricinus communis
- Lab studies have demonstrated leaf extracts have both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, but these are not widely available [9, 10]
Summary
Castor oil appears to be one of those strange herbal remedies that have a lot of claims and support plastered around the internet; yet, the evidence to support its use is hard to come by.
Given the current state of evidence, it would be difficult to recommend the use of castor oil in the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis. While it may provide some anti-inflammatory support and occlusion, several more documented options exist: such as crude honey, tea tree oil, and even salt (while not optimal, these still have significantly more evidence behind them).
If youve already attempted to use castor oil and have some personal experience with its effectiveness, would love to hear more in the comments section below. Questions, suggestions, and corrections are also welcomed.
Does coconut oil worsen seborrheic dermatitis?
Coconut oil is a popular treatment for anything under the sun including seborrheic dermatitis because of its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fungal properties. In fact, some call it the miracle oil.
Unfortunately, coconut oil is not easily absorbed by the skin, causing clogged pores and worsening acne. The oil also contains 47% lauric acid, which can feed Malassezia and aggravate SD. However, fractionated coconut oil (MCT oil) is a safe treatment for seborrheic dermatitis.
Lets take a deep dive:
What is coconut oil?
Coconut oil is a natural product that is made by pressing fresh coconut meat. The oil is 100% fat, 80-90% of which is saturated fat mainly lauric acid (47%).
Coconut oil is increasingly used to moisturize the hair and scalp but can be applied anywhere on the body. It is also a popular cooking oil and is highly recommended by people who practise ketogenic or Paleo diets. Interestingly, 72% of the American think coconut is healthy while only 37% of nutritionists agree.
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Is coconut oil a good natural remedy for seborrheic dermatitis?
Coconut oil has some anti-microbial and antifungal properties and is a commonly recommended home remedy for dandruff. A 2021 study showed that applying coconut oil to the scalp increased good scalp microbiome (as opposed to bad ones like Malassezia furfur) and as a result, improved dandruff.
Having said that, have you ever applied coconut oil to your scalp? It has a fragrance that isnt too bad but man is it oily! It just sits there and it takes at least 2 shampoos to feel like youve gotten all the oil out! (These scalp oils dont leave your scalp feeling greasy and dirty)
In terms of facial seborrheic dermatitis, there are no studies on whether coconut oil is effective. Based on experience, coconut oil causes more harm than good. Ive used coconut oil as an oil cleanser and found it OK but as with the scalp, it takes a lot of elbow grease and more foam cleanser than you would usually use to take all the oil off.
Used as a moisturizer, I find the oil too heavy. It sits on the skin, causing clogged ducts and triggering acne breakouts and SD flares. This isnt surprising considering that coconut oil contains mostly lauric acid which can encourage Malassezia growth.
Can coconut oil make seborrheic dermatitis worse?
Yes, coconut oil can make seborrheic dermatitis worse. The oil is heavy-weight, doesnt absorb easily into the skin, and contains lauric acid which feeds Malassezia. Topical application of coconut oil can cause oily skin, trigger acne breakouts and aggravate seborrheic dermatitis.
These are other oils to avoid if you have seborrheic dermatitis.
Benefits of coconut oil
There are a number of benefits to using coconut oil not as many as coconut oil-fanatics would have you belief, but enough to warrant using coconut oil in certain cases.
Coconut oil is known to be effective in treating a variety of scalp issues, including dry scalp and atopic dermatitis. Additionally, it can help to improve the overall health and appearance of the hair.
The oil also has some antifungal and antimicrobial properties and some people swear by it as a mouth gargle.
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Many people ingest coconut oil as part of the keto diet and as a healthy oil. However, research on the benefits of coconut oil is mostly done on fractionated coconut oil, also known as MCT oil. Ingesting commercial coconut oil can worsen your cholesterol and LDLs.
If you have very dry skin or hair, a few drops of extra virgin coconut oil may help moisturize your skin and locks. However, I see no other reason to apply coconut oil on your skin.
I also dont see any healthy reason for drinking commercial coconut oil. It can cause more harm than good. Ingest MCT oil instead.
Benefits of fractionated coconut oil
Fractionated coconut oil is obtained by heating coconut oil above its melting point. Then, its left to cool and the solid part of the oil is separated from the liquid. This separated oil contains only medium-chain fatty acid. Thats why its also called MCT oil.
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When ingested, these fatty acids have a multitude of health benefits. They encourage fat burning, work as a quick source of energy and isnt stored in the liver.
Fractionated coconut oil (or MCT oil) has proven benefits as a treatment for seborrheic dermatitis. Most MCT oil dont contain lauric acid. However, some do. Make sure you use an MCT oil that is free of lauric acid so it doesnt encourage Malassezia growth.
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To wrap up
Its obvious that you should never use coconut oil as a treatment for seborrheic dermatitis. The oil worsens the symptoms of the condition, and it is not an effective treatment. There are other more effective treatments available that should be used instead.
