RI& KOREAN MEDICAL CLINIC
Seborrheic Dermatitis
What is seborrheic dermatitis?
Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that recurs frequently, driven mainly by increased sebum production and overgrowth of the yeast Malassezia.
It typically appears on areas rich in sebaceous glands — the scalp, face, around the ears, and chest — accompanied by erythema (red patches), scaling, and itching.
Seborrheic Dermatitis Self-Check
- Persistent redness and scaling (flakes, dandruff) appear on
sebum-rich areas such as the scalp, face, behind the ears, and chest. - Your skin looks oily and shiny, and the inflammation worsens over time.
- Itching occurs, and scratching causes even more flaking.
- Symptoms worsen with stress, lack of sleep, seasonal changes, or changes in environment (temperature and humidity).
- Scalp flaking increases, and in severe cases hair loss occurs.
- Your skin often turns red and feels itchy or stinging.
Main causes of seborrheic dermatitis
Increased sebum production
Malassezia yeast
Abnormal immune response
Climate and environmental factors
Nervous system and hormonal changes
Seborrheic Dermatitis Treatment at Myeongdong RI& Korean Medicine Clinic
01RI&
Skin & Constitution Diagnosis
- Using a skin diagnostic device, we closely analyze your skin's oil–moisture balance, sebum output, pore condition, and degree of redness.
- An RSA autonomic nervous system test evaluates your metabolic state, stress index, and autonomic balance to pinpoint internal causes.
- Combined with traditional Korean medicine diagnostics (tongue, pulse, and abdominal examination), we comprehensively assess your skin and overall health, then provide treatment tailored to your individual skin type and symptom severity.
02RI&
Jeong-an Facial Acupuncture
A Korean medicine treatment that uses ultra-fine needles to stimulate the circulation of qi and blood in the face and calm inflammation. It addresses heat-toxin (熱毒) and impaired blood circulation — major causes of seborrheic dermatitis — to support skin recovery, and with continued treatment it aims to support the skin's resilience and help manage recurrence.
03RI&
Soothing & Anti-inflammatory Pharmacopuncture
This treatment injects herbal pharmacopuncture solutions with anti-inflammatory properties, such as soothing pharmacopuncture and centipede (Ogong) pharmacopuncture, directly into the skin to help calm inflammation. It especially helps reduce the redness of seborrheic dermatitis, relieve discomfort, and support skin regeneration.
04RI&
Ultrasound Soothing Care
A calming treatment that uses ultrasound to stimulate microcirculation deep within the skin and ease inflammation. Ultrasonic vibrations (1–3 MHz) gently stimulate the skin tissue, supporting blood flow and helping reduce inflammation. It also helps support the skin barrier against external irritants.
05RI&
Herbal Soothing Mask
A herbal mask formulated with naturally derived medicinal herb ingredients to calm and hydrate the skin, suited to caring for sensitive or acne-prone skin. Blended with medicinal herbs that soothe inflammation, it is formulated to keep irritation low while supporting skin recovery.
06RI&
Customized Herbal Medicine
Prescribed according to your individual constitution, this treatment looks at the causes of the condition and aims to improve them and maintain skin health. By addressing heat-toxin and inflammation, it aims to help regulate sebum production and support immunity. It can also be prescribed in pill (hwan) form, making it easy to take consistently.
07RI&
Home Care
Based on herbal ingredients, our home care helps restore skin balance with ingredients that support anti-inflammatory care and sebum regulation, and helps support the skin barrier against external irritation.
08RI&
Lifestyle & Dietary Guidance
We provide personalized lifestyle coaching to help you minimize skin irritation and reduce inflammatory reactions.
Skin Analysis SKIN ANALYSIS
Multi-Angle Imaging
photographs your skin from several angles
UV & Visible Light Imaging
shows conditions that are hard to see with the naked eye, such as sun damage and pigmentation
High-Resolution Imaging
lets us look closely at pores, wrinkles and pigmentation
Saved Results
stores each analysis so changes can be compared over the course of care
Used in Consultation
we explain your skin condition and care options based on the results
prescribed to suit your constitution and symptoms
Herbal prescription and preparation
Individual prescriptions are prepared with pharmaceutical-grade herbal ingredients manufactured under the MFDS herbal Good Manufacturing Practice (hGMP) standard.
Each prescription is decocted separately.
Pharmaceutical-grade herbs
Prescribed by constitution and symptoms
Decocted per prescription
Progress checks while you take it
Seborrheic Dermatitis Q&A
What is the goal of treating seborrheic dermatitis?
Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory condition that recurs in sebum-rich areas, and current medical practice focuses on controlling symptoms and preventing recurrence. Steroids work well for short-term symptom relief, but with repeated long-term use the skin barrier can weaken and the skin may progress to a 'medication-dependent' state that relies increasingly on the drug. Skin in this state tends to flush easily, becomes sensitive to external stimuli, and relapses more often. In such cases, it is important to adjust whole-body immune balance and constitution through Korean medicine treatment while gradually restoring the weakened skin barrier. Combined with consistent lifestyle management (sleep, diet, stress, cleansing routine, etc.), this aims to help the skin regain its resilience and keep symptoms stable (results vary).
How should I care for my skin after treatment?
Because seborrheic dermatitis can recur chronically, ongoing care to keep the skin stable and prevent relapse is very important even after symptoms improve. In particular, restoring the skin barrier, avoiding irritants, and improving lifestyle habits are key to maintaining your treatment results. Practicing the following consistently can help reduce recurrence and keep your skin healthy:
- Avoid products high in alcohol, fragrance, or harsh surfactants, and use a mildly acidic, low-irritant cleanser.
- Don't rub when washing your face — rinse gently.
- Moisturize consistently with hydration-focused products containing soothing ingredients such as panthenol or centella asiatica.
- Cut down on oily foods, dairy, and processed or sugary foods, and maintain an anti-inflammatory diet.
- Lack of sleep and stress can trigger flare-ups, so keep a regular daily rhythm.
- Symptoms can affect the scalp as well, so care for it consistently with a gentle, low-irritant shampoo.
Once treated, will seborrheic dermatitis stay away for good?
Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic skin condition — by nature, it is not a disease that is permanently cured. It is more likely to recur when the skin barrier is weak or sebum production is out of balance. However, proper treatment combined with lifestyle management can help relieve symptoms and reduce recurrence.
Keys to preventing recurrence with Korean medicine treatment:
- Supporting immunity & constitution — managing the underlying causes by regulating internal heat and dampness
- Consistent skin care — minimizing irritation and restoring the skin barrier to keep recurrence in check
- Improving diet & lifestyle habits — managing the factors that trigger relapse (stress, food, environment)
What is the difference between seborrheic dermatitis and acne?
Both conditions tend to develop in oily areas of the face, but their causes and symptoms differ. Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic condition in which oily redness, flaking, and itchiness appear together, mainly caused by overgrowth of the Malassezia yeast and a weakened skin barrier. It typically develops where sebum production is most active — beside the nose, between the eyebrows, on the scalp, and around the ears — and easily worsens when the skin becomes sensitive or you are under stress. Acne, on the other hand, develops when pores become clogged, sebum builds up, and bacteria multiply inside, causing inflammation. It begins with comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) and can progress to papules, pustules, and nodules, appearing mainly on the forehead, chin, cheeks, back, and chest. Although they may look similar, the two conditions differ in both cause and treatment, so receiving the right treatment based on an accurate diagnosis is important.
Do I have to take herbal medicine?
Seborrheic dermatitis may look like a simple skin problem, but it is in fact a chronic inflammatory condition in which multiple internal factors interact — abnormal sebum production, Malassezia overgrowth, and immune imbalance among them. Topical treatments such as steroids or antifungals can improve symptoms temporarily, but unless the underlying causes are managed, the condition tends to relapse again and again. Herbal medicine does not merely suppress the symptoms visible on the skin's surface — it aims to address the internal environment that keeps triggering inflammation. Seborrheic dermatitis recurs due to immune hypersensitivity, stagnation of heat and dampness, and imbalance in organ function; herbal medicine focuses on regulating these internal factors and helping stabilize your constitution so that the skin becomes less reactive to irritation.
What if the herbal medicine doesn't suit me?
Responses to herbal medicine can vary depending on each person's constitution, skin condition, and lifestyle. At Myeongdong RI& Korean Medicine Clinic, herbal medicine for seborrheic dermatitis is prescribed in 15-day courses, and throughout each course we directly monitor your skin and closely track how your body responds.
Prescriptions are prepared with pharmaceutical-grade herbal ingredients. We continue to fine-tune your prescription while comprehensively monitoring your skin's response and overall condition.
Photos of people on this page are staged images, not actual patients.
