2022's "7 Best" Seborrheic Dermatitis Treatments

Which Seborrheic Dermatitis treatment is the most effective?
Itchy, dry, red, flaking skin are all common symptoms of Seborrheic Dermatitis. It can be extremely irritating to deal with. Fortunately, there are several treatments that have effectively relieved symptoms for many patients.
We extensively reviewed the most widely used creams, serums, and shampoos to narrow the list down to 7 most effective products for dealing with Seborrheic Dermatitis. We took into account the level of effectiveness, how long the relief lasted, and if there were any negative reactions.
- Emma W. (Senior Research Editor)

- Effectiveness: 10/10
- Long Lasting: 9/10
- Gentle on Skin: 10/10
The itchy red flakes on my skin started to clear within 4 days of trying this cream. This cream uses 3 main ingredients to fight off the yeast which causes Seborrheic Dermatitis:
- Xylitol - neutralizes the yeast's biofilm, making it vulnerable to anti-fungals.
- Medium Triglycerides - Anti-fungal that kills the yeast after the biofilm is weakened.
- Squalane - one of the best moisturizers to repair the skin barrier and it does not feed the yeast.
Best of all, these ingredients are suitable for long term use because the yeast does not build tolerance to them.
If you've tried countless products and had little to no results, you need to try this cream. When I purchased this cream, they had a 60 days refund guarantee, so there's nothing to lose.
Long Term Solution? Yes, the ingredients will continue to be effective long term
Conclusion: Many readers have asked me which product made the biggest difference. I have to say this one, and it worked extremely fast. Jump on this cream if you want a long term solution against Seb Derm.
Pros
May start clearing skin in less than a week
Active ingredient lose effectiveness over time (long term solution)
60-day guarantee or refund
Repairs skin barrier for healthier skin
Does not require additional moisturizers or serums
Formulated without synthetic fragrance or parabens
Made in the USA
Cruelty-free and vegan formula
Company offers free expedited shipping
Cons
- Only available on the company’s website.
- The product is often out of stock and takes a while to restock.
#2 Nizoral
To my dismay, my Seborrheic Dermatitis occurred on my scalp, face, and eyebrows. It was a real nightmare to deal with.
The first thing I tried was Nizoral, which was recommended to me by a friend. The primary ingredient has been shown to be effective in killing Seborrheic Dermatitis causing yeast; however, it does not work on the face, and I wouldn't recommend anyone applying shampoo over their face. Yeast may also grow resilient against Ketoconazole, so it is not a long term solution
Long Term Solution? No
Conclusion: Nizoral works if you have mild symptoms and they only occur on the scalp. It is not a long term solution.
Pros
- From a brand founded by a board-certified dermatologist
- Effective against scalp Seborrheic Dermatitis
- Free of parabens
- From a cruelty-free brand
- Easy to purchase online from authorized retailers
Cons
- Does not work on face
- May lose effectiveness over time
#3 Noble Formula Soap
2% Pyrithione Zinc has been shown to be effective in killing the yeast that causes Seb Derm. This bar of soap is too harsh for cleaning the face, but it is a great soap for the body. I use this daily and it has kept the Seb Derm off my body for the most part. Again, do not use this on your face, it will dry you up without fixing the issue. If you need this for the scalp, use is a 2% zinc shampoo.
Long Term Solution? Yes, for the body only
Conclusion: Works well for the body, not for the face. P. Zinc is a viable long term solution.
Pros
- Great for the body (not the face or scalp)
- Effective ingredients
- Long lasting relief
Cons
- Do not use on your face
- Only sold on Amazon
#4 Dermazen Calming Serum / Moisturizer
This product comes as a serum and moisturizer. I ordered both. The ingredients seemed to work well on paper, but I think there was simply too many active ingredients at once. Silver, MCT Oil, Aloe, Tea Tree Oil, MSM, Niacinamide, the list goes on. Although these ingredients do not feed the yeast, many of them are strong irritants. If you're suffering from Seb Derm, your skin is most likely already irritated. You need to heal your skin before working in ingredients like niacinamide.
Long Term Solution? Yes, if your skin can tolerate some of the harsh ingredients
Conclusion: Ingredients sound good on paper, but many of them may irritate your skin. I immediately felt a stinging feeling when I applied it to my red areas.
Pros
- Contains Urea
- Moisturizes skin
Cons
- Irritation due to ingredients containing Colloidal Silver, Niacinamide, and others
- Expensive
- Mixed-results
#5 Selsun Blue 1% Selenium Sulfide
Another shampoo, but the active ingredient is Selenium Sulfide 1%. Studies have shown that this works against Seb Derm causing yeast, however, it is very harsh on the skin. When I tried it, my skin broke out. There are also concerns about hair loss. I would stick to a Zinc shampoo instead.
Long Term Solution? No
Conclusion: Too harsh on the skin, however it does work in killing Seb Derm.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Clears scalp (do not use on your face)
Cons
- Harsh on the face
- Shampoo only
#6 Dermoscribe Seborrheic Dermatitis Cream
Stay away from this one! This is one of the best selling seb derm creams on Amazon. If you take a look at the ratings, you'll realize why there are so many complaints. This is a steroid. That means it is just a temporary solution. You never want to apply steroids to your skin for prolonged periods of time. Do yourself a favor and skip this one.
Long Term Solution? Absolutely NOT
Conclusion: Avoid this cream. It is a steroid and should not be used long term.
Pros
- Contains steroids which are effective for first few days
- Temporary relief
Cons
- Contains steroids
- Not for long term use
- Irritation may come back stronger
- Only sold on Amazon
#7 pHat 5.5 Cream
Another very popular treatment on Amazon with many poor reviews. I tried the cream, and it didn't seem to do anything. My itchiness remained, but it didn't get worse. There are some very mix results. Some people found that it worked, and others had worsened symptoms. It seems the manuka honey can be a hit or a miss, but this is unlikely to be a long term solution because there isn't anything in the ingredients that actually kills the yeast that causes Seb Derm.
Long Term Solution? No
Conclusion: More of an anti inflammatory. It does not actually get rid of the yeast that causes Seb Derm.
Pros
- Moisturizes skin
Cons
- Not effective against Seborrheic Dermatitis
- Manuka honey may irritate skin
- Poor packaging (arrived opened)
- Only available on Amazon