FAce, Neck, & Scalp eczema / Seborrheic dermatitis
Face, neck, and scalp eczema is often a subtype of eczema called seborrheic dermatitis. What this means is that it’s eczema which is specifically caused by the overgrowth/imbalance of a yeast called malassezia. It often presents as flaky red patches, scales, and severe dandruff. There’s a specific sub on reddit for it: r/SebDerm
It is important to not to use too much antifungal product at first if you are unsure if it is seborrheic dermatitis or atopic dermatitis, because antifungals can dry out the skin and make atopic dermatitis worse. On the other hand, if you have seborrheic dermatitis and are treating it with eczema creams, ingredients in the eczema creams may be feeding the malassezia, which then makes makes seborrheic dermatitis worse.
This website can help determine which products are safe for people with malassezia imabance
My main takeaway currently is that MCT oil use is key for SebDerm because it is an oil that the malassezia yeast cannot eat, so application helps starve it. Zinc Pyrithione and coal tar products help kill the yeast.
This is new information for me (as of Jan 19 2026) and has completely changed how I’m dealing with my face and neck eczema. I’ve always had dry skin around my mouth and had no idea it was yeast imbalance.
Below are links to pages, posts, etc that I think are helpful:
- Just learned that face and neck eczema is a distinct subtype
- This post and this post in r/SebDerm are worth reviewing
- Guys I have found a holy grail
- Diet can also help with SebDerm, outlined well here
- “So it was definitely my diet“
- Nutrition, Obesity, and Seborrheic Dermatitis: Systematic Review
- For specific product recs check the the “Scalp/Seborrheic Dermatitis” section at the bottom of the products page; also listed below
- SebDerm in Adults
below is a particularly helpful quote from r/SebDerm
“What I found is key is that the protocol needs to consist of three components: 1) destroy the biofilm, 2) kill malassezia, and 3) rebuild skin barrier.
Some ingredients for:
- destroying the biofilm: xylitol, ACV, and selenium sulfide, MCT oil without lauric acid
- killing malassezia: ciclopirox, ketoconazole, coal tar, zinc pyrithione, and MCT oil without lauric acid
- rebuilding skin barrier: panthenol (vitamin B5), niacinamide (vitamin B3), glycerin, and aloe vera
Salicylic acid is not anti fungal per se, but it’s great at removing the scales, regulating sebum production, and calming down inflammation.”