If you live with seborrheic dermatitis, you might experience increased stress due to concerns about how you look. This form of eczema can show up anywhere on the body, and its effects may lead to mental health struggles, like anxiety and depression.

As one MySebDermTeam member shared, “I have seborrheic dermatitis all over my scalp, forehead, ears, and eyebrows. It is so embarrassing. I have a lot of stress and anxiety.”

You can take many steps to address your stress and work through any mental health issues that arise due to living with this skin disease. For starters, take good care of yourself. As one MySebDermTeam member noted, “It took me many years to learn to take care of myself. I spent my life taking care of other people. I’m finally getting some insight into me.”

The following tips may help you manage your symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis, and they can also help improve your quality of life and overall sense of well-being. Here’s what you need to know to care for yourself when you’re living with this condition.

1. Protect Your Skin From Cold, Heat, and Dryness

Cold, dry weather, like you may encounter during winter, can trigger seborrheic dermatitis flare-ups, resulting in symptoms such as dandruff, scaly or flaking skin, cradle cap, or itchiness. Even heaters can trigger the condition by making the air too dry, like they do for one MySebDermTeam member: “For me, this cold, dry weather is drying my scalp even more. The furnace is blowing all day and night.”

If you’re living in these conditions, taking time to dress appropriately can be a form of self-care. Make sure your skin is protected from the elements when you go outside by wearing a jacket, gloves, a hat, and a scarf as needed.

Some people find that sun and heat also trigger seborrheic dermatitis. Cover yourself with lightweight layers in warm weather, and wear a hat to protect your face. Sunscreen can also help you care for your skin, as long as it doesn’t contain ingredients that cause flares.

2. Get Plenty of Sleep

Getting the right amount of good-quality sleep can help you feel better when you live with a chronic skin condition. This can be especially difficult if itching or burning from seborrheic dermatitis keeps you awake or wakes you up repeatedly during the night. One MySebDermTeam member shared, “Although I have seb derm every day, stress and lack of sleep make it worse.”

You and your dermatology team should come up with a plan to help you get the sleep you need. This might help improve your mental health even if your skin condition stays the same.

3. Eat Healthy Foods

Choosing healthy fare will not only help you get the nutrients and energy you need to live well and enjoy yourself while you’re doing it, but some dietary changes — such as eating more fruit — may also help reduce your seborrheic dermatitis symptoms.

Eating well can help you feel better, look better, fight off diseases, keep your digestive system working well, and more. All of this can contribute to a better quality of life. If you’re not sure what changes to make, your dermatologist should be able to direct you to a dietitian who can help.

4. Take Consistent Care of Your Skin

Whether you’re on a skin care regimen from your dermatologist or you’ve found skin care products as a home remedy, stick with your plan. Once you know what works to cleanse your skin and keep it hydrated, taking good care of yourself means keeping up with that routine.

Use your chosen soaps, shampoos, moisturizers, creams, lotions, and so on as often as needed so the affected areas of your skin stay healthy. You’ll be less likely to experience a flare, and you’ll be constantly reminded that you love your body, even if it doesn’t always work the way you wish it would.

5. Wear Soft, Loose Clothing

Build a wardrobe of clothing that feels good on your skin and doesn’t trigger your seborrheic dermatitis symptoms. Look for soft, loose-fitting items, which are less likely to be irritating. You may also want to avoid certain fabrics, like wool, if they are itchy or trigger symptoms.

Investing in clothes that make you look good and feel good is one way to take care of yourself — it may help you feel better about yourself even when your symptoms are bothering you.

6. Reduce Stress

Stress may bring on seborrheic dermatitis flares, and ongoing stress can make the condition worse. Working to reduce stress can therefore help you feel better and maybe avoid some future flares.

Different people relieve stress in different ways. Some people prefer techniques focused on relaxation training, such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and guided imagery. Meditation can also help — you can find guided versions online, like this six-minute guided meditation. Other people try over-the-counter supplements, such as the herb ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), to help manage stress.

Exercise is another great stress reliever. Nearly any form of movement will do. If you aren’t sure how to start an exercise routine or you worry that it will trigger a seborrheic dermatitis flare, talk to your health care provider. They should be able to either offer tips on easing into regular physical activity or connect you with a professional who can help you begin.

You might find other activities that reduce your stress. Plan these into your schedule so you can keep your stress levels as low as possible.

7. Identify and Avoid Triggers

A variety of factors can trigger seborrheic dermatitis flare-ups, from infections and sweating to the foods you eat. While it might take some work to find out which triggers you need to avoid, the effort will be worth it when you feel better.

If you’re having trouble identifying triggers, self-care may involve keeping a journal to track your flares and what you were doing before they occurred. Taking the time to write down what happened and which symptoms you experienced can help you tie your skin responses to factors in the outside world.

Once you know what your triggers are, take care of yourself by avoiding them. This might not be easy, particularly if your triggers are things you enjoy. However, learning to care for your body means finding ways to make yourself feel good that won’t hurt you in the end.

8. Talk to Your Doctor

If seborrheic dermatitis is causing you to feel stressed or embarrassed, or if you think it’s affecting your mental health, talk to your doctor to get medical advice. They should be able to help you find the practices, routines, or resources you need so you can feel better.

You don’t have to live with a low quality of life or a poor sense of well-being just because you’ve been diagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis. There are people who can assist and ways you can help yourself feel better, including a range of potential treatment options. Start the wellness process by talking to your doctor as soon as you notice a problem, so you can get on top of it before it gets out of hand.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MySebDermTeam is the social network for people with seborrheic dermatitis and their loved ones. On MySebDermTeam, more than 7,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with seborrheic dermatitis.

Are you wondering how to take good care of yourself while living with seborrheic dermatitis? What types of self-care do you practice? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.