A calm routine helps when you have seborrhoeic dermatitis on your face: cleanse gently, rinse thoroughly and use a suitable fragrance-free moisturiser. Follow your GP's or dermatologist's treatment plan alongside it. Skin care can support your skin, but recurring flakes sometimes also need treatment targeting yeast or inflammation. Flaking is not a reason to scrub harder.

Flakes around your nose and eyebrows: what is happening?

Seborrhoeic dermatitis often affects areas with plenty of oil glands. On the face, these include the eyebrows, creases beside the nose and skin around the ears. You may notice itching and greasy or dry flakes. Patches can look red on lighter skin; on darker skin, lighter or darker areas may also stand out.

Yeasts called Malassezia normally live on the skin. These yeasts and the skin's response to them play a part in this condition. It does not mean your face is dirty. Seborrhoeic dermatitis is not contagious, so you cannot pass it to someone else. Thuisarts' patient information and the British Association of Dermatologists explain this background.

Have new or unclear symptoms assessed

A flaky crease beside the nose is not a diagnosis by itself. Other skin conditions can look similar or occur at the same time. If you do not know what is causing your symptoms, ask your doctor to look rather than trying one treatment after another.

Already have another diagnosis? Care for atopic eczema on the face is not automatically the right approach to seborrhoeic dermatitis. General advice about an irritated skin barrier also cannot replace assessment of recurring patches.

What can treatment do?

A doctor may prescribe an antifungal medicine, such as ketoconazole cream for the face. If there is significant inflammation, a temporary anti-inflammatory treatment may also be needed. The right formulation, area, amount and duration depend on your situation. Follow the prescription and check if you are unsure where a medicine can be applied.

Do not automatically use a medicated scalp shampoo on your face or eyelids. Directions for one area do not necessarily apply to another. Do not share a medicine because someone else's flakes look similar. The AAD explains how an individual treatment plan is chosen.

In adults, seborrhoeic dermatitis can return. A clear period does not always mean the tendency has gone away. Discuss what to do at the first signs of another flare and whether maintenance treatment is needed. Do not change prescribed treatment on your own because a new moisturiser feels comfortable.

Keep your daily routine manageable

Start with products you already tolerate well. A cleanser, a suitable moisturiser and protection outdoors provide a useful foundation alongside any medication. Avoid introducing a serum, exfoliant and mask all at once: if your skin starts stinging, it will be hard to tell which product contributed.

Make an ordinary morning easier. Put out a clean, soft towel and keep your familiar products together. More steps do not automatically mean calmer skin. The AAD's self-care guidance focuses on avoiding additional irritation.

A man sets a white pump bottle and a folded blue towel beside a washbasin.

Cleanse gently and rinse carefully

Use lukewarm water and your fingertips. Choose a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser or the washing product your clinician recommends. Do not rub the creases beside your nose with an exfoliating mitt or brush to remove every flake. Rinse away cleanser carefully; residue can irritate.

After a sweaty walk, you do not need to scour your face. Gently wash or rinse as needed, then return to your agreed routine. If your skin feels tight or burns after every wash, discuss your cleanser and how often you use it.

A woman washes her face with her fingertips over a basin with running water.

Pat dry and leave flakes alone

Press a soft towel gently against your skin instead of rubbing. Do not pull off loose skin with your nails or use tweezers to make the surface smooth. Cleansing is about cleaning, not forcing your face to be completely flake-free. If thick scales keep returning, mention them at your review.

A woman in a blue dressing gown pats her cheek with a light-coloured towel.

Choose a moisturiser that stays comfortable

A light, fragrance-free moisturiser after washing can help keep your skin comfortable. Using prescribed treatment too? Ask about the order and application of both products. A moisturiser does not replace the medicine.

Judge a new cream by your own reaction and its complete formulation. Labels such as 'natural' or 'hypoallergenic' do not guarantee tolerance. Our guide to fragrance-free and hypoallergenic labels explains these terms. Leave out an extra cosmetic product if it keeps stinging, and seek advice if irritation persists.

Two hands operate a white pump bottle above a palm holding a drop of cream.

Recognise your own flare triggers

Cold, dry air and stress can worsen symptoms. Some people also notice a link with heat, sweating or particular skin and hair products. People do not all react to the same circumstances. One difficult day therefore does not prove that a particular ingredient caused the problem.

If symptoms recur, briefly note where the patches are, which products you used and what was different that day. Think of a hot shower after exercise or hair product reaching your forehead. Take these notes to your doctor. They make the conversation more useful without repeatedly replacing your entire routine.

A woman writes in a notebook at a wooden table beside a white pump bottle.

Protect your face outdoors without extra rubbing

Choose shade and suitable clothing to limit exposure. On uncovered skin, use sunscreen offering UVA and UVB protection with at least SPF 30. Applying it properly helps prevent skin cancer, sunburn and premature ageing caused by the sun. Outdoors, reapply about every two hours and after swimming or heavy sweating, following the label.

A fragrance-free formula may feel more comfortable on easily irritated skin. The AAD mentions zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as options less likely to irritate seborrhoeic dermatitis; how the whole formula feels on your skin still matters. Do not keep applying a product over burning areas just to finish the bottle. Discuss another formula and suitable protection instead.

Do not use sunbathing as a home treatment for eczema. Heat and sun can also trigger flares. Tight or rubbing headwear may worsen symptoms too; seek shelter and discuss suitable options if covering your head irritates your skin.

A woman with dark curls and a man in a pale blue shirt walk and talk in the shade.

When should you ask for advice again?

Get in touch if the diagnosis is uncertain, your agreed plan is not helping enough or your skin changes noticeably. Mention persistent burning after a product, weeping or painful areas and symptoms on the eyelids. Do not put ordinary facial cream or medicine into your eyes; seek specific advice for this area.

Take your products and prescription with you. Ask what to continue on clear days, how to recognise another flare and when to return. This is more useful than repeatedly trying another pot of cream without a clear plan.

A man in a blue jumper talks across a desk with a woman wearing a teal healthcare tunic.

Frequently asked questions

Is dandruff related?

Dandruff can be a form of seborrhoeic dermatitis on the scalp. That helps explain symptoms in several areas, but does not mean the same product suits every site.

Can an ordinary cream cure it permanently?

A permanent cure is not promised. A suitable cream supports everyday care; your doctor chooses treatment and maintenance when needed. Recurring symptoms are a reason to discuss that plan.

Is this the same approach as for cradle cap in babies?

No. This guide concerns adults and their facial skin. Cradle cap in babies follows a different course; do not use this adult routine or medication for a baby.

Soluveli is developing facial sunscreen. Visit the Soluveli homepage to learn more and sign up for one email on launch day. We do not promise that our future product will treat seborrhoeic dermatitis.

Sources and further reading

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  1. Thuisarts — flaky eczema on the scalp and faceDutch patient information on yeasts, facial treatment and recurring symptoms.
  2. British Association of Dermatologists — seborrhoeic dermatitisBackground, different skin tones and individual treatment; distinguishes adults from babies.
  3. American Academy of Dermatology — everyday self-careGentle cleansing, fragrance-free care and personal triggers; US product advice is not a local prescription.
  4. American Academy of Dermatology — diagnosis and treatmentAssessment and treatment options; drug doses and US approvals are not presented as self-care instructions.
  5. American Academy of Dermatology — sunscreen questionsGeneral UVA/UVB protection, SPF 30 or higher and reapplication outdoors.