Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin disorder that mainly affects the scalp but can also affect the face, back and upper chest. According to the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition, or CSNN, dermatitis is an immune system disorder, and you need to support your immune system if you want to resolve seborrheic dermatitis and not just suppress its symptoms. Ross Trattler, N.D., adds in his book "Better Health through Natural Healing," that the skin is made from the inside out and healing must therefore come from within via a proper diet.
Eat High-fiber, Whole-foods
CSNN recommends eating a whole foods diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, and explains that the immune system relies on nutrients from whole foods in order to carry out its protective activities. Fiber is an essential nutrient, and Phyllis Balch explains in her book "Prescription for Nutritional Healing" that a high fiber intake is important to keep your colon clean and to thereby reduce the toxic load on your body and immune system. Balch recommends using a fiber supplement such as psyllium husk, ground flax seed or aerobic bulk cleanse as directed on the label. Balch also encourages consuming brown rice and millet liberally because they are rarely allergenic, and high in fiber and other immune supporting nutrients.
Eat Vitamin A and Chlorophyll Rich Foods
CSNN says that vitamin A is very important for proper skin function and recommends eating vitamin A rich foods -- carrots, squash, and pumpkin. The school also recommends increasing your intake of chlorophyll-rich foods because they help to purify the blood. Foods that are doubly beneficial because they are both high in vitamin A and high in chlorophyll are dandelion greens, beet greens, spinach, kale, chard and watercress.
Avoid Nutrient Depleting Foods
According to CSNN, if your body is depleted of nutrients, your immune system will not be able to protect your body and immune disorders such as seborrheic dermatitis will ensue. As such, CSNN recommends eliminating substances that deplete nutrient stores: Caffeine, refined sugar, refined grains, cigarettes, alcohol, spicy foods and recreational drugs. Balch adds that you should also avoid chocolate, white flour, fried foods and processed foods.
Temporarily Emliminate Saturated Fats
According to Dr. Trattler, saturated fats are a common dermatitis culprit and they should also be avoided for six to eight weeks, and then minimized thereafter. Saturated fats are found in most animal products, and are most abundant in meat, non-skim dairy foods, butter and eggs; as well as in coconut products, nuts and seeds, and any food that contains hydrogenated vegetable oil.
Identify and Eliminate Food Allergens
Another important dietary step is to identify and eliminate food allergens. CSNN says that dermatitis sufferers tend to be most commonly allergic to dairy, wheat, gluten, eggs, corn, soy, strawberries, coffee, peanuts and citrus fruit. CSNN recommends following an elimination diet where you eliminate all of these foods for two weeks or until your skin is markedly healed. You then add in one eliminated food item back into your diet, per day, and watch for an aggravation of symptoms. If no aggravation occurs, that food can be considered safe, and you can reintroduce another food the following day. If you notice that a food does cause a dermatitis flare-up, you should remove it from your diet for six more weeks to give your body a break from it, at which time you can try reintroducing it .
References
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing;" Phyllis Balch; 2003
- "Pathology and Nutrition"; The Canadian School of Natural Nurition; 2008
- "Better Health through Natural Healing"; Ross Trattler, N.D.; 2001
