Borage as a Treatment

• Patients suffering seborrheic dermatitis may benefit from administering borage oil, which is also used to treat eczema and arthritis. The seeds of the borage plant produce an oil that is used to treat atopic dermatitis and its symptoms, providing relief for skin inflammation and the accompanying itching, drying and scaling. Borage is also known as bee plant, ox's tongue, starflower, beebread and borago officinalis. Borage oil is not recommended to be used for long periods nor should it be taken in large doses. It should be taken as an external treatment only and should not be used on open cuts or abrasions. Patients taking blood thinners should not take borage oil. Allergic reactions may include swelling in hands, face, throat or mouth, hives, rash and difficulty breathing. Common side effects include flatulence, diarrhea and constipation.
  
  

Other Herbal Remedies

• Many topical treatments may bring relief to the pain and unsightliness of seborrheic dermatitis. You can loosen the dead, scaly skin and clean the infected area with aloe vera, tea tree oil or calendula cream.
  
  Applying a special tea made of goldenseal, chaparral or red clover may also be helpful. Boil 1 cup water and add 1 tsp. of the herb. Rub the tea into the scalp.
  
  Vitamin E is beneficial to the skin in many ways, and by breaking open a capsule or applying a Vitamin E cream, you may see a marked improvement in symptoms.
  And finally, a diet rich in the B vitamins can prevent breakouts. In particular, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12, as well as biotin and folic acid, can suppress symptoms.
  
  

Another Treatment Option

• Besides prescription medication, another herbal remedy sometimes used to treat seborrheic dermatitis is tea tree oil, which is applied to affected areas of the scalp. Tea tree oil has been found to alleviate--not eliminate--symptoms.