Pori
- Seborrheic dermatitis causes white to yellowish, often greasy flakes on pink, red or discolored skin in oily zones: nose folds, eyebrows, eyelid edges, beard, hairline and ears.
- It is linked to Malassezia yeast and tends to flare with stress and in cold, dry weather; it isn't caused by poor hygiene and isn't contagious.
- Unlike dry peeling, it is oily and flaky at once, and moisturizer alone rarely clears it.
- Zinc pyrithione cleansers and 1% ketoconazole shampoo are common first steps to discuss with a doctor; see a dermatologist if a few weeks of self-care don't help or patches crust, ooze or hurt.
Flaky skin in the creases beside your nose, in your eyebrows or under a beard is often seborrheic dermatitis. It shows up as white to yellowish, slightly greasy flakes on pink, red or discolored skin in the oiliest parts of the face. It's linked to Malassezia, a yeast that lives on everyone's skin, and it tends to flare in winter and with stress.
Below is how to recognize the pattern, why it's different from dry peeling, what's behind it, and the over-the-counter washes, such as ketoconazole and zinc pyrithione, that are worth discussing with a doctor or pharmacist. We end with the signs that mean you need a dermatologist.
What does seborrheic dermatitis look like on the face?
It looks like scaly, flaky patches in oily areas, often with redness or discoloration underneath. MedlinePlus, the US National Library of Medicine's health site, describes flaky, white to yellowish scales on oily areas such as the scalp, face or inside the ear, and notes the scales can be white and flaking or yellowish, oily and sticky.
The location is the strongest clue. On the face, it favors:
- The folds beside the nose (nasolabial folds) and the skin around the nostrils
- Eyebrows and the skin between them, which is why it's often called "dandruff on the eyebrows"
- Eyelid margins, where it can cause scaly, red lid edges (blepharitis)
- The beard and mustache area
- The hairline, ears and the skin behind them
DermNet lists these same sebum-rich sites, along with the scalp, the middle of the chest and skin folds, and adds winter flares that improve in summer and a mix of oily and dry skin across the middle of the face as typical features.
On darker skin tones
The color can be different. The AAD says that on darker skin the rash often looks pink, slightly purple or lighter than the surrounding skin, while lighter skin tends to show a red, raised rash. It can also leave dark spots and patches that are quite noticeable on the face, and the AAD says early treatment can prevent them. DermNet notes it is among the five most common diagnoses in Black patients and can appear as lighter, petal-shaped patches.
Is it seborrheic dermatitis or just dry, peeling skin?
Seborrheic dermatitis is oily and flaky at the same time; dry skin is tight and flaky with no greasiness. Seb derm sticks to the oily zones, while dry peeling tends to hit the cheeks and spots exposed to wind, cleansers or retinoids. The AAD notes that seborrheic dermatitis causes inflammation (swelling and discolored skin), which is why treatment usually goes beyond moisturizer. This comparison is a rough guide:
| Feature | Seborrheic dermatitis | Dry or irritated peeling | Facial eczema |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flakes | White to yellowish, can be greasy or sticky | Fine, dry, papery | Dry, scaly, may crust after scratching |
| Where | Nose folds, brows, eyelid edges, beard, hairline, ears | Cheeks, around the mouth, wherever a harsh product went | Often around the eyes in adults |
| Skin underneath | Pink, red, purplish or lighter patches | Mostly normal color, may look dull | Red, brown, purple or gray patches |
| Itch | Often mild or minimal | Usually mild; tightness more common | Often intense |
| Scalp | Dandruff is common at the same time | Unaffected | Not typically |
If your peeling started after a new active, see our guide to why your face is peeling. If the flakes come with intense itch around the eyes, our guide to eczema on the face covers that pattern. Seb derm can also coexist with rosacea or psoriasis, which is one reason the AAD recommends a dermatologist's diagnosis.
Why is seborrheic dermatitis linked to yeast?
Malassezia yeast, a normal resident of oily skin, appears to drive the inflammation. DermNet explains that Malassezia's enzymes break down the oils in sebum into free fatty acids, which may trigger inflammation, and that differences in skin barrier lipids may explain why some people react and others don't. MedlinePlus lists Malassezia alongside changes in skin barrier function, oily skin and heavy alcohol use as possible factors. That's why antifungal washes are a mainstay of treatment, and why "fungal" and "regular" breakouts are worth telling apart; see fungal acne vs regular acne for the related follicle problem.
It isn't caused by poor hygiene, and it isn't contagious. The NHS makes the same points about dandruff, which the AAD calls the mildest form of seborrheic dermatitis.
Who gets it, and what sets off flares?
DermNet estimates it affects 3% to 12% of the population. The AAD says it is more common in men, especially common in adults 50 and older, and in the US most likely in Black people. People with HIV, Parkinson's disease, psoriasis or rosacea have a higher risk.
The AAD lists these common flare triggers:
- Stress
- Cold, dry weather, plus hot showers in winter
- Harsh detergents, strong soaps and alcohol-based products
- Sweat
- Fumes from paint, new carpet and cleaning products
- Infections that irritate the skin
- Heat and sun
What over-the-counter treatments help seborrheic dermatitis on the face?
Antifungal and medicated washes are the usual first step. MedlinePlus says over-the-counter dandruff and medicated products containing salicylic acid, coal tar, zinc, resorcinol, ketoconazole or selenium sulfide can treat flaking, and advises choosing a product whose label says it treats seborrheic dermatitis or dandruff. These are options to talk through with a doctor or pharmacist, especially before using them near your eyes.
Zinc pyrithione cleansers
The AAD's self-care advice is to wash your face twice a day with a medicated soap your dermatologist recommends, a fragrance-free cleanser or a cleanser containing pyrithione zinc, rinse thoroughly and follow with a fragrance-free moisturizer. Its treatment page adds that washing with zinc soap is often recommended.
Ketoconazole washes
For the beard and mustache, the AAD suggests washing with a shampoo that contains 1% ketoconazole or a product your dermatologist recommends; shaving off the beard is another way to reduce flares. A dandruff shampoo can also be used on the face or beard when a dermatologist recommends it, and the AAD notes that leaving it on for the recommended time gives the medicine a chance to work. Stronger ketoconazole creams, gels and foams are prescription products; the AAD says topical ketoconazole is FDA approved for seborrheic dermatitis in people 12 and older with a healthy immune system, and can cause burning or stinging.
How often, and for how long?
| Approach | Typical pattern described by sources |
|---|---|
| Medicated shampoo (scalp, and face or beard if advised) | Twice weekly for at least a month, per DermNet; 2 to 3 times a week for straight or wavy hair, once a week for curly or coily hair, per the AAD |
| Maintenance | Once a week to prevent flares, per the AAD |
| Trying a new shampoo | Up to 4 weeks before judging it, per the NHS |
| Antifungal cream on the face (often prescribed) | Once daily for 2 to 4 weeks, repeated as needed, per DermNet |
If one product stops working, the AAD suggests telling your dermatologist, since rotating shampoos can help. DermNet notes that some Malassezia strains resist azole antifungals such as ketoconazole, in which case zinc pyrithione or selenium sulfide is worth trying. If you have light, bleached or tinted hair, the AAD warns that tar shampoos can discolor it.
Skin care habits that help
- Choose alcohol-free products, including moisturizer, sunscreen, shaving cream and makeup.
- Skip fragranced products and deodorant soaps.
- Use sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which the AAD says are less likely to irritate.
- Go easy on hair gel, spray and pomade near the hairline.
- Keep a simple flare journal; the AAD suggests noting what you were doing before each flare.
Oily skin and seb derm often overlap, but stripping the oil makes things worse. Our guide to dry vs dehydrated skin explains why a face can be greasy and still need moisture.
When should you see a doctor about flaky skin on your face?
See a doctor or dermatologist if a few weeks of self-care and over-the-counter washes haven't helped. The NHS advises seeing a GP if you have flaky, itchy patches on your face or body along with dandruff, or if dandruff persists after 4 weeks of anti-dandruff shampoo. MedlinePlus adds to call if patches drain fluid or pus, form crusts, or become very red or painful.
Also see a dermatologist if you have darker skin and notice dark or light spots forming, if the flaking involves your eyelids, or if you aren't sure it's seb derm at all. Psoriasis, rosacea, eczema and fungal infections can all look similar.
A dermatologist has more options. The AAD lists corticosteroids for short-term flares, roflumilast foam, pimecrolimus cream or tacrolimus ointment, and propylene glycol solutions. In a clinical trial cited by the AAD, 68.3% of patients using roflumilast foam had clear or almost clear skin within 8 weeks; it is FDA approved for people 9 and older. Steroids on the face need a doctor's guidance; DermNet lists skin thinning and dilated blood vessels among the complications. The condition can't be cured, according to the AAD, but treatment can control it.
How can a selfie scan or ingredient scanner help?
Seb derm comes and goes with seasons and stress, so a record helps you see whether a wash is working. Pori turns a selfie into an overall skin score with breakdowns such as Pores & Texture and Pigmentation & Tone. Scanning in the same light each week, and noting stress and sleep in the skin diary, can make a winter pattern or a stress link easier to spot.
Pori's ingredient scanner (Pro) reads a barcode or a photo of a label and flags each ingredient as beneficial, use with caution or avoid for your skin type, using fixed rules over about 250 common ingredients. It's a quick way to check a new moisturizer or sunscreen for alcohol and fragrance before you use it on flaky areas. Pro costs $9.99 a week or $49.99 a year in the US as of October 2026; the app and first scan are free.
An app is not a diagnosis. Pori can't tell seborrheic dermatitis from psoriasis, eczema or a fungal infection, so let a doctor confirm what's causing the flakes.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I have flaky skin around my nose?
Flaking in the creases beside the nose is a classic sign of seborrheic dermatitis, especially if the flakes look greasy or yellowish and you also have dandruff. Dry or irritated skin from harsh products can also peel there, so a doctor can confirm which it is.
Is dandruff on my eyebrows seborrheic dermatitis?
Often, yes. The American Academy of Dermatology describes dandruff as the mildest form of seborrheic dermatitis, and the eyebrows are one of its most common spots on the face.
Can I use ketoconazole shampoo on my face?
The AAD suggests washing beard and mustache areas with a 1% ketoconazole shampoo, and dermatologists sometimes recommend dandruff shampoo for the face. Ask a doctor first, keep it away from your eyes, and stop if it burns or stings.
Is seborrheic dermatitis a fungal infection?
It's linked to Malassezia, a yeast that normally lives on the skin. The rash is an inflammatory reaction to it and isn't contagious. Antifungal washes help control it but don't cure it.
How do I tell seborrheic dermatitis from dry skin on my face?
Seborrheic dermatitis is oily and flaky at the same time and sits in oily zones like the nose folds, brows and beard. Dry skin feels tight, has fine papery flakes and usually improves with moisturizer.
Does seborrheic dermatitis go away?
It can't be cured, but treatment can control it, and flares often ease in warm, humid weather. Many people use a medicated wash about once a week to keep it from coming back.
Sources
- American Academy of Dermatology: Seborrheic dermatitis: Overview
- American Academy of Dermatology: Seborrheic dermatitis: Self-care
- American Academy of Dermatology: Seborrheic dermatitis: Diagnosis and treatment
- DermNet: Seborrhoeic dermatitis
- MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine): Seborrheic dermatitis
- NHS: Dandruff
Pori is a wellness and skincare education app, not a medical device. This article is for general information and isn't medical advice. For anything that worries you, see a dermatologist.
