Q I have heard that alcohol and greasy food are bad for seborrhoeic dermatitis. What specific foods should I avoid?
A Alcohol, rich fatty foods, and spicy or salty stimulating foods accumulate Damp-Heat in the Spleen-Stomach and Liver, increasing sebum secretion. Refined carbohydrates (white bread, instant noodles) spike insulin rapidly and stimulate the sebaceous glands. In Korean medicine, raw and cold foods are also advised to be reduced as they impair Spleen-Stomach transformation function.
Detailed Answer
Dietary triggers for seborrhoeic dermatitis include: ①high-fat/high-sugar foods (insulin spike → excess sebum) ②alcohol (accumulation of Damp-Heat in Liver and Stomach) ③spicy and salty stimulating foods (vasodilation, worsening inflammation) ④excessive dairy (promotes inflammation in some patients). Conversely, vegetables, oily fish (omega-3), and fermented foods are beneficial for the skin barrier and gut microbiome balance.
Korean Medicine Perspective
In Korean medicine, consuming alcohol together with noodles is cautioned as it blocks the pores and prevents toxin excretion. During the treatment period, avoiding cold foods (raw, chilled) to keep the Spleen-Stomach warm, and eating small meals (小食) to prevent Damp-Heat from accumulating in the middle burner are the key management points.
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