Discover my current regimen (since August 2015) more info

Could Celery Juice Curb Seborrheic Dermatitis

  • Quick Read: Celery juice is often touted online as a natural remedy for skin conditions like seborrheic dermatitis.
  • Evidence-Based: While not a proven cure, celery’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties may offer significant benefits for managing symptoms.
  • Research Highlights: Studies suggest celery can reduce inflammation, combat oxidative stress, and positively impact lipid metabolism – all relevant to seborrheic dermatitis.
  • Manage Expectations: Celery juice isn’t a guaranteed fix, but incorporating it into your diet could be a supportive strategy alongside other treatments.

Online communities are buzzing about celery juice as a miracle cure for various skin issues, including seborrheic dermatitis. But with so much unverified advice floating around, it’s wise to ask: is there any real evidence to back up these claims?

Let’s cut through the anecdotal noise and examine the science. While celery juice isn’t a scientifically proven treatment for seborrheic dermatitis, its well-documented health benefits directly target key factors involved in the condition. Could celery juice be a helpful addition to your skincare strategy? Let’s explore the evidence.

Research Verdict: While celery juice isn’t a guaranteed cure for seborrheic dermatitis, its inherent health benefits align well with addressing the condition’s symptoms and may offer considerable relief.

Image for Unpacking the Potential: Celery and its Health-Boosting Properties

Unpacking the Potential: Celery and its Health-Boosting Properties

A quick search reveals a 1999 patent highlighting celery seed extract as a potent anti-inflammatory agent with therapeutic potential for various ailments:

  • [Celery seed extracts for pain, inflammation, and gastrointestinal relief][1]

However, it’s important to note that patents don’t automatically equate to proven efficacy. This patent focused on a specific celery seed extract and acknowledged that while traditional medicine mentioned celery seed’s potential, “the efficacy for the claimed applications is not documented”.

Moving beyond patents, let’s investigate the broader research on celery itself and its potential benefits.

Celery’s Anti-Inflammatory Powerhouse

Research from 1985 in the International Journal of Drug Research demonstrated celery’s significant anti-inflammatory effects in rats. The study successfully reduced inflammation induced by carrageenan using a celery extract, though the exact compounds responsible weren’t identified.

Key details of this study:

  • Inflammation Trigger: Carrageenan was used to induce inflammation in rats.
  • Celery Extract Preparation: Celery was blended, filtered, and extracted using a simple water-based method to concentrate active compounds.
  • Dosage Relevance: The dosage used was equivalent to approximately 20-30g of fresh celery for rats, translating to a potentially very high intake for humans (around 7-10kg).

Rich in Antioxidants: Celery’s Defense Against Oxidative Stress

Celery is recognized as a rich source of diverse antioxidant compounds, particularly phenolic compounds. Diving deeper into research using celery’s scientific name, Apium graveolens, reveals a wealth of supporting studies:

Several cut-up stalks of celery lying beside in formation ready to be juiced
  • Neuroprotective and Antioxidant Effects: Apium graveolens and Parkinson’s-like symptoms in mice [1]
  • Antioxidant Capacity of Celery Extracts [2]
  • Celery Extract Reduces Oxidative Stress in Arthritic Rats [3]
  • Flavonoid from Celery with In Vitro and In Vivo Antioxidant Activity [4]

A comprehensive 2017 review in the Journal of Evidence Based Complementary Alternative Medicine further supports these findings:

  • Celery’s Antioxidant Activity: A Detailed Review [5]

This review highlights that compounds like caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, apigenin, luteolin, tannin, saponin, and kaempferol in celery contribute to its strong antioxidant capabilities. Optimizing celery growing methods could even enhance these beneficial properties.

Illustration showing how antioxidants protect us from free radicals

Image for Celery's Positive Impact on Lipid Metabolism

Celery’s Positive Impact on Lipid Metabolism

Celery also demonstrates beneficial effects on lipid metabolism and related metabolic issues. Research suggests it can contribute to lowering blood pressure and improving lipid profiles:

  • Celery and Metabolic Syndrome: A Review of Evidence [6]
  • Celery Extract Improves Lipid Parameters in Rats on High-Fat Diet [7]

Image for Seborrheic Dermatitis: Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and the Potential of Celery

Seborrheic Dermatitis: Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and the Potential of Celery

For decades, research on seborrheic dermatitis has centered on the yeast Malassezia. The simplified view is:

  1. Malassezia presence on skin -> seborrheic dermatitis symptoms
  2. Antifungal treatments -> reduced Malassezia -> symptom relief

This relationship is well-established. However, Malassezia is a normal part of the skin flora for most people, yet only some develop seborrheic dermatitis. This raises the question: why do some people react negatively to Malassezia while others don’t?

Current theories suggest:

  • Immune System Response: An overactive or inappropriate immune response in susceptible individuals [8]
  • Oxidative Stress: Insufficient antioxidant defenses or increased free radical production [9]
  • Skin Microbiome Imbalance: Disruptions in the skin’s bacterial balance [10]

While celery juice is unlikely to directly alter the skin’s bacterial composition, its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties could positively influence the first two points. By reducing inflammation and combating oxidative stress, celery juice may help mitigate the underlying factors that contribute to seborrheic dermatitis symptoms.

However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that current evidence doesn’t definitively quantify how much celery juice can benefit seborrheic dermatitis. Direct studies are needed to provide a clearer answer.

Image for Celery Juice: A Likely Supportive Strategy for Seborrheic Dermatitis

Celery Juice: A Likely Supportive Strategy for Seborrheic Dermatitis

Despite the lack of specific clinical trials on celery juice and seborrheic dermatitis, the evidence suggests potential benefits.

We know seborrheic dermatitis involves:

  • Inflammation and a poorly understood disease process
  • Increased lipid oxidation on the skin surface
  • Altered immune responses

And celery offers:

  • Significant antioxidant capacity
  • Moderate anti-inflammatory effects
  • Positive effects on blood lipids

Therefore, even if celery juice isn’t a standalone cure, increasing its consumption could likely improve several key aspects of seborrheic dermatitis. Furthermore, choosing celery juice can displace less healthy dietary choices, indirectly supporting overall health and potentially skin health.

Image for Further Insights

Further Insights

  • [Video: Exploring Celery Juice Benefits][4]
    • [Understanding the Root Causes of Seborrheic Dermatitis][5]
    • [Dietary Strategies for Managing Seborrheic Dermatitis][6]

Image for In Conclusion: Celery Juice and Seborrheic Dermatitis

In Conclusion: Celery Juice and Seborrheic Dermatitis

No studies confirm that drinking a specific amount of celery juice will eliminate seborrheic dermatitis. However, celery boasts numerous scientifically-backed health benefits, particularly its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. These properties directly address several key features of seborrheic dermatitis.

So, should you drink celery juice? It likely won’t hurt, and it might help. Consider incorporating celery juice into your diet as a potentially supportive strategy. Share your experiences in the comments below!

100% of readers found this article helpful

References

  1. Pennapa Chonpathompikunlert, Phetcharat Boonruamkaew, Wanida Sukketsiri, Pilaiwanwadee Hutamekalin, Morakot Sroyraya "The antioxidant and neurochemical activity of Apium graveolens L. and its ameliorative effect on MPTP-induced Parkinson-like symptoms in mice." BMC complementary and alternative medicine 18.1 (2018): 103. PubMed
  2. Baananou Sameh, Bouftira Ibtissem, Amor Mahmoud, Kamel Boukef, Naceur A. Boughattas "Antioxidant Activity ofApium graveolensExtracts" Informa UK Limited 1.5-6 (2013): 340-343. doi.org
  3. Wanida Sukketsiri, Pennapa Chonpathompikunlert, Supita Tanasawet, Nutjanat Choosri, Tulaporn Wongtawatchai "Effects of Apium graveolens Extract on the Oxidative Stress in the Liver of Adjuvant-Induced Arthritic Rats." Preventive nutrition and food science 21.2 (2016): 79-84. PubMed
  4. Peng Li, Jia Jia, Daihui Zhang, Jingli Xie, Xueshu Xu, Dongzhi Wei "In vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities of a flavonoid isolated from celery (Apium graveolens L. var. dulce)." Food & function 5.1 (2014): 50-6. PubMed
  5. Wesam Kooti, Nahid Daraei "A Review of the Antioxidant Activity of Celery ( Apium graveolens L)." Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine 22.4 (2019): 1029-1034. PubMed
  6. Narges Hedayati, Mehri Bemani Naeini, Arash Mohammadinejad, Seyed Ahmad Mohajeri "Beneficial effects of celery (Apium graveolens) on metabolic syndrome: A review of the existing evidences." Phytotherapy research : PTR 33.12 (2020): 3040-3053. PubMed
  7. D Tsi, N P Das, B K Tan "Effects of aqueous celery (Apium graveolens) extract on lipid parameters of rats fed a high fat diet." Planta medica 61.1 (1995): 18-21. PubMed
  8. A Schmoldt, H F Benthe, G Haberland "Digitoxin metabolism by rat liver microsomes." Biochemical pharmacology 24.17 (1976): 1639-41. PubMed
  9. Selma Emre, Göknur Kalkan, Serpil Erdoğan, Akın Aktaş, Merve Ergin "Dynamic Thiol/Disulfide Balance in Patients with Seborrheic Dermatitis: A Case-Control Study." Saudi journal of medicine & medical sciences 8.1 (2020): 12-16. PubMed
  10. Luciana Campos Paulino "New perspectives on dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis: lessons we learned from bacterial and fungal skin microbiota." European journal of dermatology : EJD 27.S1 (2018): 4-7. PubMed
Last Updated:
in Seborrheic Dermatitis   , 0

About Michael Anders

After being affected by seborrheic dermatitis, I have made it my goal to gather and organize all the information that has helped me in my journey.

Share Your Thoughts

(will not be published)

No Comments

Be the first to start a conversation