I previously shared a bit of my health journey — especially how a low-carb, animal- and ferment-based diet was helping me break the back of chronic seborrheic dermatitis and related hair loss. This is an update on protocol and status.

For a couple of weeks I have felt low energy, gut discomfort, and lymphatic and skin symptoms around my body. At first I blamed eating a bit too much carbohydrate (dried fruit) or eating out too often (rice and seed oils). What I have come to see instead is an acute breakdown phase in the fungal war — Herxheimer symptoms from clearance, not a simple dietary slip.

What have I been doing to cause this?

I am running two topical treatments against the two entrenched fungal colonies that remain. Both hide in built-up tissue that forms a habitat protected from the immune system. As those physical fortresses break down, the immune system can finally attack and clear the deep toxic deposits.

Scalp — Malassezia in keratinized build-up

For the dermatitis I use a 3% salicylic acid shampoo twice a week. That dissolves built-up, keratinized skin so healthier skin can grow. Malassezia had been hiding in those thickened areas; together they were choking hair follicles. After the shampoo I follow with a topical kefir treatment: it loosens the broken-down skin so it can shed, and it supports new cell growth, a healthier pH, and a better surface microbiome.

Close-up of scalp showing a raised pink patch of skin amid short buzzed hair
Scalp ridges and bumps breaking down as keratinized build-up clears — acid breakdown looks ugly right after, obviously
Scalp and forehead with topical kefir applied, with notes on kefir benefits
Secondary topical: kefir after the shampoo

It has been very effective. The ridges and bumps on my head have been breaking down hard, with swelling down the head and neck as debris clears through the lymph.

Toenails — a different fungus in dead nail

Separately, I am attacking a completely different fungal infection in my toenails with a stronger salicylic acid treatment. The fungus lives inside the dead nail itself, so I file it down with a metal file sterilized with alcohol, then apply a concentrated salicylic acid solution to dissolve the exposed nail. Once that dries I apply tea tree oil. Tea tree is daily; the salicylic acid is once a week.

Close-up of four toes with thick white fungal debris on the toenails
Entrenched toenail fungus — the other fortress. Same deal: dissolving nail with acid looks ugly immediately after
Tea tree oil bottle, Callosil keratolytic solution, and cotton swabs on a wooden surface
Nail protocol: Callosil (salicylic), tea tree oil, cotton swabs

Internal landscape, external fortresses

Internally I am in a strong place — clean enough to clear fungi and other infections when they become reachable. I knew these two colonies were still there, and that the topicals were meant to break their cover. I also knew both could be slow: months of circulation limits and cellular regeneration. What caught me off guard was the wave of herx when the treatments worked harder and faster than I expected.

Round 2, then, is not a relapse of the old pattern. It is the cost of finally opening rooms the immune system could not enter before. Uncomfortable. Ugly. On purpose. Continuing.