Skin Reset Protocol
The essential next steps to
start calming your skin
Got a minute?
Do these today:
Take before photos
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Check your other products with the Ingredient Checker
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Read the steps below
Step 1: Take before photos (future-you will thank you)
Before you start, snap a few photos. Front, side, and close-up if you can. Natural light is best. No need for filters or perfection—just a real snapshot of where your skin is today.
Why? Because almost everyone who gets relief says the same thing: “I wish I had taken before photos…my skin is so different now.” You'll want that reference point to see how far you've come.
And here's a bonus: when your skin calms down, if you're willing to share your before and after photos, we'll send you a free product of your choice as a thank-you. Just email your pics to support@dermazen.co.
Step 2: Remove fungus-feeding products
Let's start with the single most powerful step you can take: reducing the "food" that fuels malassezia.
Why this matters
Flare-ups aren't random. They have triggers. When malassezia yeast feeds on oils, waxes, and butters, it leaves behind waste that irritates your skin. Remove those triggers, and you give your skin the chance to thrive.
The simple rule
Avoid:
All plant oils (besides the two exceptions), waxes, butters, and tallow.
Safe
Exceptions:
MCT oil* and squalane are the only two oils that won't feed the fungus.
Essential
Oils:
Fine in small amounts, but skip them if you're highly reactive.
* Make sure your MCT oil is made with only C8 and C10 (capric and caprylic acid). Many MCT oils also contain C12 (lauric acid) which will feed malassezia.
Not sure about a product you're using?
Use our Ingredient Checker to quickly see if it feeds malassezia or not.
Check Your Products
If you want to know why some ingredients feed yeast and others don't, click here to read the full article.
How to give your skin a true fresh start
We highly recommend swapping your fungus-feeding products for Malassezia-Safe options. The three most important products to swap are your shampoo, conditioner, and facial cleanser.
The serum is amazing for relief. These four are the key to prevention.
Create Your Prevention Routine
Keep your skin peaceful everyday by switching to formulas designed to starve the fungus rather than strengthen it.
Scalp
Face
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And if you're not ready to try our other products, you can still use this knowledge to make better choices anywhere. There are also community-led resources like Sezia.co and Folliculitis Scout with curated lists of Malassezia-Safe products to support your skin.
Step 3: Add Dermazen to your daily routine
Malassezia fungus doesn't rest.
It is constantly trying to take over. That's why it's essential to help your skin reclaim its peace everyday.
Think of it like brushing your teeth. You don't brush only when it's convenient. You do it daily because you know your teeth depend on it. Your skin works the same way.
Here's the daily routine
we recommend:
FACE
- 1 Cleanse
- 2 Serum
- 3 Moisturize
Most folks choose to complete all three steps at night to give the serum and moisturizer ample time to soak in, but these can also be added into your morning routine.
SCALP
- 1 Serum
- 2 Moisturize (with MCT)
- 3 Shampoo & Condition
Most folks choose to apply the serum and moisturizer to their scalp at night then shower in the morning. If you prefer night time showers, we suggest leaving the serum and MCT moisturizer on your scalp for at least two hours.
Get more details on our Product Guide page including best practices for textured hair.
What if you use other products?
It's completely okay if you already have other products you love or are curious about. The key is to keep your lineup simple and intentional.
Always patch test new items, and use our Ingredient Checker before committing to anything long-term. If you stick to the core routine we outlined above, you'll already be doing most of the heavy lifting for your skin.
What about active ingredients like
tretinoin, AHAs, or BHAs?
Good news: our Calming Seborrheic Serum is designed to soothe the skin without interfering with actives. That said, because strong actives can make skin more sensitive, it's best to use them at different times to avoid irritation.
A helpful routine is:
- Actives at night, serum in the morning
- Or, serum on nights when you're not using exfoliating actives
Before combining them, do a patch test on the area where you normally apply your active ingredients. And if you're currently in the middle of a flare-up, it's wise to press pause on other products and let the serum work on its own first. Once your skin calms, you can gradually reintroduce actives and see how your skin responds.
Show details about active ingredients
Step 4: Support your whole system
Your skin is not just a surface—it's connected to everything else going on in your body and your life. Supporting the bigger picture can tip the scales toward calm.
How to soothe your skin from the inside out
Nutrition:
Choose meals that keep inflammation low like protein from healthy sources, colorful fruits and veggies, and higher fiber carbs, while reducing processed sugar and alcohol.
Stress:
Stress shows up on the skin. Short, simple practices like a 10-minute walk, a breathwork break, or a bit of journaling can help.
Hydration:
Water helps your skin barrier repair itself. It's wise to drink about 64oz of water each day while aimming to consume 5 servings of fruits and vegetables.
Shower Water
Hard water and chlorine can strip your skin's natural oils. A shower filter helps keep skin calm, balanced, and hydrated.
If you want to go deeper into all four of these topics, we've put everything into an easy-to-follow Peaceful Skin Nutrition Guide.
Step 5: Give your skin time (patience pays off)
Healing isn't instant. Skin transforms in cycles. On average, skin cells in your face renew every 4–6 weeks. The scalp can change a bit quicker.
What you see in the mirror is always a reflection of what you've been doing over the last few weeks, not just the last few days.
What to Expect
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Things might look a little worse before they look better. This is normal skin recalibration (sometimes called “skin purging”).
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Stay consistent. It's not about doing everything perfectly, it's about showing up consistently.
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If something feels off, adjust one thing at a time instead of starting over.
Niels & Marisa Tervoort,
Co-Founders
Here's a true story: one of our founders forgot to bring products home and used bar soap on his body instead of our body wash or facial cleanser. Even though he avoided using it on his face, his face still flared up fast.
He stopped the bar soap, went back to only Dermazen, and while Day 2 looked a little worse (as his cells were fighting off the fungus), by Day 4 his skin was calm again. Even we fall off the self-care wagon sometimes. The important thing is to get back on.
Before
4 days later
After
A Fresh Perspective
Think of this less like flipping a switch and more like tending a garden.
False Promise
Proven Path
Remove the weeds (fungus), care for the garden (your skin), and trust nature's process. Over time, you'll see the landscape transform.
If you ever feel lost…
You don't have to figure this out alone. If you're unsure about an ingredient, a product, or just want reassurance, reach out to support@dermazen.co.
Real people (who understand moody skin personally) will help you.
This is your fresh start.
Step by step, when you're consistent, your skin can reclaim and keep its peace.
And we'll be here with you through it all.