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A case report published in JAAD Case Reports (July 2025) explores the potential benefits of cervical transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) in treating seborrheic dermatitis, a chronic inflammatory skin condition.
The report describes a 56-year-old man who began using a non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation device for headaches and subsequently experienced significant improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis. After five days of treatment, his dermatitis severity score decreased from 23 (moderate) to 8 (mild). Although symptoms partially returned, improvements were maintained during continued stimulation over three months. Following a two-week discontinuation, symptoms worsened beyond baseline.
Researchers suggest that vagus nerve stimulation may influence inflammatory pathways involved in skin conditions through its effects on immune regulation and cytokine activity.
While these findings are promising, this single-patient case report cannot establish treatment effectiveness. Further clinical research is needed to investigate the potential role of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation in managing inflammatory skin diseases.
