Table of Contents
Dermatitis Remedies
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DISCLAIMER
Our readers offer information and opinions on Earth Clinic, not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by anyone on this site. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.
6 YEA
04/20/2009: MICHELLE from DELRAY BEACH, FL writes: "i HAVE HAD PERI ORAL DERMATITIS FOR AT LEAST 4-5 MONTHS!!! i WAS PUT ON TWO ANTIBIOTICS AND TWO DIFFERENT TOPICAL CREAMS NOTHING SEEMED TO WORK AND IF IT DID RESPOND THE RASH WOULD REAPPEAR EVEN MORE FIERCELY WHEN I WAS PREMENSTRAL. AFTER THE SECOND ROUND OF ANTIBIOTICS I DECIDED TO TRY ACUPUNTURE, CHANGING MY DIET AS BEST AS I COULD TO BE AKALINE, BEGAN DOING HYDROGEN PEROXIDE COPRESSES WHICH AFTER 5 DAYS ONLY CONTINUED TO BURN , IRRITATE MY SKIN. STILL I CONTINUED AND BEGAN DRINKING ACV 2X'S A DAILY FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS...NO BETTER!! GOOD NEWS i KEPT READING ON THIS SITE AND KEPT READING AND FINALLY DECIDED TO TRY BALMEX IT WORKS!!!!!!!!!! IT'S BEEN 3 DAYS AND I'M ONLY DOING BALMEX AND ACV BUT TOTAL DIFFERENCE MY RED SKIN IS LIGHT PINK THE PUSS IS GONE, I STILL HAVE FLAKING AND CAN SEE WHERE THE RED BUMPS WERE BUT A THOUSAND TIMES BETTER!!!! i AM HOPING THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO HEAL W/O SCARRING. MY OPINION IS BEGIN W BALMEX I DON'T EVEN WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WANTING TO SCRATCH MY FACE OFF. HOPE THIS HELPS A SUFFERER OUT THERE BECAUSE ITS BEEN A CONSTANT WAR WITH MY SKIN SINCE I GOT THIS RASH. GOOD LUCK!!"
09/24/2009: Chelsea from Santa Barbara, Ca replies: "First of all, I am so happy I have found this site. After being diagnosed with POD back in May (four months ago!) I was put on antibiotics and two topical creams - metrogel and I can't remember the name of the other. Like everyone else, the creams helped for a while when the outbreak was really terrible but then it would never cure me completely or i would break out if i stopped. The ABs didn't really do a ton and the creams burned alot at first. Anyhow, with my own gut instincts and after reading this site, I decided to stop the creams. I didn't get a huge reaction to stopping but still the bumps persist. I don't have a horrible case as I had before or have seen pictures of, but it is still very frustrating. They will start to dry up and flake off and I think I'm in the clear and then all of sudden (usually if something stressful occurs) the red bumps appear. I've also noticed in the past few days that instead of red bumps I am just getting little white bumps?? They are not whiteheads...
Anyhow, I found this site and started with the yogurt - definitely soothing. I have upped my intake of probiotics although I was already taking some anyway. I have tried the ACV which I'm not sure about yet. It dries it out but I haven't seen it as a "cure" yet. I did start ingesting some ACV yesterday...we'll see. I have also been using the tea tree oil which I have used for years on other blemishes and it works wonders as a drying agent, but again not a cure for the POD. Just yesterday I purchased some zinc soap and I've eliminated anything with SLS from getting near me. I have been extremely frustrated by my inability to get rid of this disease. I have had eczema in the past, though never severe and I think I had a bout of POD last December which went away fairly easily without much worry...I didn't even know what it was.
In short, my thought is that the topical creams only worsen the situation. ABs might work, but didn't do the trick for me. While most of the suggestions here have helped, nothing has quite cured me yet. So, I'm still holding out!! The MOST AMAZING thing though is that I read the post about Balmex today, rushed to the store to get some and yes, indeed, it does seem to be helping. Jury still out on whether its a cure-all!! Fingers crossed...
Thank you again to everyone for posting their suggestions. I definitely agree that stress and poor diet contribute to this. I had previously been eating a very clean and whole foods diet. I think the stress and lack of consistency in my diet have contributed to the POD. Coffee and alcohol definitely seem to play a factor in it for me! Also, I am training for a marathon so getting hot and sweaty is a factor that hasn't helped in my fight against POD...
Anyone fighting this should definitely amp up the vitamin/supplements and try to stay calm..."
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[YEA] 01/24/2007: Jasmin from Bronx, NY writes: "Balmex diaper rash cream healed my perioral dermatitis! I've been suffering from this condition since i was 12 or so and this is the first thing that works so fast and efficiently. Just as the woman who posted it said, it began to work within 20 minutes and the papules were already disappearing by the next day. Thank you so much - I will never forget this."
[YEA] 12/27/2008: Bonni Philips from Mcminnville, OR replies: "I just read this article today. I have had PD for 8 months now. I have tried expensive creams from the derm. It is the first day, my skin feels great and already the problem is significantly reduced. If this doesnt work I have read a lot about coconut oil being excellent and acidopholus. Good luck!"
10/13/2009: Emily from Portland, Or replies: "Hello from Portland, OR - I have been struggling with POD for about 2 months now likely caused by topical steroids that my primary care doc had recommended for a more mild dermatitis that snowballed into something much, much worst (sigh). When I finally got into my dermatologist who was scheduled 6-weeks out and found out the cortozone was a huge no-no, she prescribed metrogel and azelic acid... I am a breastfeeding mom so we are not going to do antibiotics for now. The topical stuff burns my skin and has made it flakier after 2 weeks. I am now considering the homeopathic options and I'm glad I came across this site! I like the sound of the Balmex as a quick cure; and/or ACV & coconut oil. I am wondering if the people that used the Balmex had any relapses of POD or if it is a cure for good?"
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[YEA] 05/26/2006: Lisa from Brooksville Florida writes: "Hello, I wanted to let people know who suffer from Perioral Dermatitis that Balmex will take the rash away. My 9 year old had PD for awhile. It came to me to try Balmex to get a protective barrier on her skin around her mouth. It sounds silly because Balmex is a diaper rash cream but within 20 minutes the cream began to heal her skin and by the second day the pus bumps started to go away because the skin was getting the moisture it needed. Balmex has 11.3% Zinc Oxide while other straight Zinc Oxide creams have 20% but stay with the Balmex it clings to the skin very well and is hard to wipe off. That's what you need. Get natural toothpaste too. Tea tree oil , antibiotics, and steroids did not help me. They only made it worse and the oral steroid they put my daughter on gave her a tooth infection and the tooth had to be pulled. I hope this information helps . Thank you"
[YEA] 09/07/2008: Rachael from Fayetteville, NC replies: "Oh my god!! You are right. Within 20 minutes Balmex really did start taking away the perioral dermatitis that I had had for more than 7 months. I was tempted to take the A+D cream with 40% zinc oxide but remembered the lady above's reassurance that 11% would be effective. For some reason I had a very severe breakout after a weekend away and instead of having PD under my nose and a little on my chin, it rapidly spread across my face and eventually reached my forehead. Absolutely hideous to look at. I systematically tried everything. Here is a list of unsucess remedies for me -1. Topical application once a day of ACV, this really irritated the rash and left redder and drier.
2. Dabbing green tea repeatedly (20+ times a day), I did this for several days and the rash worsened.
3. Grape seed extract, acidophilis, and yeast defence pills. Admittedly, I haven't been taking these long just 5 days now, maybe they would have worked with more time.
4. Honey masks and yoghurt masks, both reduced the redness a little, did nothing for the bumps and the results remained very temporarily.
5. Aloe Vera moisterizer, this irritated the skin immediately.
6. Prosacea, it worked to reduced bumps and redness by about 40%. Caused the skin to be very dry and after several applications was as powerful.
7. Coconut oil. My skin drank this so quickly, after 2 hours I needed to reapply. Reduced redness and softened dry skin but was really only about 50% effective. I used this for only 2 days, again, perhaps with more time it could have worked as a cure. I was also ingesting 3 tablespoons daily - and will continue to do so.
Well, that's my research. I hope it will be helpful to someone suffering PD. Balmex is about $5 for a giant tube, it really does work quickly. I have used it now for a period of only 14 hours and my skin is 98% clear. Will write back with updates on it's effectiveness. Goodluck to you all. "
[YEA] 12/29/2008: Amy from Williamsville, NY replies: "After reading the success stories about Balmex helping Perioral Dermatitis, I just had to give it a try. My daughter is newly potty trained and knew I had some left over diaper cream lying around the house. I didn't end up having Balmex, but I did have Boudreaux's Butt Paste (which contains 16% Zinc Oxide) and decided to give it a try. I figured why not?!
To give some background info - I started with POD 2 years ago. I just had a spot on the one side of my chin and I didn't know what it was. I thought it was a rash, so I put Cetaphil on it to hydrate it. It only lasted a few days and then went away.
A year later, the rash comes back a bit worse so I put some neosporin and hydrocortisone cream on it to make it go away. Obviously, I didn't know that I had POD and it made the rash A LOT worse. This time it lasted a couple of weeks and I thought I was having an allergic reaction to the neosporin. I was so happy when it finally cleared up.
Now, a little less than a year later, the rash is back. I am obviously starting to see a pattern and know it's much more than a rash. I have new insurance and I couldn't get in to see a dermatologist. So, I have been researching like a mad woman on the internet - I think I have read every POD article there is, lol! This is what I have to a T, plus seeing the pictures confirms this.
After a lot of work, I finally got in to see a dermatologist and guess what he says I have? Eczema! This was due to me using benzoyl peroxide and turning the POD into a flaky mess.by the time I saw him. I suggested that it was POD and he said that it did indeed look like it, but you don't get POD under your eye! Um, is he serious? That is definitely one of the spots it can appear.
Anyways, he gives me Elidel to put on it. It works great for a couple of weeks and then all of the sudden it got significantly worse. Now I have it on both sides of my chin, along my nasal folds and under one eye. I look horrendous and don't even want to leave the house. Everyone stares at my POD and I am so uncomfortable, I can't take it.
I was desperate (still am if this doesn't "cure" it), came along this forum and decided to try the diaper cream. I slathered it on last night, slept with it on and wiped it off in the morning. My POD cleared about 50% and it was BAD! Then today I washed my face with water and applied more. It is now 6pm and it cleared even more. I can actually go out to dinner tonight and not be embarrassed. I am truly amazed!
If you would have asked me yesterday if I thought my face could possibly look this good in one day - I would have told you a firm NO! I am in complete shock and hope the trend continues. I am not one to write on these boards, but had to tell my story. If it could even help one other person, I would be SO HAPPY! This is such a horrible disease.
Thank you to those who shared their success stories with the Balmex. I am forever GRATEFUL to you!!!!"
09/10/2009: Weezy from Detroit, Mi replies: "Has anyone had the POD return after using the Balmex? I have been reading that heavy creams are a cause of POD and was wondering if the Balmex would have the same effect as the cortisone creams where it comes back with a vengeance after you stop using it."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 02/10/2009: Sandy from Tampa, FL writes: "Borage/flaxseed oil for Contact Dermatitis: I started taking flaxseed oil and in time realized that my dermatitis started to get better. At the time I also had bought a lotion with borage oil that said it was good for skin conditions. I looked up borage oil and found out that it has GLA and omegas which are good for inflammation and works against dermatitis, eczema etc. I realized that taking borage oil internally and putting on the lotion would probably be even better. I started doing this about a month and a half ago and my hands haven't looked this good in years. I think I've finally found a cure that works for me and I hope it works for you. I just take the pill once a day and put on the lotion as needed throughout the day. On the side--I realized that the reason for my dermatitis was harsh soaps so I have also started using Castille soap to wash my hands. It doesn't dry them out like other soaps do. I hope this helps someone out there. I had tried ACV/coconut oil and such before but while it did provide some relief it did not completely heal me as borage oil has."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 06/23/2009: sac from houston, tx writes: "I had problems for years with some type of dermatitis on my face. I'm not sure what type, but it was around my hairline, eyebrows, and around my nose. I applied castor oil several times per day for several days and it has been clear now for over a year."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 11/27/2008: Julie from Bendigo, Victoria Australia writes: "When I was in my teens I suffered terribly from dermatitis on my hands, mainly my palms, nothing would cure it, my life was disrupted by my problem. I went to many GPs with no results. Then a pharmacist gave me a mixture of coal tar ointment, told me to apply it at night and wrap my hands in clear platic wrap every night, for, I cant remember how long, a week maybe, it smells very strong, but I perservered. After applying this treatment, I have never suffered from dermatitis on my hands again, I am now in my fifties. Hope this may help someone."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 11/17/2008: Roger from Bristol, IN, USA writes: "I have had contact dermitittis for about 3 years now. My doctor prescribed antihistimines and Aveeno lotion. When it got worse I went to a Dermatologist and he gave me cortizone creams. I found the cortizone effective, but the rash spread and got worse. I tried ACV and it seemed to help but I eventually had the rash over most of my body.
Then I started using Palmers Cocoa Butter lotion. It is very inexpensive and works much better than any other lotion. My condition seems to be related to temperature so all summer I was dermittitis free by using the cocoa butter. Now that winter is coming I have slight breakouts, but I am sure that the cocoa butter will keep my skin from developing a severe condtion again.
I took ACV & coconut oil orally all last winter with little effect until I started using Palmers."
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6 YEA
[YEA] 06/12/2009: Starr from Rochester, NY writes: "Coconut oil is the cure. Here is what cleared up my perioral Dermatis.
For 7 days after I washed my face at night I wiped the dermatis with apple cider vinegar on a cotton ball. It will burn a little at first, but once it starts to clear up, it will no longer burn. I was also drinking apple cider vinegar during the day. I would mix 2-3 tablespoons of ACV with a water/apple juice mixture. I would drink that through out the day. I would also apply coconut oil directly to the dermatis whenever I was at home. I also ate the coconut oil, which surprisingly tasted pretty darn good. It's not strong or disgusting at all. It has such a light flavor. If you don't like coconut at all you may have a problem with it, but I actually like it. The more I read about the benefite of ACV and coconut oil the more I used it. I apply coconut oil on my body like I do lotion and I love it. You don't need a lot at all because it is very oily. A little goes a long way. But I truely believe that it is the coconut oil that cleared my dermatitis. i still have a little redness in the areas that were very dry before, and occasionally a few dry spots. However I still drink ACV and eat coconut oil daily and it keeps things under control, not too mention the benefits for other things. ACV is suppose to curb your appetite, and it has. Coconut oil has also improved my complexion. I will put it on every night before I go to bed and use it under makeup in the morning. I no longer put ACV directly on my face, but I do still drink it every day. I also want to report that I had no negative reactions to either of these remedies. You have nothing to lose by trying. My dermatis was so embarrassing I took two days off of work and went crazy with the coconut oil, and I absolutely love what I have discovered. I can't wait to go back to my Derm and tell him.
Oh - I use to wash my face with ___. i changed my face wash to ___ brand I got at the natural food store. I use the one with blue green algae and grape seed. I also use non-fluoride toothepaste, and have stopped eating anything with cinnamin in it. i am not sure if those were causes but I thought I would not use them and see. however I did eat french toast the other day that had cinnamin in it and didn't really have a reaction.
So i wish all of you luck with this. i would say there has been 85% improvement, but I still maintain with coconut oil and ACV."
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[YEA] 03/04/2009: Ed from London, Hornsey writes: "At 24 I had my first experience of seborrheic dermatitis, and had it for about 2 years. I can honestly remember one girl commenting 'it looks like his nose is turning green', to be honest I couldn't care less what she said, but there were times when i felt so low I didn't want to leave the house. I might have been exaggerating, but my nose was going from small red marks, to be inflamed burn marks, to a yellow gewy substance which would eventually harden.
I tried so many things. At first the steroid cream I used did the job in the short term. But it was no long term cure I was comfortable with. If I stopped using it it was back in a week. Maybe less. So I stopped using that pretty early. I also used aveeno yeast cream, aloe vera (from a bottle and from a plant), going on a yeast free and sugar free diet (to be honest this lasted about a month and a half, and don't think I went completely all out. But tried to cut the main stuff out), and garlic- none of these things worked.
Funnily enough, when I went to the states, it practically seemed to go on its own.
Then I decided to use coconut oil. externally (100% coconut oil- the brand is pukka). I applied it about once every day, not very much was needed as it is a very oily product. Actually I started by using this and taking it internally, eating crushed coconut from a jar with a spoon. but now I just apply it externally. I've been doing this for about 4 to 5 months now, and it is already feeling like a miracle cure, so I hope it carries on like this! I only had one major flare up since, whereas before I was getting one every other week. I hope I'm not speaking to soon, but it's really helped my confidence, and probably changed my life for the better. And something so simple! Just gotta thank the people on this website (and this website for this).
Of course a downside could be seen as it coming back if I stop using it. But who knows, it might even go for good!"
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[YEA] 05/30/2008: Adria from Kennesaw, GA writes: "I have been taking coconut oil capsules (2000 mg twice daily) for 3 weeks today. It has completely cured the psoriasis I have had on my elbows for over 25 years now. I'll have to get back with you to let you know what else it has helped me with. But, so far, I LOVE IT!"
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[YEA] 07/04/2007: Jill from MH, usa writes: "I have been taking coconut oil soft gels for 2 months now. It has tremendously took my dermatitis away. I have suffered from dermatitis for 5 years now. Used tons of creams and ointments. Yet still never got full relief. Since taking the pills I have been irritation free. I feel as good as before I developed it. It to me its just amazing."
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6 YEA
[YEA] 05/19/2007: Janet from Morayfield, Queensland writes: "I have suffered from skin ailments all my life. I had heard about coconut oil but it seemed too simple an idea to really work, and I had tried every remedy, scientific and natural, under the sun and nothing ever worked. So after reading all the latest hype about coconut oil I decided "why not?' Well, sometimes I wish wasn't such a sceptic and then I might have tried it years ago. How it works I don't know but after less than a week of applying it twice a day my rash had cleared up, the redness and itching was gone, and has stayed gone despite the fact that I have stopped using my usual prescription anti-inflammatory cream. The kind I use is the extra virgin pure coconut oil made without chemical processes. I'm now taking it orally too."
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6 YEA
[YEA] 01/20/2006: Cain from VA Beach writes: "I recently started using coconut oil on my skin. I have really bad acne and i tried almost every acne product you can think of and spent hundreds of dollars on medications and nothing worked. I came across some information on coconut oil and decided to try it. I started using the coconut oil two weeks ago. My skin has improved greatly. The texture of my skin is no longer dry and flaky, plus my pores are much smaller. My face looks so much clearer and I actually have been getting compliments on my skin and how healthy it looks. I want to mention that I have perioral dermatitis which in the past I had to use a steroid to get rid of this condition but as soon as I stopped the steroid the condition would come back much worse. I applied coconut oil on the affected area, and now I have no signs of dermatitis present. Coconut oil has worked for me so far."
05/27/2008: Missouri from St Louis, Missouri replies: "thank you for the comment regarding coconut oil..today i was diagnosed with perioral dermatitis...never before have i had a problem with acne or my skin...the intensive treatment was to use tetracycline for 1-2 months and that just didn't appeal to me..thank goodness for the internet and coconut oil floating around in the house with the rest of the organic "stuff"...will give a couple of weeks and see how well this works."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 08/28/2006: Katrina from Sterling, VA writes: "After the death of two very close friends and a lot of stress, I ended up with stress induced psoriasis all over my head, neck and shoulder. I tried EVERYTHING OTC and nothing worked so finally, I gave up, and started saving money to go to the doctor. I came across the cold water therapy on this site and although I did nto intend to use it to treat this issue, it sure cured it. I started taking cold water showers in the hottest months here in Virginia. Immediately I noticed the increase in energy and my hair is SUPER SOFT even after months of harsh psoriasis shampoos that had my hair turning to straw. Call me crazy, but it seems my shower doesn't get as grimey as it did before when I was using hot water. My complexion has improved, and there is an obvious difference in my pores. Basically, I have nothing bad to say about cold showers. After 2 months of them, I can't even STAND a hot shower now."
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1 WARNING!
[WARNING!] 06/10/2009: Connie from Brush Prairie, WA writes: "Hello everyone, I just wanted to say that cortisone cream should be avoided for POD. It will mske the symptoms better at first, but eventually the problem will become worse according to my dermatologist and according to everything I have read in the literature."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 09/29/2006: Sharon from Boston writes: "Please delete my previous email from January and put this one in its place. This is the most successful remedy combination I have experimented with for dermatitis!
I have had an itchy dermatitis on and off around my nose for about 10 years. It was triggered after working in an office in Los Angeles for a man who smoked all day long (illegally of course, but he was a top entertainment executive so no one complained at that point in time). After years of smoking, the cigarette smoke was embedded in his furniture-- that's a horrendous smell to someone whose never smoked. Plus, think of all those microbes! At any rate, it took about 3 years to clear and then came back every time I would get around old, furniture embedded cigarette smoke. Psychological response? Maybe! At any rate, it came back again this summer after a few month respite.
But this time, I am happy to report that after years of playing around with every prescription and supplement under the sun, I think I have finally hit upon a dermatitis cure! It will only cost about $5... $.79 for the decolorized iodine, and $4 for a bottle of vitamin E oil. Here is my cure:
Using decolorized iodine for the face, take a q-tip and dab the dermatitis with iodine. If this is not on your face, you can use regular iodine. But it will stain you orange for a few hours.
If your dermatitis is on sensitive skin around your nose, like me, it will burn like crazy when you apply the iodine. Don't inhale the fumes while it is drying (takes about 10 seconds to dry). After it dries, apply some natural vitamin e oil. I open a large capsule and use that for several days before it runs out. Your skin will redden from the iodine and dry out, but the vitamin e will heal it and keep it from flaking. Keep this area moist with vitamin e oil all day and night if possible.
Do the topical iodine for 2 days, 3x a day. After the 2nd day, cut the iodine back to 1x a day. However, you will still want to keep the vitamin e oil on all day. After 3 days of 1x daily application of iodine, cut the iodine back to every other day. Continue every other day for 10 days (or less). Keep up the vitamin e oil every day until the dermatitis has disappear completely.
Let me tell you, the iodine and vitamin 3 oil starts to work on clearing up the dermatitis in about 24 hours! Initially the skin will look red and inflamed, but don't worry... the vitamin e speeds up the healing process.
I hope everyone with dermatitis (even perioral dermatitis) will try this cure. My particular form of dermatitis is one of the trickiest to heal so I am thrilled to maybe have a cure! I will let you know in the future how long this holds before I have to do the iodine again. Hopefully, never! Thanks,"
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05/09/2009: Mary Smith from University Place, WA writes: "After receiving two fillings from my dentist in January, I had an immediate response with my very first case of dermatitis above my lip, at the age of 52. I have tried a number of things, using baby shampoo to wash my face, applying Vaseline, and ingesting various teas and vitamins. I am now using ACV and so far it has given me a break but I am not sure what the next week will bring. I had a temporary implant done about two months ago and that further exacerbated the problem, creating a pink severely itchy patch directly above the implant that comes and goes, creating scaling and pealing into my lip that never scabs. We will see if the ACV continues to keep the symptoms at bay or if this is just the break I experience in between. It has become almost weekly at this point."
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12/09/2008: Johnna from Stratford, CT writes: "Wow! There is so much information on this site. This is my situation: My daughter is 7 years old and has PD. She has had a stuffy nose for weeks but doesn't have a "cold". Her nose itches and runs throughout the day. Her rash worsens when it is dry/cold outside or after she takes a shower. I think this condition is definitely chemical related. My daughter was exposed to formaldehyde which is a chemical that is many products. Long story short, her bedroom furniture contained formaldehyde which was causing her to have a reaction, coughing, running nose, etc ...I later found out that she was sensitive to the formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is found in EVERYTHING, (rugs, counter tops, cosmetics) and can be dangerous at high levels. , etc Anyway, my daugher is now ultra sensitive and has a constant runny nose, especially when the heat is on b/c more formaldehyde gas is released in to the air when the temp goes up...and she has PD, which I believe is directly related! I have not tried the ACV yet, but i was wondering if it's safe for a 7 year old? Also, has anyone ever heard of formaldehyde causing this condition? I also changed all of my soaps, shampoos and laundry detergent to exclude SLS...but the rash didn't go away. Does it usually worsen in the winter and clear up when the spring comes....please give me your advice. I am a little worried that she will be sensitive forever now. Thank you."
EC: PD = perioral dermatitis
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11/26/2008: John from Cambridge, Maryland writes: "skin dermatitis: I'm looking for a remedy other than what the doctors general give -- which have not worked over the years. Since I moved to Maryland's eastern shore where there is a lot of salt in the air from the Chesapeake Bay and the ocean, it has worsened. I'm sure there has got to be a remedy out there, if I can only find it!
By the way, great site! I've got to get a lot of stuff for my dog here! Thanks!"
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1 YEA
[YEA] 05/30/2008: Laura from Chicago, IL writes: "Hello everybody, I had a dermatitis on my neck and one thing that really helped was A + D ointment, the kind you use for diaper rush. I remember it was the best remedy for my kids when they were babies, so I tried it , and I felt the irritation, burning and swelling going down right away. You can buy it anywhere the diaper rash stuff is sold."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 01/27/2009: Cathy from Southampton, New York writes: "Perioral Dermatitis : When a persons diet (usually made up of eating meat, sugar, cheeses) produces too much acid it acidifies all the body's fluids and encourages overgrowth of bacteria which leads to chronic illnesses of all sorts. The way to restore a proper body ph is too eat 80% alkaline foods (meaning your diet basically has to be 80% green veggies) until you have balanced your ph. (You can test the ph of your urine using ph strips bought at the health store.) Sugar is a BIG no-no. I battled Perioral Dermatitis for 2 years with every type of antibiotic but could never knock it out. Within 10 days of the 80% green veggie diet, drinking a juice I make of green veggies and a potato, and taking in no sugar I have cleared my perioral dermatitis. The diet is hard to adhere to, but so worth it!"
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1 BETTER BUT NOT CURED
[BETTER BUT NOT CURED] 10/23/2009: Cassie from Austin, Tx writes: "I have had Perioral Dermatitis for years and kept it under control with very strong probiotics. Suddenly after 6 years of no PD I started having a reaction to probiotics of any kind. I was in a major panic but I started taking zinc/ b vit and the major thing is digestive enzymes. They seem to be helping alot. I can feel some sensations in my skin but visually there is nothing. I haven't seen this posted anywhere so I wanted to pass it on. So far so good. I read that lipase can really help with derm conditions so I may try to find one with more of that. I got PD after taking accutane. I see now they are using it as a treatment for it, how crazy! Don't fall for that one."
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ELIMINATE FACE AND TOOTH PRODUCTS
[YEA] 05/04/2009: Carmen from Boston, MA writes: "I struggled for years with perioral dermatitis, not knowing what it was. It first erupted about five years ago -- in my late twenties -- but in small patches. I would get what I thought were recurring tiny pimples, clustered around the same spot, for months at a time, and then they would go away as fast as they came. About six months ago, they came around my left nostril and the right corner of my mouth and not only stayed -- they started to spread up the sides of my nose, into my nose, and down towards my chin. It was awful!
My doctor diagnosed it as POD and gave me metronidizol, which made it worse, so I stopped using it. I eliminated soaps with Sodium Laurel Sulfates and parabens, started using organic baby products, and tried all of the "natural cures" in the following order: Apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil, diaper rash cream, hydrogen peroxide. All of them seemed to irritate my skin further, and led to new outbreaks. Finally, I stopped using *all* face and tooth products. That's right: No soap, no lotion, no makeup, no toothpaste, no chapstick, nothing. I splashed my face with water, did goatsmilk yogurt masks at night, and brushed my teeth with hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. When my lips felt chapped, I used olive oil. My skin started to heal, although I did continue to get smaller, localized outbreaks, much closer to the ones I experienced over the last several years. I read about Violet Extract and tried applying it to these areas, and it seemed to have no effect. I revisited my dermatologist, who gave me erythromycin gel for the skin around my mouth and muciprin ointment for the areas with active outbreaks. They went away! (I am actually scared to declare this out of fear that I will jinx myself and bring them back, but it has been over a month now of clear skin!)
My regimen these days is super simple. I wash my face with water at night, use ACV to tone my skin afterwards (it now seems to be handling ACV, which helps control the oil factor) and, occasionally, I apply goatsmilk yogurt masks -- that's it! No soap, no lotion, nothing. My skin has not looked this healthy in years! I actually used new mineral makeup the other day for an event and, the very next afternoon, had a small outbreak under my nose. That made things pretty clear to me. The only drawback to not being able to put product on my face is that I have to be really careful about staying out of the sun as I can no longer use sunblock...
So, for those of you who, like I did, feel like you are doomed to eternity to live with a seriously unsightly rash, keep up hope! I know it's hard to go without makeup when you feel ugly and rashy, or not to use soap and lotion, but it's essential! Once your skin gets used to living without products, and you notice the results, you really won't miss them at all... And air travel is hassle-free (no more plastic baggies)."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 07/02/2008: Brandon from New York, New York writes: "I've had what I've seen referred to on this site as perioral dermatitis for about 5 years now. It all started from the scalp, where i've have itching, flaking and bleeding for 8 years. Some doctors called it dandruff and others called it sebhorreic dermatis but it would go through cycles and end up turning from flakes into big scabs that would ooze and bleed. I tried all the store bought shampoos and the prescription stuff from my doctors. These only worked temporarily and were not intended for long term use. They only address the symptoms, though, not the underlying problem. If I went only a few days without using the shampoos or creams, the issue would return. I am so thankful that I've found this Ginger scalp care shampoo from the Body Shop. I'm new to the site so I hope that I can recommend this even though its not home made. All I know is the flakes and itching and scabbing on my scalp is gone for the first time in 8 years. Its been a monthmand a half now. The scabbing and flaking around my nose and my moustache area is gone too! The only thing that lingers is the redness and flaking right by my eyebrows toward the center, but this has improved greatly too. I found this site and finally found people who suffered from this too, exchanging these great natural remedies so I felt that I should contribute what I've found. I've included my email adress as well if anyone has any questions. The funny thing is, I wasn't looking for a shampoo for my condition. I was just looking for something that smelled better than my medicated shampoo and i found this great product. I think I'll try that acidophilus now because I've read great things and I'd like to get rid of these things from the inside out.
Sincerely,
brandon"
EC: In case you are interested, here are the ingredients in that shampoo, found on Amazon's website: http://www.amazon.com/Body-Shop-Ginger-Anti-Dandruff-Shampoo/dp/B000K79B6C.
Some of these ingredients are known to exacerbate dermatitis and eczema!
Ingredients
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamide DEA, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Polysorbate 20, Piroctone Olamine, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone Propyl PG Betaine, Honey, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Sodium Salicylate, Methylparaben, Glycerin, Fragrance, Disodium EDTA, Linalool, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Limonene, Birch Bark, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Citral, Citronellol, Oakmoss, Benzyl Alcohol, Eugenol, Geraniol, Isoeugenol.
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1 YEA
[YEA] 04/06/2009: Leigh from San Diego, California, USA writes: "Hi, I have been suffering from outbreaks of terrible peri oral dermititis since I was 7 years old. The only thing that ever worked was the prescription the doctor gave me but I had to stay out of the sun, it was expensive to have to keep going back to the doctor and the side effects of the medicine were terrible. I tried the apple cider vinegar for awhile and it worked in keeping the dermititis from getting worse but it still was there and quite red and visible. The medicine the doctor gave me was an anti bacterial anti biotic so I thought since goldenseal was an anti bacterial I'd give it a try. I also heard someone else suggest a benzoyl peroxide cream at night on the dermitis so I found several products with that as the main ingredient. I've been taking 6 400 mg pills of goldenseal everyday, 2 with each meal. I also put the cream on heavily at night and leave it on when I sleep and I only wash my face with warm water and then wipe a cottonball of hydrogen peroxide over my whole face after washing. I do that once or twice a day. I'm also able to wear makeup with no irritation. The cream seems to crust the dermititis up really quick so it can fall off and the goldenseal works from the inside. I hope this works for everyone, I've been doing this for 5 days and it is almost entirely gone as if I had taken the prescription drugs. It is such an embarassing and annoying skin problem, I know it can affect one's self esteem so I hope for anyone that this works for them. Good luck!!"
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