http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/dermatitis4.rss http://www.earthclinic.com/template_img/logo.jpg http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/dermatitis4.rss Natural Cures for Dermatitis from the Earth Clinic Community. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:38:04 EST en-us http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/CURES/dermatitis.html&name=MR_34916 /CURES/dermatitis4.rss1 Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:01:08 EST [BETTER BUT NOT CURED] Colleen from Calgary, Alberta, Canada writes: "I wanted to write in to give my long story to all of the people who are suffering with Perioral Dermatitis (POD) - I know I pored over these entries and was willing to try anything to get rid of / improve this rash. This board was a beacon of hope for me, and I'd like to pass on what I've learned, and what has worked for me with POD. I'm 35 and live in Calgary, where the water is fluorinated (BOO!). I suddenly became afflicted with perioral dermatitis in June of this year, a couple of days after receiving a tetanus shot. Yes, I believe that is the cause; no, I can't prove it and have found no corroboration online. Anyone else get an immunization or vaccine just prior to this? I had a very sore stomach for a couple of days after the shot, and then started getting an "acne-like" rash around the sides of my mouth and chin. I didn't think too much of it - I get the odd pimple in that area once in awhile. I didn't notice any particular food related ebb and flow of symptoms, aside from some alcohols. No problem with spicy food or exercise either. But this didn't go away, and it got worse and spread. These were blisters, not pimples (filled with clear fluid). I tried all my usual skin "cures" - primarily coconut oil, which is generally what I use on my skin and it's *usually* brilliant. But that only seemed to make the bumps worse! And a bit tender. I tried castor oil - same thing. Bio-Oil - same. I finally tried some of the cortisone cream my doc had prescribed for a different rash (on my shoulder - TOTALLY different beast), and that worked great... for a while. Then, like everyone else, I had the rebound, and the decreasing efficacy, and the spreading. Finally, I read that the cortisone can make it much worse (if I'd only known!). I searched the 'Net, and self-diagnosed based on several write-ups of POD - I was not willing to go to the doc and end up on several months of antibiotics! There had to be something natural... And then I found Earth Clinic! Now, the POD was on my eyelids, under my eyes, forehead, sides of the nose and around my mouth. When I stopped the cortisone, it was raw and painful and really unsightly and I was completely beside myself. I tried whatever I could get my hands on that people were recommending here, with varying levels of success. My bathroom counter is covered with the many items I've bought trying to solve this! My findings for the things I tried here: Zinc Oxide cream - found that it relieved the rawness a bit, but the blisters proliferated and the redness did not subside. Might be partially due to other ingredients. I could not find one that didn't have either castor oil, petrolatum or other oils. ANY oil (except Tea Tree Oil) = FAIL. At least for me. Vitamin E Oil - this was nice and soothing after using Tea Tree Oil or Apple Cider Vinegar, but - ANY OIL (except Tea Tree Oil)= FAIL. It would soothe the redness and rawness, but then I'd start over again with more blisters. Overall, I gave up on it for this condition. Aloe vera gel (topical) - also stings. Helps the spots to feel better once the burning stops, but makes everything feel very tight and dry - need an emollient afterward, but at the time couldn't find anything. Helpful, but didn't cure anything. Acidophillus - I've been taking acidophillus on a regular basis for years. I upped the dosage, but I didn't feel that this had any effect on my face. Tea Tree Oil (TTO) - stings like crazy, but I could cope with that. It really helped by drying out the blisters. Definitely helped, but still never made it go away. Overall drying effect, so it didn't seem to contribute to new blisters, but it may since I couldn't seem to stop the blisters/dry & flaky cycle. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) -helped the most - stings, and very drying, but reduced the redness down to small spots. I found TTO and ACV in tandem to be the most helpful in toning down the overall redness (after the initial burn, that is). I would alternate days using ACV and TTO as a "toner", using a small amount of a 20% Urea cream afterward (to combat the flaking and tightness - this was the ONLY thing that helped in that area without creating more blisters). That got me into a more manageable cycle, BUT still the redness and flaking skin persisted. If I knocked off the ACV & TTO, the blisters would come back. I decided to revisit some earlier advice from my acupuncturist. He said (back when this all started) that the area around the mouth (where it first showed up) is related to the intestines in Chinese Medicine. I'd tried elimination diets (dairy, meat, grains) throughout the summer and fall to no avail, and no appreciable effect. So - my new strategy. I did 3 things simultaneously: 2 days ago: I bought a huge jug of organic Aloe Vera juice (for drinking). I took 4-5 oz twice a day (mixed with orange juice because it tastes better) to start with, along with some acidophillus (at the same time - the aloe helps with absorption as well as healing intestinal troubles). I stopped the topical treatments of ACV and TTO, and now I just use a tiny amount of straight calendula cream (from a tube; not mixed in a lotion, but be careful - it's a bit oily!) mixed with 20% Urea cream to help with the dry/tight feeling. I also finally found a really good, natural and fluoride and SLS free toothpaste at my health food store with Neem, TTO, activated oxygen and other good stuff. It has been 2 days, and I've had the most dramatic change in the POD! Literally, the redness is about 95% gone (in 2 days!), and the blisters are flaking off with clear, new skin underneath. A couple of the more severe areas are still a bit tender, but less red, and they're very like healing blemishes now. I can't even see it around my eyes anymore! So - after all that, I'm recommending that all of you treat your tummy! Even if you don't think you have a problem, Aloe Vera Juice certainly can't hurt! The acidophillus alone didn't do anything for me, which really isn't all that surprising if (as I surmise) I have a malabsorption problem (do you?), which prevents many things taken internally from working; prevents nutrient absorption, etc. I'm not certain if it is one part of this latest regimen, or the whole thing together, but FINALLY I am getting some "love", and finally seeing some very promising results. I'm going to keep going with 4-5 oz x 2/day of aloe juice (I bought a gallon of it for about $30; in Canada, that is), and I'll let you know how things go! As an aside, I'm starting to think now that there are maybe 2 (or more) different kinds of POD - seems one can be "mite"/ topical parasite/ bacteria related, and one seems to be more connected with the stomach and intestines, based on the fact that there seem to be such wide ranging results for different people. Any other thoughts or hypotheses on this? Best of luck to everyone! Namaste! Colleen " http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/CURES/dermatitis.html&name=SHEA_34566 /CURES/dermatitis4.rss2 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:10:10 EST [YEA] Winni from Milton Keynes, Uk writes: "I have battled with Peri oral dermatitis for the past twenty years. I have tried it all Apple cider Vinegar, Green tea which seemed to work but it's actually time consuming. The simplest form of treatment is 100% organic shea butter." http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/CURES/dermatitis.html&name=ACV_33893 /CURES/dermatitis4.rss3 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:59:04 EDT [BETTER BUT NOT CURED] Cozette29 from Boston, Ma, Usa writes: "I used apple cider vinegar to cure my perioral dermatitis. I self diagnosed online after getting the rash for the first time a few months ago. I tried a few different things - getting rid of soaps, lotions, and using a yogurt mask since I read the rash may be caused by a yeast overgrowth. Yogurt worked a little bit, but didn't cure it. After reading about the apple cider vinegar review, I decided to try it. I just bought a small bottle at the grocery store. I splash a little onto a cotton ball and apply it around my mouth twice a day after washing my face - in the morning and before I go to sleep. It definitely stings and the rash turns bright red for a while, but after a few days of this I definitely noticed a difference. It's been about a week and you can hardly notice the rash now. I'm going to continue doing this for at least another week to be sure the rash has completely gone away. At the same time, I've also been only washing my face with warm water, and using a very light, basic lotion. As for other side effects, when I first started using the vinegar, it really dried out the rash and my skin was especially flakey, but I just rubbed a mild antibiotic petroleum salve on it for the first few days while my skin got used to it. I would definitely recommend this cure, it's inexpensive, easy, and you'll see results almost immediately." http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/CURES/dermatitis.html&name=DIGESTIVEENZYMES_33954 /CURES/dermatitis4.rss4 Sat, 24 Oct 2009 08:14:29 EDT [BETTER BUT NOT CURED] 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." http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/CURES/dermatitis.html&name=ACVGT_32991 /CURES/dermatitis4.rss5 Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:16:42 EDT Curlyq from Rantoul, Il writes: "Perioral Dermatitis A testimonial and a question, if I may....I finally figured out what the problem was. I've had acne for years and mostly kept it in check using a certain 3-step solution set available on television. But this year I had a breakout unlike my usual pattern and I've been chasing it around my face for almost ten months now. A friend told me she had been having POD, I looked into it, and sure enough, it sounded just like me. I immediately started ACV, but I read to use it one part ACV to one part warm green tea. It's been about 3 days now, the redness is decreasing, and some of the bumps are beginning to dry up. I'm a little discouraged to see some new ones coming in now, one next to my nose, and I never had that before. :( However, I had read at one time that putting Hydrocortisone on a popped zit will lessen the scarring, or fade old acne scars. Well, that had been part of my regimen for years, so, up until 3 days ago, I was slathering Hydrocortisone on all these bumps and red marks....D'oh! Lesson learned. And tonight I just had my first dose of ACV in water. BLECCCH!!!! I've had gutter wine that tasted better! However, I refuse to take steroids and antibiotics, so I'll see where this goes. My beautiful boyfriend comes back to the stated in 2 weeks and I'm horrified to think that he's going to see me looking this way. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Another thought about diet....I recently became an avid cook and baker. for the most part, I avoided bread products and kept sweets to a minimum. Now, as of late, I've been having cupcakes, pies and cookies a few times a week, as well as making breads and pastas. I notice the times when I'm doing the most baking and eating is when the POD is at its worst. I reluctantly hung up my apron and am kicking the flour and sugar for the time being to see if it helps. I already have a very good diet, lots of fresh organics, a minimum of red meat, but having two cupcakes or sweet fruit bread every day had to be throwing my system out of whack for sure. ANYWAY! On to my question....do you suppose it would be wise to keep using my 3-piece skincare system? My forehead is completely clear and I'm hoping it stays that way. I've stopped using the Benzoyl peroxide lotion on the areas affected with POD, instead using a mild, natural, oil-free lotion to help relieve the dryness. There is also a glycolic acid toner that comes with the kit, I am using it on the affected areas, I would assume with a high-acid product like ACV on my skin, the much milder witch hazel/glycolic solution can't be hurting any....right? Anyone else also using acne remedies at the same time? One more question....My mother was recently diagnosed with diabetes. She's an overweight starch queen, but I'm assuming I may be overly sensitive to sugars and starches, without actually being diabetic? This friend of mine also has Candida, and suffers reactions and breakouts of POD even when her blood sugar is in perfect check for weeks on end. Anyone else out there with diabetes, or family history of diabetes? Not only am I curious to see if there's a real tie, but I'd also like to know if I have to exercise much more caution, do people with POD tend to be more prone to developing diabetes as well, even if they are diet-conscious? " http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/CURES/dermatitis.html&name=HYDROGENPEROXIDE_32641 /CURES/dermatitis4.rss6 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:04:25 EDT [YEA] Tracey from Calgary, Alberta, Canada writes: "Perioral Dermatitis / ACV / Hydrogen Peroxide I must begin by expressing a sentiment I have read many times throughout this site yet feel compelled to reiterate just the same. I am simply agog at the time, money and heartache - especially the heartache - I wouldn't have had to spend if just one of my doctors had known of the effective, natural cures I have found here at Earth Clinic. Thank you, Earth Clinic.. from the bottom of my heart. After almost two months of being mostly trapped indoors with perioral dermatitis, I found this site. For five days I followed this regime: ~ 2 tbsp of pure organic apple cider vinegar in 16oz of water, 2-3x/day ~ Saturation of a cotton pad application of straight apple cider vinegar to the affected area 2-3x/day Less than a week later, 85% of the hideously shaming rash had cleared. Rather than a solid mass of red bumps (scattered with whiteheads) from nose to chin, the condition appeared as individual spots, more like regular acne. I noticed these spots were stubborn and seemed somewhat resistant to the ACV. Additionally, in areas that had healed, hyper-pigmentation was extensive. I searched about this last issue and found the page re. hydrogen peroxide and acne. Yesterday (day 6), I did this three times: ~ Dip cotton swab on stick (you know the kind for ears .. won't say brand name) in HP ~ Apply to individual spot and hold in place for at least 5 minutes I did this on the couch while watching a movie because it was a little time consuming. When my husband came home and saw the difference after two applications he yelled out loud (with joy for me :). The speed at which HP healed the remaining spots was astonishing. I literally could see it happening in the mirror. Toward the end of each of the three sessions, spots I had started with were visibly reduced. So was the hyper pigmentation. I expect another day or two of this will completely clear things up. :D !!! Today is September 23 and I went out WITHOUT FEELING HUMILIATED for the first time since August 5th. Until a week ago, I hid away indoors as much as I could and watched the summer end while agonizingly waiting for prescribed pills and creams to work. If I hadn't found this site, I expect things today would be much the same. Thanks once again, Earth Clinic! And to anyone who reads these posts and can relate, we're all rooting for you! Give it a try, don't give up hope and have faith in the healing power of Ma Nature! " http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/CURES/dermatitis.html&name=REMOVE_31865 /CURES/dermatitis4.rss7 Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:09:14 EDT [YEA] Melissa from Shelby, Mi Usa writes: "perioral dermatitis and nail polish I had perioral dermatitis for a little over a year and a half. I was so angry because I could not find a cure. Anytime the rash would go away it would just return within a few days. Medical websites were no help and of course they have no idea what causes the rash. I came across a discussion where a girl stated that her doctor told her that the perioral dermatitis was caused by nail polish. I immediatly went in the bathroom and took of my finger and toe polish and the next day the rash was gone. I was so excited that this was a simple answer. However, confused at how nail polish could cause such a rash. After a while I forgot and painted my toes...sure enough the rash came back and I took the polish off once again and the next morning the rash was gone. I just wanted to share this and see if anyone else had the same amazing results. " http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/CURES/dermatitis.html&name=ACV_31271 /CURES/dermatitis4.rss8 Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:39:46 EDT [NAY] Maleehah from Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan writes: "Perioral Dermatitis -- I feel so fortunate to have found this site, its wonderful to see people so selflessly helping each other. I self diagnosed myself with PD after surfing the net for pictures, going to a derm wasn't an option because they're so unreliable in this part of the world. Little, unsightly bumps appeared about 7-8 months ago around my mouth and I made the fatal mistake of using cortisone steroid ointment, which as I now understand could actually cause PD.The bumps cleared up for a while and came back with a vengeance a few weeks ago around exam time. Under loads of pressure, the little bumps just flared up, spread to my cheeks and forehead. Reading through the symptoms of the rash I find that mine are nither red, flaky or itchy, quite the contrary their moist and applying ACV doesn't burn at all, which I'm concerned about. I'm assuming its organic coz the ingredients are apples and water only, but there's definitely no trace of the 'mother', in it. (Its really difficult to find anything organic in my city) I've been using it for about ten days, and the PD doesn't seem to be drying up :(, I was really looking forward to having it disappear as miraculously as all the testimonials claim. I also drink 1 tbsp in a glass of water twice a day. I'm using nothing on my face not even soap, just washing with plain water as many times as possible. I used a yogurt mask once, but it seemed to worsen the situation. I live in an extremely hot, dry climate and this summer was particularly harsh. Today my baby brother said it looked like chicken skin which just killed me coz he's right.. I'm hideous! I haven't left my home in ages (I'm on a 2 month vacation, Thank God!) I'm desperate for it to clear up before the next semester of college in about a month. I'd be so grateful if anyone could suggest additional remedial measures I could take or changes in my diet, we do consume alot of spices and I've never had a flawless skin, but never a condition of this severity, otherwise I'm quite a healthy 24 yr old. " http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/CURES/dermatitis.html&name=ACV_30652 /CURES/dermatitis4.rss9 Sun, 09 Aug 2009 10:41:44 EDT Emma from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, UK writes: "Hi all, thank god i found this website!!! I have perioral dermatitis i have suffered with this for about 10 years, i started with this after taking accutane for acne, i never had it before - this was about 10 years ago. Oxytetracycline has cleared up the dermatitis in the past but i have got an especially bad bout of it this time after taking accutane from the Derm for a second time, so i have been in search of other solutions. I have come accross the ACV, i have been using it for 3 days - an organic unpateurised version from the health shop, i have applied it topically 3x a day and it has worked almost immediately - reduced redness and bumpiness etc., it works better neat for me rather than diluted. I am also using calendula cream to moisturise. I am taking two tablespoons of the vinegar in a 500ml bottle of water 3x a day, i have seen a good improvement and will continue further to see what improvements i get. I have also found that a white clay powder mixed with lavender water in a paste as a face mask put on the affected areas in the evening before the topical application of the ACV really helps as well. Questions: 1. Should i not use moisturiser as i have heard that it can make the perioral dermatitis worse? - is the ___ calendula Cream OKAY to use? 2. What should i wash my face with - i am avoiding all SLS SLES etc... products and i'm using a natural glycerine soap from the homeopathic shop - any body recommend anything else? 3. From using accutane my lips are dry as hell can anybody recommend a lipsalve without petrolatum/ paraffin or any of the other nasties - i have been using calendula oil at present 4. What brand of ACV is best 5. Can anyone recommend a foundation or cosmetic line to use that wont aggrevate the dermatitis 6. Any other suggestions??" http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/CURES/dermatitis.html&name=ACV_30677 /CURES/dermatitis4.rss10 Sun, 09 Aug 2009 11:19:01 EDT [SIDE EFFECTS] Jj123 from Calgary, Alberta, Canada writes: "I have been using ACV on my face for perioral dermitis for a week (morning and night on a swab). It stings like crazy on the open skin but I am determined to stick with it. I then open a vitamin E capsule and apply the oil. Just the last couple days ago the ACV made my skin very hot and bright red all over. My reaction to it is getting stronger - now it stays hot and red for a while before it calms down. Is this normal? Has anyone else experienced this? I am just wondering if I should stick it out and hope it's just what happens to some people or if I should try something else..." http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/CURES/dermatitis.html&name=ACVCO_30355 /CURES/dermatitis4.rss11 Sun, 02 Aug 2009 11:06:07 EDT Jenifer from Worcester, Ma writes: "Well i dont think anyone knows how happy I am to find alot of people who feel the same misery I do with this awful skin infection. I'm just finding out that I have had this for a long time. I have always had spots of dry skin on and off for years and when i applied cortizone ointment to it the dry skin seemed to clear up, so I never thought it was anything serious until 4 weeks ago. It started with a big patch of red dry skin on the left side of my mouth. So I went to walmart and bought some cortizone ointment since it always seemed to help in the past. I applied it for about 4 or 5 days and was not getting any better. I couldn't get in to see the derm for about a week and a half and did not want to keep going to work lookin like a freak. So I decided to go to the ER following evening to see if they could give me something to help it until I could see the derm. The ER doctor told me I had a contact dermatitis and gave me a course of oral steroids to take and said they should wipe it out in a few days. Well that was the worse thing i could of done. About 5 days later i went in the bathroom and looked in the mirror i was developing little pimples around both sides of my nose. But i never thought the steroids would be causing that because i didn't know much about them. So i continued putting the cortizone around my nose and the side of my mouth. Woke up a couple days later and had another spot of pimples on the other side of my mouth and started to freak out and called my derm to see if they could get me an emergency appointment and they told me if someone cancelled they would call me right away. I opened the phone book and called about 5 more derms and were all booking 2 months ahead so i gave up on that. The same evening when I was in the shower i lifted my head up to wash my neck and noticed i had a lump under my chin area and was really sore. I was scared at this point had no idea what was wrong with me and went back to the ER. The doctor told me it was some type of dermatits almost looked like rosacea and gave me a prescription for clindamycin an antibiotic gel to apply to the rash and it was draining from the inside thats why i had that lump. He said the best thing to do is stop taking the steroids because they are the reason why my face is covered in this mess, apply the gel and waite the few more days to see my derm and really find out whats going on. I figured atleast he didn't try and tell me he knew exactly what i had like the other idiot doctor who gave me something to only make it worse. So I started applying the gel for the next couple days and waited anxiously to go to the derm. Can't really say i noticed a difference with the gel just seemed to get worse. So finally i made it to the derm and she knew right away I had Perioral Dermatitis. It was the most greatest sense of relief just to know exactly what i had. She gave me a prescription for Tetracycline, an antibiotic. I told her how for as long as I can remember I would break out with dry skin on the sides of my nose and sides of my mouth and the cortizone ointment would heal it. Guess it just wasn't full blown like it is now and of course I wasn't taking steroids to make it worse, and said using the cortizone is why it kept coming back and never really went away. Anyways I started taking the antibiotic 4 days ago and kept applying the gel, didn't notice it helping. I started to research this dermatitis on the web and came across this website. I have been out of work for over a week and I wish i could post a picture to show why and how bad my face really looks. So I read about the ACV and coconut oil. I had some ACV in my cabinet so right away i went and put some on my POD. It burned so much but Ill do anything at this point. I called CVS and the grocery store to see if they carried coconut oil and no luck. So my boyfriend went to the health store yesterday and bought me a jar of it. LOL I wont go out of the house! And today he went back to get me some raw organic ACV because ive read on here that works best. I will start using that today. I have noticed the first few days it was really red and sore but today when I woke up the areas of my pod feel like I have super glue on my face the skin is cracking a little, very scaly, tight, and dry. Im assuming that is a sign of it healing. If anyone else has experienced this please comment back. Im so afraid to put any moisturizer on it (cetaphil) recommended by my derm., so i use the coconut oil constantly to try and hydrate it but it seems to remain really tight and dry. So that is my story for now i will comment again in a few days after using the organic ACV and see if that works any differently and hopefully takes this dryness away. I will not return to work this week either! I just cannot face anyone looking like this, it really can be damaging to ones ego. But I am so happy I found this sight and people who can relate to this awful infection. Thank you for all of your ideas and help, take care everyone." http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/CURES/dermatitis.html&name=YOGURT_30009 /CURES/dermatitis4.rss12 Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:00:02 EDT [BETTER BUT NOT CURED] Lkh from Vancouver, BC writes: "Hi, I have had a nasty case of perioral dermatitis (which by the way is a worthless description simply meaning rash around the mouth!) since my digestive system went out of whack with Crohn's about 2 years ago. It progressed along with my stomach issues and I cut out SLS, sugar, yeast, dairy, and gluten but with no impact on my face. After bowel surgery I thought for sure my face would clear up but nope - it got worse. The gastroenteroligists denied any stomach connection to the rash and the dermatologist said 8 weeks of antibiotics which I refused. I was on oral antibiotics in the hospital which made everything worse. I take heavy duty probiotics and although great for internal cures I saw NO improvement in my external rash. Long story short: I FINALLY was told it could be an EXTERNAL YEAST infection that would not be treated by dietary changes and that I needed to apply organic plain yogurt. I did for just a few days and the raised red flaking bumps went flat! I stopped after a few days but am going to stick with it religously for another week and see if it goes away completely. I really hope it does as this has been such a frusrtrating rash! Summary: I used organic plain yogurt on my perioral dermatitis leaving it on about 10 minutes for a few days and saw good improvement. Not completely gone, but very calmed. Question - Has anyone had long term complete success with yogurt for perioral dermatitis and if so, how long each day do you leave it on? Also, has anyone tried Manuka honey on the rash? I heard that is supposed to be excellent as well. Best wishes!" http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/CURES/dermatitis.html&name=ACVCO_29876 /CURES/dermatitis4.rss13 Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:51:16 EDT [YEA] Corin from Yucca Valley, Ca writes: "i had perioral dermatitis for 8 months and it was horible i didnt want to step a foot out my door i went to my dermatologist and they gave me all sorts of creams and antibiotics and it all made it worse so i went natural please try this cause it works so well but be pacient because it takes 3 to 4 weeks but you will notice a difference after the first week!my regime consisted of when you have the rash and small blisters dont wash your face just rinse with water then on a cotton ball put ___ ____ ___apple cider vinegar all over your face it does burn and cause redness to your face for the first few days and second i put tea tree oil on just my rash and its good for pimples too then i use pau d' arco and calendula cream mixture then i use ___ ____ ___coconut oil just a small dab works great and you can apply to your whole face its good for wrinkles and acne and it wont clog your pores and it moistureizes and you need moisture you can get all this in a health food store from what i have reserched perioral dermatitis is a yeast infection in your body so i drink ____(lacto- bactolis) and get a shampoo free of sulfates dont use anything with sulfates one more thing that is also good before you do the facial regime once a week do a steaming facial with a few drops of tea tree and you can also do organic plain yogurt masks leave on for 15 minutes well i hope this can help anyone out there that suffered with it as i did i have been free of it now for 3 months.... thanks good luck" http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/CURES/dermatitis.html&name=RN_29798 /CURES/dermatitis4.rss14 Sun, 19 Jul 2009 11:25:27 EDT Victoria from Toronto, Ontario Canada writes: "Hi , I am suffering from dermatitis that may have been caused by laser burn and then reaction to moisturizer and sunscreen. Im am extremely dry and have tried moisturizers and nothing works. I have attempted the medicated creams but they also look like they are hard to handle. I am totally intolerant of products and the sun as well. Any advice would be greatly appreciated." http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/CURES/dermatitis.html&name=HEMMORHOIDCREAM_29598 /CURES/dermatitis4.rss15 Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:20:56 EDT [BETTER BUT NOT CURED] Therese from Phoenix, AZ writes: "I am, unfortunately, one of those poor uneducated souls who smeared Flucinode ointment (a steroid) on the dermatitis for six months daily and then stopped it cold-turkey. The area surrounding my mouth, both eyes, the bridge of my nose and my entire right cheek swelled a nearly a half inch outward within three days of stopping and has been raging ever since. In desperation for ANY type of relief, I visited this site countless times searching for an alternative treatment for perioral dermatitis and tried just about everything that was suggested: apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, green tea bags, yogurt masks, manuka honey, ice (instead of a cold shower) and diaper rash cream. I experienced the most positive results with the ACV but it completely dried out my skin and caused pain of a different caliber. My suffering has continued for a little over two weeks now but I have FINALLY stumbled upon something that is working!!!! When I looked at the corners of my swollen, itchy, red and drooping eyelids in the mirror this morning, I remembered a trick from my modeling career 25 years ago: hemorrhoidal cream smeared on the eyelids makes for a quick "eye tuck" refresher. I figured it couldn't hurt worse than anything else I've tried so . . . HALLELUJAH! I realize this treatment could lend itself as the butt of a few jokes (pun intended), but if you're as desperate as I have been, I recommend you give it a try: it shrinks tissue (dries), it moisturizes, and it addresses itching and pain. I put the cream on once this morning and didn't feel the desire to reapply until this evening, approximately 8 hours later, when the itching started up again. While I know this cream is not a cure, it certainly has given me relief throughout the day and my face looks so much better. For a long term solution or cure, my dermatologist prescribed a strong antibiotic to be taken orally for 3 to 6 months (with no guarantee that it would alleviate the dermatitis for good). I refuse to participate in this kind of experimentation. Thus, within the last two weeks, I have started flooding my system with probiotics via supplements and foods. I have cut ALL caffeine, refined sugar and alcohol from my diet as well. I am not ready to give up fruit just yet but I'm certainly working toward embracing a whole foods diet after this very painful experience. I don't have outward skin symptoms of psiorisis, but I do have psioratic arthritis. For sure, this and perioral dermatitis are chronic conditions that will not magically disappear on their own. For the record, I am an otherwise healthy, 45 year old female, post menopausal (surgical) who regularly runs marathons. I definitely want to encourage anyone reading this to hang in there: change your diet, keep or start exercising, and by all means, try the hemorrhoidal cream!" http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/CURES/dermatitis.html&name=CASTOROIL_28686 /CURES/dermatitis4.rss16 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:29:28 EDT [YEA] 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." http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/CURES/dermatitis.html&name=COCONUTOIL_28256 /CURES/dermatitis4.rss17 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 07:41:24 EDT [YEA] 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. " http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/CURES/dermatitis.html&name=CORTISONECREAM_28155 /CURES/dermatitis4.rss18 Wed, 10 Jun 2009 05:11:23 EDT [WARNING!] 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." http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/CURES/dermatitis.html&name=ACV_27525 /CURES/dermatitis4.rss19 Sat, 30 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT [BETTER BUT NOT CURED] Bella from Sydney, NSW writes: "Apple Cider Vinegar reduced the appearance of my perioral dermatitis. Hey my names bella. After reading this site desperately 2 days ago, i decided to try using the apple cider vinegar on my face to reduce a breakout of dermatitis. I have recently been put of doxycycline for my dermatitis but found that i had a massive outbreak as soon as i started using the antibiotics and stopped using the steroid cream. I have also just moved in with my gorgeous boyfriend and was horrified and embarrassed when this happened. So i began desperately searching the net for home remedies and came across the 'apple cider viniger'. I have been using this for roughly 2 days now and can already see a difference. I have used a face wipe that has been dampened with warm water and a splash of ACV. I have done this a couple of times a day and can already notice the bumps, and blisters/pimples reducing. I highly recommend you just GIVE IT A GO." http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/CURES/dermatitis.html&name=TRIGGERS_26441 /CURES/dermatitis4.rss20 Sat, 09 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT 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." http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/CURES/dermatitis.html&name=BALMEXDIAPERRASHCREAM_26328 /CURES/dermatitis4.rss21 Wed, 06 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT [YEA] Paula from McDonough, GA writes: "I have been battling POD for months. I came close to just going back to steroid creams because I could not take the embarrassment of my face. I tried EVERYTHING. I finally went and bought Balmex Diaper Cream.....by the second day it was gone! I need to know if I should keep putting this on every night to keep it from coming back? Does anyone know? Please email me at paula.balliew@yahoo.com. Thank you for whoever posted to use Balmex. ACV kind of helped but nothing like the Balmex!" http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/CURES/dermatitis.html&name=EF_26259 /CURES/dermatitis4.rss22 Mon, 04 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT [YEA] 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)." http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/CURES/dermatitis.html&name=ACVCOC_26203 /CURES/dermatitis4.rss23 Sun, 03 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT [YEA] Sally from Portland, Oregon writes: "i have recently been struck with perioral dermatitis. i have no idea why, and have not been to a dermatologist to get diagnosed, but i am sure this is what it is. anyhow, 1st i would like to thank EC and ALL the people who post here, you are all so great! thanks for sharing! my treatment for this is: ACV on a cotton ball over the affected area, coconut oil, calendula and yogurt. the ACV burns a bit and causes some redness, but this subsides after a bit. the coconut oil is very moisturizing and soothing. calendula is also calming, moisturizing and sooting-california baby makes a superb calendula cream. putting regular plain organic yogurt on the area is also very cooling and soothing. i also drink ACV 3+ times daily diluted with water and eat a cup or so of yogurt and eat 3+ tbsp of coconut oil daily. this regimen works for me every time. and all of these things are really good for you and your skin. hope this helps! good luck!" http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/CURES/dermatitis.html&name=VITAMINE_26151 /CURES/dermatitis4.rss24 Sat, 02 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT [YEA] BPhilips from Mcminnville, OR writes: "HI I have suffered from pd for like a year. I have tried so many things. what I have found that works the best is regular vitamin E geltabs. I squeeze the contents out and massage into my freshly washed skin every night. Every day I see amazing results. This is day 5 and my pd inlamation has gone down by 90%" http://www.earthclinic.com/Redirect.php?pageLink=/CURES/dermatitis.html&name=ACV_25563 /CURES/dermatitis4.rss25 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT [YEA] Sally from Portland, Oregon writes: "ACV is liquid gold! POD came on unexpectedly a few weeks ago and i began taking ACV internally, 1tbsp/3x/day and wetting a cotton ball with water first then dipping it in ACV and applying it to the affected areas-around my mouth on both sides. At first i didn't think it was working, it burned like HELL! and made the area very red, but also relieved the itching. at night i would apply the diluted ACV topically and also rub a salve made of organic olive oil, calendula and tea tree on the area. i would alter the olive oil salve with coconut oil. I also ate 1-3 tbsp of coconut oil as well for several days. doing all of these steps the affected area has greatly improved in less than 7 days! i was considering making an apt w/a dermatologist, but thought to try natural remedies instead. Earth Clinic is THE BEST! i have used so many remedies on this site and they have ALL worked incredibly! my advice is to try the recommended treatments for 3-7 days diligently and be optimistic! thank you everyone for posting your experiences! thank you EC for putting up this amazing site! it's so great and encouraging to see people helping people! best wishes to all!"