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.
3 YEA
1 BETTER BUT NOT CURED
[YEA] 02/14/2009: Bonni from Mcminnville, OR writes: "grapefruit seed extract and shea butter: I have had pd for almost a year now. My doctor tries to prescribe me this erythromyacin topical which just dryes your skin to nothing. Finally I got grapefruit seed extract and followed the facial rinse directions behind the front label. I wash my face at night, do the grapefruit thing. then when my face is dry I apply this awesome shea butter called Karite gold for perioral dermatitis. Within two days my pd has gotten beautiful results. I recomend this gentle remedy for anyone. I also only wash my face with water and excercise regularly. Hope this can help you!"
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[BETTER BUT NOT CURED] 09/14/2008: DL from Atl, GA writes: "I've had seborrheic dermatitis around my nose for at least 10 years now. Humidity helps a lot in the summer - my nose merely looks red around the edges, but in the winter it peels and flakes non stop. Milk and chocolate always inflame the condition. After doing a fair amount of research, and having no luck with topical prescription drugs or home remedies, I decided I needed to try and internal approach to the problem. One of the articles I came across said that a certain type of yeast contributes to Seb Derm. Putting two and two together (the foods that inflame it and the fact that it never goes away with any topical application for very long) I decided I needed to treat this condition like candida and get rid of the yeast. So I started on grapefruit seed extract about 5 days ago. I did 10 drops in water the first day (-- uggh! Not recommended. Use juice). The next morning I woke up with headache. I figured the headache was a good sign, a yeast die-off, and continued my grapefruit seed extract - 2 more dosages at 15 drops each dose. The next day I awoke to find that my headache was exactly the same as the day before. . Day 3, headache was gone and my seb derm had improved by about 50%.
I am continuing to use the gse 3x a day -- and will continue to for at least another month or more. I am trying to cut back on sugar and dairy to help the gse do its thing."
[YEA] 09/24/2008: DL from Atl, Ga replies: "Update to my first post about using grapefruit seed extract for dermatitis around my nose... After the 5th day of taking drops of GSE internally and it getting 50% better, but not more than that, I decided to start applying GSE to directly to the dermatitis. I put a drop of GSE on my palm and then touched the drop with my index finger and rubbed it in thoroughly to the dermatis, which wrapped around the underside of my nose and partially up the sides. Instant warming sensation. I kept the GSE on as long as possible, which frankly wasn't very long: 5-10 minutes max. I did this application once a day. It's intense, I must warn you. After a few minutes the dermatitis started to itch and burn. Quite torturous. When I couldn't take it any more I rinsed the GSE off with warm water and finished with cold water. I then applied pure shea butter. The itch then continues for about 20 minutes.It's now day 5 (and I kept the GSE on for an hour, no problem) and my dermatitis is gone around my nose. The redness has slowly receded and this morning when I woke up the area was almost completely healed... the constant redness is gone! You'd think with a remedy so powerful that it would make the skin look worse, but it fact the opposite has occured. It gets red right after application, then heals over night.
Finally! After 10 years of non-stop, itchy, red, flaking skin!! I also know from experience that I will need to continue this remedy for at least another few weeks or it may come back. But hopefully I can eliminate it permanantly. I am thinking now that this condition may very well be caused by mites. So doing a yeast cleanse is important, but you also need to kill the mites on the skin with something powerful. I recommend that people try using grapefruit seed extract for scalp infections, seb derm, mite infestations. It might also work for rosacea, eczema and psoriasis.
Finally, I want to thank Marea soooo much for her thorough posting about Grapefruit Seed Extract on the melasma page. That's what got me to try the remedy out in the first place. Yea, Marea!"
11/23/2008: DL from Atl, Ga replies: "Update to my post about GSE and seb derm around nose. The external application of grapefruit seed extract WORKED! It's been 2 months now and I have no peeling and flaking. Occasionally I will have one postule appear halfway down my smile line after I eat chocolate ice cream or a piece of chocolate, but other than that, nothing. The bump disappears within 12 hours. I kept up the topical treatment every day for about a week, then once every 3-4 days for another week, then stopped altogether. Haven't applied it since then. Yahoo and Yea!"
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[YEA] 04/05/2008: Rebekah from Melbourne, Australia writes: "After taking Grapefruit Seed Extract for two days my perioral dermatitis (that i have battled with for two years) disappeared.....and i mean gone !!! I almost couldn't believe it myself but i am keen to share this "miracle" cure with other people suffering similar skin conditions. Take orally in 250ml of water , 8-10 drops of the oil twice daily. I had no luck with the ACV for my skin but grapefruit seed extract did the trick !!!"
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4 YEA
[YEA] 08/13/2008: Nalita from Hollywood, CA writes: "08.13.08: Just wanted to say thank you!! I've had this rash on my eye for over three months, just last night after searching the internet, I found out it was perioral dermatitis. Found this website, went and grabbed a green tea bag, made my tea and almost instantly my dermatitis went away. I had stopped using all eye gels, make up etc so it wasnt flared up but still I didnt know how to make it dissappear. I'm 31, so I am very thankful to find this cure out now with my first instance of it."
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[YEA] 03/15/2008: Sherry from Vancouver, Washington writes: "I have been drinking grn tea for about 3 weeks now. I love the taste and feel energized when I drink it. The reason I started to drink it was actually for the tea bag itself. I put it on my face when my perioral dermititis flares up. Dries it up in a few days. I use the same tea bag all day long and just put it on my face whenever I have a minute."
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[YEA] 10/18/2007: Shelley from Aurora, Illinois writes: "I have to tell you all I have had Perioral Dermatitis for over 10 years on and off and only able to get rid of it by use of antibotics. I have tried EVERYTHING trust me! I can finally say after all these years that Liann from Australia was right, Green Tea cured my Perioral Dermititis! I simply drank the green tea (Yogi brand is my favorite) and then would constantly put a wet tea bag on my face as much as possible 5 or so bags a day maybe 30-40 times on the face a day and after about 2-3 days I started to see improvement and after about 10 days it was gone completely! Anyone who has had this Perioral Dermititis knows how hard it is to rid, so I am just so happy about these results I had to share. One other thing I think that helps is to stay away from sugar & starches. Sugar is a killer on the immunity. Thank you Lianne!!!!"
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[YEA] 07/11/2007: Lianne from Melbourne, Australia writes: "I have had perioral dermatitis on and off for 5 or more years. I find that topical application of green tea is amazing. I keep a tea bag in the fridge after wetting it, and apply it as often as permits. At night I apply it liberally. Obviously there are limitations as your face will look green after you put it on, but you can wash it off at any stage. The perioral dermatitis just dries up after a few days. It's not perfect but better than antibiotics."
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1 BETTER BUT NOT CURED
[BETTER BUT NOT CURED] 07/14/2009: 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!"
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3 YEA
[YEA] 03/22/2009: BZ from Passaic, NJ writes: "I am going to first say how I got POD in case it will help anyone realize what is going on with them (so they can learn from my experience). Then, I will say what I did/ am currently doing to get rid of it (as of now, I am 95% better):
I used 2.5 % hydrocortisone cream on my face for a couple of months (to treat a minor eczema) and flared after stopping to use it. Unfortunatley, I did not know that the flaring was due to a "withdrawl reaction" that I now am aware of, and made an emergency appt. with a GP who gave me fluocinonide .05% to relieve the itching. First of all, if your doc gave you this, apparantly, you are NOT supposed to use it on your face (of course, I learned this too late as well). I used it for a couple of months (big no no, but I received no instructions from the doc) and my face flared into full blown perioral dermatitis (POD) after I stopped. The burning was so unbearable, I can't even describe it. Here is what I did that worked:
First, I weaned off steroid creams. I took 2.5% cortisone twice a day for a week, then reduced it to once a day in addition to 1% OTC Hydrocortisone cream (once a day) for a couple of days, until I used the 1% cream once a day and then ceased to take it alltogether. This made the withdrawl rection more bearable. Be kind to yourself and wean off. Do not stop cold turkey- I did that the first time and it was so unbearable, I can't even decribe it.
The yogurt mask is good in the beginning during the "withdrawl reaction" period b/c it is cold and relieves the burning. It made my face dry and peel, but it made me feel better. I did not put on ANY coverup or moisturizer during this period. I did this mask every day for about 1.5 weeks and did nothing else. I'm not sure if it improved the POD, but it was relieving. I used ___ organic apple cider vinegar topically 2 times a day. It does make the area looked more red initially, but long term it helped me. It also burns like crazy. I took it a couple times internally (1 tsp in 8 oz) but not consistently. After two weeks of using the acv, I definately saw improvement, but I reached a point where the POD was not getting better or worse. I decided to start using manuka honey. I put it on every day for a couple of hours and/or slept with it on for about a week. It's uncofortable having honey on your face, but I really wanted it to go away. Currently, I am not 100% better yet, but I am about 95% improved (Thank G-d!). The combo of acv and manuka honey was good for me. Make sure to get the honey with at least 100mg/kg methylglyoxal, which is apparently the minimum amount of methylglyoxal necessary for antibacterial activity. (I read a lot about this manuka honey before getting it, so make sure to get a good one. _______). I'm still using the manuka honey every day and occasionally using acv topically. I also started taking acv (1 tsp in 8 oz) a couple days ago to get rid of it for good.
I was literally in tears from the pain of POD and couldn't take looking at myself in the mirror. I wish everyone suffering for this a speedy recovery, and hope you all can learn from my experience.
p.s. If you are currently on antibiotics, do not stop. You must finish your course of treatment or you will select for antibiotic resistant bacteria and then be in real trouble. I saw a lot of ppl. post that antibiotics didn't help them and immediately thought that I should just make sure ppl. know not to stop antibiotics if they are already on them.
Good luck and G-d Bless:)"
08/06/2009: Erica from Central, Ma replies: "Ive been researching the Manuka Honey and am very interested. I can buy it online for about $50 total but i found out Whole Foods carries one for $19.99 it says its active and from NZ but nothing else....i dont know if that is what i want, with the most antibacterial "stuff" in it as is reccommended. Any suggestions or advice??"
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[YEA] 02/02/2009: Julia from Edmonton, AB writes: "Manuka Honey for POD: I tried three different antibiotics as well as apple cider vinegar separately over the course of Five months and none seemed to work. Most just caused further irritation (including the ACV). My mother had just discovered this well-reputed medicinal Manuka Honey (UMF 20+ was what she had), and said it has healing properties and I should try it.
I applied a thick layer over the entire area every night and sometimes in the day if I wasn't going out. I started only a week ago and already you can hardly see my POD and it's no longer itchy. The honey is a bit messy on the bedclothes, but is obviously working and was soothing right from the get-go. Just trying to get the message out there!"
EC: POD = Perioral Dermatitis
06/16/2009: Kare from Edmonton, AB replies: "I have a horrible outbreak of POD right now. Worst one ever. I just started applying Apple Cider Vinegar and Manuka Honey to it as of last night. I am also in Tetracycline now too. I will keep everyone posted as to how this is working.
So far the honey is soothing and takes the dryness issue away. The medication has lots of restrictions and did make me feel a little upset in the stomach after i took it.
K"
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[YEA] 03/16/2006: Connie from HoHoKus, NJ writes: "I had a kind of eczema in the corner upper eye lid which refused to go away for months. After trying many different remedies, I decided to try honey after reading about its healing properties. One application did it, it was amazing!!!!"
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HONEY AND GRAPEFRUIT SEED EXTRACT
[YEA] 06/21/2008: Erin from Phoenix, Arizona writes: "Raw Honey and Grapefruit seed extract is curing my Perioral Dermatitis. I had used steriod creams on my face for about one year not knowing it was causeng the problem. I had to cease the use of the cream and let my rash come out completely for about one week. I think this is the most important part of the healing process, I used no soaps or floride at this time, I did use the GFS ocasionaly as it helps with flaking. After one week I began using GFS 10 drops in 1 tablespoon topically twice daily, I also used yogurt toplically for about a week which really helped. I am now using raw salted honey at night. 1/4 tsp raw honey dash of salt and about 1/4 - 1/2 tsp of water. I leave the solution on my rash for a few hours then I add some water so it is not so sticky and leave it on overnight. This has worked greatly in the past two days, the honey is really getting rid of the redness. I am so excited I thought I was going to have to just deal with this forever. I will update if anything changes."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 02/20/2009: Diane from Lisbon, IA writes: "Honey and Zinc Pyrithione worked for Seborrheic Dermatitis:
If your skin is very sensitive and burns when anything is applied to it, you may wish to try honey. Honey is antimicrobial and anti-fungal. You must use only the non-pasturized honey, not the honey you find in the grocery store. Topically applied honey will also kill a staph infection of the skin.
My 8 year old son had a very bad case of seborrheic dermatitis and a portion of the area became secondarily infected with staph. Very scary. His face was a mess, and it was spreading. His skin was super sensitive and everything I tried caused great burning and pain. The doctor offered nothing except an immunosurpressing cream that turned out to have a black box label on it,(deaths associated with it's use, Elidel). We finally started using unpasturized natural honey. No burning, no pain and not only the rash but the staph infection went away, and has never returned.
I cleansed the area with 3% Hydrogen peroxide, smeared honey on all the areas, and he would wear it to bed. Later I started using a zinc pyritione 1% spray (Z care by supplement spot)on his skin while he was in school. Both have worked beautifully, and believe me I tried everything."
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HONEY, HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, ZINC PYRITHIONE
[YEA] 03/04/2009: D from Lisbon, Iowa, USA writes: "If you have a diagnosis of SD you will know that there are many sites that say it is caused by Pitisporum Ovale, they are incorrect. SD is caused by Malassezia Globosa. My eight year old had it all over his face and it was spreading rapidly, the doctor gave us a prescription for Eldel, which has a black box warning and was $40+ even with insurance. It surpresses the immune system and I would not use it on my child who is a cancer survivor. My poor son could not tolerate any of the antifungals I put on his face, his skin was extremely sensitive and everything was painful. I finally hit upon non-pasturized honey, it works. Cleanse the area with hydrogen peroxide, put honey on all the areas. I put it on him right after school and then re-applied at bedtime. I also read a study that zinc pyrithione kills Malassezia Globosa, so I also purchased a 1% zinc pyrithione spray called "Z Care" by supplement spot.com on the net. It took forever for them to ship it, but it works. Once you know the exact cause, you have a better chance of fighting what ever it it is. My son could not tolerate head and shoulders on his face whatsover, but the "Z care" spray doesn't burn as long as you wait 10 min after you wash your face. Results with the honey alone were visibile in a day or two, but it is slow going until every little flaky area is gone. It took about 2 months to completely heal him. A note of caution, if the SD is all around the nose area, consider applying the honey and the zinc pyrithione carefully to the inner rims of of the nostrils. I just use a q-tip to appply anything to his face anyway. Don't spray the spray near your face, spray the Q-tip first. The SD was so bad that he also developed a secondary staph infection on the side of his mouth. The honey healed it, and knocked the infection right out. He has a small pink area of scar tissue, where the staph infection was, but I am hopeful this will fade with time.
Read the study: http://www.pgbeautyscience.com/defining-issues.html
Good Luck! "
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1 YEA
[YEA] 12/06/2008: Tara from Madison, WI writes: "I have tried both ACV and Lemon Juice and the Lemon Juice actually worked better for myself. I took a Q-tip, dipped it in the lemon juice and rubbed it on my dermatitis. It does sting and burn a little bit. It helped dry it up pretty quickly so it could heal faster. I only did this at night before I went to bed."
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3 YEA
2 BETTER BUT NOT CURED
1 WORKED TEMPORARILY
[BETTER BUT NOT CURED] 11/15/2009: 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"
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[YEA] 04/19/2009: Christine from Lynd, MN writes: "I have had my first (and very bad) case of perioral dermatitis for the past 12 weeks. After being treated with various antibiotics and antivirals, and two forms of steroid creams I continue to go through period of extreme inflammation around my mouth mainly---very itchy, uncomfortable and spreading to cheeks. After reading various suggestions on this web page, I found that this remedy seems to have nearly cleared up my rash/itchiness in 3 days times. Here is what I've done:
EXTERNAL TREATMENT
- Roll of soft paper towels so that I wouldn't have to risk infection from washcloths/towels---I dab my face dry wit the paper towels, while avoiding scratching, rubbing,scrubbing, etc.
- Three times/day I go through the following steps:
1) Rinse my face with cool water and dab dry with paper towel.
2) Use cotton ball to dab face with Apple Cider Viniger (ACV) (stings, turn red for about 10-15 minutes)
3) Combine organic yogurt (2 TBLS) with three opened Grape Seed Extract capsules. Spread over face and neck. Feels cool, refreshing, soothing skin after ACV use. I wear face mask until it dries completely. Rinse luke warm, then cool water. Dab dry with paper towel.
4) Smooth expellor pressed Organic Coconut Oil over face. (I continue to use the coconut oil periodically throughout the day.)
INTERNAL TREATMENT
1) Drink plenty of water.
2) Drink 5 glasses of combination of vegetable/fruit juices (without sugar added).
3) Take two capsules of Grape Seed Extract.
4) Other supplements: B-vitamin complex; vitamin D; Lysine.
5) Cut way back on refined sugar.
6) Limit coffee to 1 cup/day.
7) Drink tea ---green tea and Yerba Matte---throughout day.
8) Cut out nuts--almonds, peanuts, etc.-- till face clears up.
9) Eat LOTS of organic yogurt (without sugar added).
10) Get plenty of sleep.
*I also make sure to keep my hands off of my face and wash my hands very often!
Hope this helps!
Christine"
[YEA] 04/20/2009: HannaQueen from Portland, OR replies: "Ive had skin issues my whole life, and now all 4 of my daughters have excema as well. I moved to a small town with really hard water. It made all of us 10 times worst. We did everything you can think about. Here are a few things we have used and helped.
1. Use all natural lotions. no perfume/plant based.
2. Oatmeal bath. Take cheese cloth and put some oatmeal in it. Tie it close. Throw in your bath and use it to wash yourself. Very soothing.
3. All natural/plant based laundry soap, dish washing soap, laundry softener, soap bars, shampoo, etc. This will help out a lot.
We did this for 2 years and it kept the excema at bay. My 4 yr old started getting red spots under her arms, legs, and hair line. That was it, we had it. We moved into a larger ciy and the water was a lot softer. All red spots and itchy patches were gone within 1 week. If you have hard water, look into getting a filter on your faucets.
We believe in using all natural products instead of using steroid creams or harsh ointments. It really is a life style change but its better for you and your skin. So eat healthy, and use healthy items. Good luck."
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[BETTER BUT NOT CURED] 03/30/2009: Bee from Portland, OR writes: "I have had dermatitis for years now. I have not been formally diagnosed due to a lack of insurance as a student - but my older sister had/has the same issue and she has been formally diagnosed.
It began around my 29th year. My sister thought she was being helpful when she gave be a steroid that cleared up her PD. It worked! But... it also made the PD worse. My PD was clear if I used the steroid every day and when I stopped, the PD expanded. She told me to stop as soon as she learned that these steroids make things worse.
I tried the ACV and didn't have much luck. Although I didn't probably give it enough time. drinking the stuff was impossible and during outbreaks, it stings.
Months ago my school doctor prescribed a topical antibiotic called Ethromycen, which worked, but left my hands with an orange tint and an odor. After stopping use, the PD came back.
I am now learning about Witch Hazel, Emu Oil and Neem Oil and leaves. It seems to be working a bit, but I think I will add the daily probiotics and reintroduce the ACV.
I have a feeling the PD is related to inflammation. Neem is an anti-flammatory. Emu Oil is transdermal, which means it can pass through the layers of skin, offering more healing. And Witch Hazel is a gentle, natural toner.
I hope my experience offers some help to the conversation."
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[WORKED TEMPORARILY] 02/01/2009: Rashy from Wayzata, MN writes: "I've had recurring perioral dermatitis, as well as hormonal acne, for years. After taking antibiotics off and on for the last 20 years to clear up my skin, I went to a natural health practitioner for help. This was two years ago--I took an antifungal tincture, apple cider vinegar, and spanish black radish, as well as a multivitamin. These things really helped, and I was antibiotic-free for 2 years.
The perioral dermatitis reappeared three months ago (could have been a variety of triggers--dietary changes, season, cosmetics, hormonal) and I've been using natural methods to treat it--and nothing has worked. I stopped eating dairy, eggs, soy and wheat. I switched back to a natural toothpaste, and I switched to a dermatologist-recommended mineral makeup (and only use it to cover the rash on occasion!). I took ACV and applied it topically. I used tea tree oil, too. Nothing worked and the rash has gotten much worse.
I finally gave up and went back to the derm for topical and oral antibiotics--that was four days ago and I'm hoping it will clear up!"
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[YEA] 11/10/2008: Theresa from Montgomery, Alabama/United States writes: "I discontinued using Fluoride tooth paste. This has had a positive effect on my dermatitis. when the doctor told me to discontinue the use, it was in a general list of what to do and what not to do. There was no specific information. No reasoning other than, I thought that my face would be irritated by the toothpaste getting on my skin when I brushed my teeth. This was not the reason. After having had this for a year, I decided to stop using fluoride. I went with one that did not contain it Within a week, the rash and broken skin was starting to heal.
Then I also read where you need to use a moisture cleanser to wash with. I had tried all the "non allergic" ones given on the list. Nothing worked. The water based cleansers only made it more dry. I found that with my face being so dry, I needed oil. If you have this you know anything and everything burns and stings. I remembered the old home remedy that my grandparents passed down to my dad about coal tar. I started using
"Rainbath" on my face. I remembered it contains coal tar that does not burn the skin. The coal tar was used way back in the day to relieve athletes foot and also mange on dogs. Then I went and purchased a bottle of "Sweet Oil" at the pharmacy, and put this on after I wash my face. I follow it with a lotion from the list the Dr provided me with Within 3 weeks, this has almost disappeared."
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2 YEA
[YEA] 03/18/2008: Andrea from Westminster, CO writes: "I am a 30 F I have had perioral dermatitis as long as I can remember. I have been searching for a cure, I almost gave up by getting a prescription for Tetracycline but I have read the side effects of taking it are so bad. I also found people with perioral dermatitis have had success with a prescription vitamin called Nicomide which is 750 mcg of Niacinamide (amide of Niacin or B3), 500 mcg of Folic Acid, 1.5 mg Copper and 50 mg Zinc. SO, after I tried apple cider vinegar topically and it made my rash raw like chapped lips and very itchy, I went to the vitamin store and bought what I could find of the vitamins in Nicomide. I have been on 500mcg of Niacinamide, B complex w/ 400 mcg of Folic Acid and 50 mg Zinc for 3 days and my perioral dermatitis is under control I can still see a little redness but, it doesn't itch and there are no bumps or blisters. I have also been using Cetaphil to wash my face and Eucerin to moisturize and Aquaphor at night. I am very pleased that this worked for me."
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[YEA] 12/18/2007: Francy from Lewisville, Texas writes: "Ok. After 20 years of dealing with dyshdriotic eczema, allergic dermatitis, contact dermatitis...essentially every skin malady recognized under the sun... I think I can provide some help. While steroidal creams such as diflorasone diacetate provide relief, they do not cure or prevent. The problem is organic. Here is the cocktail that I have found keeps me quasi-remissive with the least amount of side-effects: 1200mg of Lecithin, 50mg of zinc, 400 I.U. of vitamin E and 500mg L-Lysine once daily after a meal. For some reason, the anti-hystaminic effects of loratadine are more effective for skin disorders than other common OTC anti-histamines. I suggest one 10 mg loratadine once to twice a week to give the skin a "calm-down" period. Works for me...and I cook for a living."
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1 BETTER BUT NOT CURED
[BETTER BUT NOT CURED] 08/29/2008: Laurie from North Royalton, Ohio writes: "Hello, I just wante to let you know that I recently discovered this sight after having ANOTHER bout of dermatitis. I am trying ACV, VCO, and probiotics but I'm not sure if the are working because I am on prednisoe until tomorrow. Last year, I had a very bad reaction to getting my hair highlighted, and since than I have dermatitis flare-ups. After much research, I finally figured out that phenoxyethonal is in many beauty products and I believe this is the source of my allergies. I have an appointment with an allergist mid-Sept so I will let you know my findings."
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2 YEA
[YEA] 12/20/2008: Ruth from Costa Mesa, California writes: "I had seborrhea dermatitis for a year and have tried acv,and everything Ted recommended, but it didn't help much. I tried dermatologists and nothing helped until finally my internist suggested I try Edonazole Nitrate Cream 1%, I tried it and the seborrhea dermatitis is almost gone. I started with the cream 12-4-08 and this is 12-20-08. I am thrilled. I washed my face twice a day and applied a thin layer of the cream after each cleaning."
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[YEA] 11/24/2008: Karie from Boca Raton, FL writes: "I work in a Salon for 13 years and I got Contact Drematitis I tried everything even the Apple Cider Vinager. I finally talked to one of my customers and he referred me to a Product Under Perscription Only. The Cream was called Elcon Cream. It took it away in 2 days. I was shocked, I had tried everything for 1 month. I have some left over and now I use it when needed. You have to make sure the you clean the site where the rashes are with Antiseptic Wash every time you put on the cream. I wanted to let everyone know what worked for me. I know how bad it can itch and Hurt. I hope you take my advice. Karie, FL"
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