Dermatitis
Natural Remedies

Dermatitis Treatment and Natural Remedies

| Modified on Jun 29, 2023
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What is Dermatitis?

Dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin that can be the result of any number of skin conditions, but usually stems from allergic reactions. Symptoms may vary between different forms of dermatitis, and they can range from rashes to blisters but always include red skin, swelling, itching, and sometimes lesions, oozing, and scarring. Eczema is another common type of dermatitis, known as atopic dermatitis; eczema is a chronic condition where dermatitis is typically temporary. While dermatitis can be a miserable skin condition, there are many natural remedies for it that our readers have reported over the years.

What Causes Dermatitis?

Along with allergies, dermatitis can be caused by skin irritations from soap, laundry detergents, and bleach. Typical allergens that cause dermatitis can be rubber, metal in jewelry, cosmetics, and perfumes. The necessary level of exposure needed to cause an allergic reaction may be brief or prolonged, it depends on the person's sensitivity to the substance.

Natural Remedies for Dermatitis

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar is a highly effective and easy cure for dermatitis. Please see this entire page devoted to this topic!

Calendula Oil or Salve

Calendula Oil is made by infusing an oil with calendula flowers. Calendula flowers have anti fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties! Calendula Oil is soothing to the skin and gentle and powerful at the same time. Look for a product with few ingredients and from a trusted company. Better yet, make your own!

How to Make your Own Calendula Oil 

  1. You will need dried calendula flowers. Good quality dried petals will be bright yellow-orange. Older dried flowers will only have a faded yellow color.
  2. Fill a mason jar with your calendula flowers.
  3. Cover the calendula flowers with an oil you know suits your skin. Organic olive oil or almond oil are good choices.
  4. Cap the jar. Shake daily for 2 weeks.
  5. After the flowers and oil have steeped, strain the oil out of the flowers through a square of old white t-shirt.
  6. Now you have a delicious smelling and wonderfully healing calendula oil! You can add some vitamin E to it to help preserve it, but it will last 6 months to a year anyway.
  7. To make it last longer, keep most of it in the refrigerator, and get an ounce or two out at a time to keep in your bathroom.
  8. Store in a dark jar or dark place. Use this oil twice daily.

If you are in a hurry for your oil, it can be made in a crock pot.

  1. Put the jar (with the flowers and oil in it) on a towel in a crock pot.
  2. Fill crock pot with water but leave the lid of the jar out of the water. (You don't want water to get into the oil.)
  3. Put crock pot on low for 3 days.
  4. You will need to refill the water as it will evaporate.
  5. When you are away at work all day or sleeping at night it may be safest to keep the crock pot on the "warm" setting.
  6. After 3 days, strain your oil through a piece of clean white cotton t-shirt.

High Quality Oils Internally and Externally for Dermatitis

Cocoa butter, castor oil, coconut oil and borage oil have all helped dermatitis sufferers. These oils can be used topically. All are rich and healing oils. Look for organic and cold pressed varieties. Try only one new oil at a time on your skin. While it may be tempting to mix them together (and that may be helpful!) test each oil by itself to make sure it suits your skin. When you know which oils agree with you, you can mix them if you like. (Cocoa butter would need to be gently warmed to be mixed with other oils. It is quite hard at room temperature.)

Borage oil and coconut oil can also be taken internally. Both can be found in capsule form. Coconut oil is also easy to incorporate into your diet and tubs of coconut oil are available in most grocery stores and health food stores.

Go to the Beach!

Perhaps the must fun remedy for dermatitis is a beach trip. Some have found that ocean water helps to heal their dermatitis. A little bit of sunshine is also good for the skin. If a beach trip is not an option, epsom salt baths are an option to get minerals into the body and on the skin. Add 1 cup of epsom salt to a warm bath and soak. A brief time in the sunshine most days can be accomplished by most people. If you will be in the sunshine for extended periods of time, use a hat and lightweight long sleeves and pants instead of sunscreen. Most sunscreens have many irritating and even harmful chemicals in them.  

Vitamin Supplements for Dermatitis

There are several supplements that are effective for dermatitis.

  • Zinc
  • Magnesium
  • Vitamin C
  • Borage Oil 

Things to Avoid if You Have Dermatitis

Steroid Cream

When you are dealing with dermatitis, long-term use of steroid cream, while providing relief from symptoms, can actually exacerbate the condition; and discontinuing use of such creams can lead towards a cure. Initially the dermatitis may be worse, while you are weaning your skin from the steroid cream.

SLS (Sodium Laureth Sulphate)

SLS can cause or irritate dermatitis. Unfortunately, SLS is in many, many soaps, shampoos and body care products. Look for an SLS free version of these products. You will also find a variety of very simple and natural things that you can use to  wash your hair here at Earth Clinic!

Most toothpastes also contain SLS, even many "natural" ones. Read labels and look find one that is SLS-free. Many people use plain baking soda or even coconut oil to brush their teeth.

Chemical Hair and Body Products

Some people find it necessary to avoid other body and hair care products to heal their dermatitis due to any number of chemicals that are added to these products. It may be necessary to avoid hair color and permanents.

Make Up

Many make ups contain chemicals that cause or aggravate dermatitis. The make up tools you use that touch your face and then touch the make up can contaminate your make up and keep your dermatitis from healing, especially if your dermatitis has a fungal or bacterial component. Check online or in your local health food store for natural mineral make up options. Also, on days off work, give your face a break and go au naturel!

Tap Water 

Tap Water usually contains fluoride and chlorine. Both of these can irritate the skin and cause dermatitis or aggravate it. Using rubber gloves when you do the dishes. Put a filter in your shower. These things will greatly reduce the amount of chlorine and fluoride that touch your skin and absorb into your body. You can keep a gallon of distilled water at the bathroom sink to wash your face.

Continue reading to see what our readers are doing for their dermatitis. Please send us your feedback about your own experiences with these home remedies for dermatitis!

Additional Pages of Interest:

Perioral Dermatitis

Eczema


Acidophilus, Biotin

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Lisa (Miami, Fl) on 06/20/2011
★★★★★

I have had PD for over 10 years now. The only prescription medicine that ever worked for me was the minocylline. It completely took it off. However, it will return and it is pretty expensive and most insurance companies have a hard time approving it for patients. Everything else that I have been told - stay away from fatty foods, flouride, sls products - has not worked at all and ACV w/green tea only slightly minimized it but caused itching. I have it pretty severe and I am really frustrated with it. I look at this site every so often and I finally took the advice of the gentleman who recommended acidophilus. He, however, removed flouride and sls products - I did not. I have maintained the same diet and I quickly felt results with the acidophilus pill.

However, I also suffer from occasional alopecia so I picked up a bottle of Biotin. I take one of each daily around noon as I also suffer from hypothyroidism and you cant really mix the medication for that with anything else for about 4 hours or so to be safe it doesnt stop the synthroid from working. I never write on these websites but this time I had to tell anyone who will listen and who suffers from PD that with me taking one pill of each acidophilus and biotin daily I must tell you that my PD has drastically been reduced. The biotin has also improved my facial skin that I dont need makeup anymore. I totally love my skin now and I am not embarrased anymore. I hated living my life with redness around my nose and mouth and noticed that it would worsen when I ovulated and the week before my menstrual cycle. (I know too much information but I think it is important to know because these are the times the flare ups would occur the worse and I have never read where anyone ever mentioned that. ) I have pink now... Pink - slight pink and hope that as I continue taking the vitamins it will slowly go away. Now, I must admit one thing, I dont know if it is the acidophilus or the biotin that is working these wonders but I did read the following on webmd for biotin deficiency symptoms:

"Symptoms of deficiency include thinning of the hair (often with loss of hair color), and red scaly rash around the eyes, nose, and mouth."

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-313-BIOTIN.aspx?activeIngredientId=313&activeIngredientName=BIOTIN&source=2&tabno=2

Does this sound familiar to anyone????? Isnt if amazing that after all the dermatologists we have visited, nobody has mentioned a possible biotin deficiency???? I have seen 3 different dermatologists and they all seem to blame it on the flouride and sls but will not confirm. Yet we trust them and do whatever it is they tell us to do. Flouride free toothpaste is not too cheap and sls free products arent either, yet we do it because nobody but us understands what it is like to live with this horrible redness in our face! Gosh it makes me so mad that all it took was some simple vitamins to rid myself of this PD that was harming my self esteem and ruining my pictures because of the redness. It only gets worse in extreme hot and cold weather too! If you suffer from PD and have tried everything like I have and have had no success, please give the acidophillus and biotin a shot. It cant hurt. I bought them right off the target pharmacy dept.... And to the people who recommended Acidophilus - THANK YOU.

Replied by Liz
(Elmwood Park, Il)
07/14/2011

Thanks for your post! I was told I have PD due to an ointment with steroid I was using for over a year. A Dr had prescribed it to me so it kinda makes me mad that I would be going through this now, but anyway... After reading all these posts I went ahead and got some of the organic plain yogurt, acidophilus and coconut oil (moisturizer instead of my MaryKay). The yogurt feels so good I don't even want to rinse it off!! Lol The acidophilus works great, taken that before so I was ok with taking it again. I'm currently on Oracea 40mg which I started today after an awful few weeks with the 100mg. I'm using Metrogel (nights) and Protopic (mornings). I switched my toothpaste, shampoo and stopped wearing makeup. Dermatologist told me to no longer use anything to wash my face, only water. WHY AM I STILL MISERABLE?!!

Questions:

WASHING: I would think that not using anything to wash would leave all the dirt on my face. ??

COCONUT OIL: Have you ever tried the coconut oil to moisturize? I laid off of it from my face because I thought it was making me break out more but I may use it again because my skin is so dry. I do use it on my body, hands, feet and it's wonderful! Not greasy at all and my skin feels & looks great.... Except for my face!!!

BIOTIN: Can I take the biotin supplement with the Oracea? How much are you taking? I have "Hair, Skin & Nails" supplement. Can I just use that?

PROTOPIC & METROGEL: Have you or anyone else used the Protopic and Metrogel. Just curious to hear how they worked for other people.

Thanks for your help. Feeling overwhelmed with it today. Thanks for "listening"

Liz

Replied by Sara
(Charleston, Sc, Usa)
07/17/2011

I'm sorry to hear that you're still having problems. I am too. :( From what I understand, it is the sodium lauryl sulfate in cleansers (soaps, face washes, dishwashing liquids, shampoo, etc. ) that are contributing to the PD. I recently switched all of my cleansers to SLS free (which is not easy to do, there's sulfates in everything! ) along with my toothpaste that is also fluoride free. You should also switch to fluoride free water since most tap water has added fluoride. I am taking acidophilus and biotin supplements. I also use the yogurt mask and am eating yogurt all day pretty much. I stocked up on Good Belly from Whole Foods to add even more probiotics to my system.

I was on antibiotics a lot growing up and have been fighting this for years. Only in the past few months has it gotten this bad. It started spiraling out of control when I was prescribed Metrogel. 3 or 4 days of that and it seemed that I had really made it angry. It has been getting worse ever since then.

I hope you are feeling a little better. I understand feeling overwhelmed... I haven't left my house in 4 days. Good luck.

Replied by Marie
(Indianapolis, In)
07/19/2011

Liz, So sorry for your suffering. I have had PD for over 2 yrs now. For about 8 months in the beginning it was unbearably hideous. I was unbearably hideous. PD felt like it was ruining my life. My partner and my best friend both have perfect skin. I felt alone. It was truly agonizing. Multiple trips to the Dr. and Dermatologist led me to use a series of different products.

I tried Metrogel, Tretinoin Gel, Clindamycin, and prescription strength cortizone cream. I couldn't tell you which was the worst, but none seemed to have any effect at all. Quite honestly they all made it worse. The "it gets worse before it gets better" rule does not work out when you work with the public. I also took antibiotics which just got my hopes up because it would go away then come back about a week or so after I was done taking them. Not to mention leave me with infections in other sensitive parts of my body(if you catch my drift. ) So next I tried the natural route. AV, Tea tree oil, coconut oil, Tamanu oil, Neem extract (I'm sure I am missing a couple in there somewhere)

Then I discovered a life saver (for me) "Nixoderm". This was the first thing that had any real lasting effect. Just put it on the effected area and slept in it over night. Burned like H*LL almost to the point that I was about to wash it off then the sensation goes away. I woke up the next morning in amazement over my face because at least 50% of it was gone. It is super cheap. I bought it online & it lasts forever. Nixoderm did not cure me completely, but it makes my PD managable and at the time I was desperate for anything just to lessen it.

I also found a product from a place near my hometown called "Skinmagic" It contains Burdock root, gotu kola leaf & echinacea root. Also very inexpensive. The web address is www.herbsfromearthmagic.info. I use this ointment twice a day in combination with the occasional use of the Nixoderm if I have a bad flare up. I do sometimes use the yogurt mask but aside from just feeling good on my skin I never really noticed a difference in the PD. I will soon be trying the acidophilus and biotin, as I am on the eternal quest for a natural cure that will CURE, as my PD fluctuates from 75-80% better for most of the time. I try to maintain a healthy diet as well. Little sugar, rarely eating anything fried, lots of water etc.

This is what helped me. Hang in there.

Marie

Replied by Diane
(Ottumwa, Ia)
08/12/2011

Re: Biotin. Thank you Lisa from Miami. Nutritional deficiencies are one of the causes to suspect in any kind of rash. Biotin deficiencies develop easily and the symptoms will look exactly like PD. If your rash is non-itchy, try Biotin. I realized that I had been really good about taking my B-complex for the past couple of months, and when the rash first started, I doubled up on my B-complex, of of course made the Biotin deficiency worse and escalated the rash. Even my very good B-complex doesn't have proportionately enough biotin in it, and since the B vitamins are used in specific proportions, I was actually draining myself of biotin every time I took my B-complex.

Replied by L.b.
(Lexington, Ohio/usa)
12/15/2011

I just wanted to responed to the person who is only using water to wash and still has trouble. I did all those things you did also and would still have trouble in patches on my face. From reading this site it has really helped. I take a good brand of vitamin b complex it helps and so does the acidophilus, but when I washed my face with manuca honey only and tried the vinegar rinse it burn to much. So I deluted the vinegar to 50/50 with water and still to much. I came up with an idea to try because I was wondering if the tap water was maybe some of my problem? I put 1 cup of distilled water in an empty bottle, 1 tsp of manuka honey, 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar with the mother. I shake it up and at morning and night I use a cotton ball to wash my face with it. Afterwards I put a small amount of Grapeseed oil on my face. It really has made a huge difference. I use the grapeseed oil on my arms when they flare up and it helps them very much too. I hope this will help someone else.

Replied by Kathy
(Idaho)
08/30/2017

Hi Liz, I know that this is long after you posted asking about coconut oil, biotin and your prescription meds. My daughter was diagnosed with eczema several years ago. We found through trial and error that using coconut oil right after a bath or shower helps tremendously. Towel off gently and when your skin is still damp apply the oil and let your skin absorb it. This oil can also be taken internally and helps immensely by moisturizing from the inside out, even helps with the creaks and dry skin that comes with getting older. I hope that by this time you have found help for the dermatitis. My son is currently dealing with a pretty severe case of that and I am trying to find answers for him. Wish me luck..


Aloe and Ice Packs

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Juliebeth (Littleton, Colorado) on 10/22/2014
★★★★★

Started experiencing dermatitis (and maybe it's also heat rash) about 6 weeks ago. Just discovered this website and have started following some of the advice (ACV, Biotin). At night when the itching gets bad I discovered two things that help. 1) Sensitive Skin Aloe Vera, and 2) Ice Packs. Just wrapped them in a towel and laid them on the itching area. This gives great relief.


Antiseptic Handwash

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by M (St Louis, MO) on 09/12/2008
★★★★★

A friend in the cosmetics field said the redness in the lines some people have from the nose to the corners of the mouth can be caused by mites. She recommended alcohol. Not having any on hand at the time I used Germ-X handwash, not the intended use for it, BUT it worked to stop the irritation and get rid of the redness and bumps. I noticed that IF MY DOG LICKED MY FACE I WOULD GET THE IRRITATION AGAIN! now I NEVER let my dog lick my face, ever! I'm sure I have him to thank for the mites I think I get. So Germ-X when needed, CLEAN BED LINENS OFTEN, AND NO DOG SLEEPING ON THE BED!!

Replied by Violet
(St. Pete, Fl)
09/15/2009

Dog mites don't affect people. If your dog has mites you'll know it because he will be itchy and miserable, thus the dog should be treated. But, like I said, dog mites affect dogs and human mites affect humans - they are two different things. So for those of you who enjoy sleeping with your pooch it is ok to keep doing so. If you notice a problem after being licked then you are probably allergic to the dog's saliva.

Replied by Robert Henry
(Ten Mile, Tn Usa)
09/20/2009

Wow, Violet..... wondering where you are getting your facts. Ever read what Hulda Clark says about pets and parasites? Are you aware that Demodex Mites cause mange in animals and get into your nose hair roots and are almost impossible to cure? A dog's tongue contains E-coli and is the greatest cause of human stomach ulcers. Ever watch what spot your dogs licks when his buddy comes up? Do you know why all dogs have to be wormed every so often? Ted and many others have posted all this on this site. Read more.

Replied by Violet
(St. Pete, Fl)
09/21/2009

Hi Robert Henry, I got that info from my vet. I sleep with my dogs all the time and after reading M's post I called my vet to inquire about the mites. That is what she told me.

I was not aware that demodex gets into human hair roots but I am well aware of all your other comments (worms, e-coli, where dogs lick).

I am on this site all the time but I have just recently started posting, in fact that was only the 2nd time I have posted here and from the tone of your reply obviously I have upset you. Sorry :-(

As for reading more, I am a very prolific reader but I have by no means read everything on this site yet... I'm working on it ;-)

I am always interested in hearing what others have to say, and I am more than interested in learning as much as I can about natural cures. Now I'm off to read the demodex posts.

Replied by Kewpie
(Ca)
04/21/2014

Actually demodex mites are human mites that we give to our dogs. Your vet will not advise you correctly on this anyhow because they do not recognise that we are passing them back and forth with our dogs. I do have an old vetrenairian book from the 1950s that discusses demodex as a human ailment passed to dogs. If you are worried about mites, use D.E. powder.

It is not E coli that causes ulcers, rather it is H. pylori.


Apple Cider Vinegar Plus

Posted by Farmer Rose (Athens, Ga, Usa) on 12/06/2011

I got rid of my perioral dermatitis thanks to finding & reading this site!!! My skin doctor gave me a cortizone cream for a rash on my body & a few monhs later the rash was gone but a new one had started on my face!! I started drinking ACV regularly, & I used a mixture topically of first, Calendula gel, then Home Health's Rose Almond Oil and topped it off with a layer of Balmex, which is basically zinc oxide. The doctor told me it could take a year to heal and I was healed in 2 months. After a year or so using the Balmex I started to break out in a little acne. That was my skin telling me, your pores are fixed, you don't need to clog them anymore with this heavy zinc cream... So now I only use the Balmex when my skin feels very dry or chapped. Thank you so much earth clinic!! I'll never go to a skin doctor again! You changed my life!!


Apple Cider Vinegar, Eczema Cream

1 User Review
4 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Earthgirl (Brisbane, Qld, Australia) on 07/06/2011
★★★★☆

I have suffered with dermatitis in various places on an off for years. It seems to be more common in the cooler months for me. Currently I have an outbreak on my lower abdomen. I am using ACV dabbed on to the area, followed by Eczema & Psoriasis Cream by Moogoo (all natural ingredients). The cream feels soothing & cool, and keeps the skin from drying out. It has only been a couple of days but it's definitely improving.


Apple Cider Vinegar, Baking Soda

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Ed Davis (USA) on 06/03/2007
★★★★★

Skin Care - Dry Scaly Patches: I had some dry scaly skin on my nose and about for an inch or so on either side of my nose. I have been using a mixture of ACV, Baking Soda, and Water for a about a week and a half. I use about 1/4 tablespoon of BS and ACV till the bubbling stops. then I add just enough water to complete filling a small cup About 3 inches high, 1/2 full. I wash my face with this and leave it on for about a minute and then rinse it off. My skin on my nose and by my nose is now very soft and is no longer dry. I also found that when shaving with a razor that this mixture lubricated my skin and I did not get any cuts. I pieced this mixture together from reading about several items from this site. I love www.earthclinic.com


Apple Cider Vinegar, Calendula Cream

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Sally (Perth, Wa Australia) on 10/29/2011
★★★★★

I'm in my early 30's and always had clear skin, much to my shock after several months on lots of antibiotics(had a severe pneumonia), I broke out with a rash around my mouth, just under my bipap mask which I wear 24/7. Anyway went to dr, told it was dermatitis and was prescribed topical steroids which I took for 10 days like everyone else it made it worse. Thankfully I found this site stopped the steroids (however I am on a low dose orally which I need for my breathing), and started the apple cider, which did give me relief. I used it topically twice a day, drank it twice a day and I started taking a probiotic. Within 10 days it was better then what it was, but my face was still very red and dry, I tried coconut oil, then I tried paw paw ointment and both made me break out. So I had read on here that calendular ointment was really good as its antifungal, antiviral antibacterial and anti inflammatory. I decided to stop using the ACV topically and I bought the pure calendula ointment and to my surprise 24 hrs later I could see a improvement, 10 days later it is nearly all gone. I put it on very regularly(every 60-90 min if I remember)and it really soothes the skin etc

Things might have cleared up if I had used the mother ACV but I couldn't get any in stock at the time, also having a mask over my dermatitis did not help as I never got any fresh air on it.

However if you don't get perfect results with the ACV I recommend the calendula ointment, thank you to whoever posted that initially, it has really helped :)


Apple Cider Vinegar, Hydrogen Peroxide

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by JEROLYN (Lebanon, TN) on 12/05/2007
★★★★★

I am 43yo and have suffered for 20 YEARS with this dermatitis curse! Like all the others, the prescription meds were but a band-aid to a much larger problem. I was elated to find this page. In the past the only treatment the doctors and I could manage was phototherapy, but just another band-aid. I have tried the ACV which initially worked then, to no avail. Probiotics produced no change. My sort is very stubborn! SO... I tried peroxide alone b/c that was all I had here at the house. It works very well for me but I am going to add Borax to the mix as I still get some minor flair ups. THANKS to you all! At least I have some hope of help other than producing further wrinkling to my already aging skin!


Apple Cider Vinegar, Sea Salt

1 User Review
3 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Sheila (San Diego, Ca, Usa) on 05/02/2011
★★★☆☆

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

I was using ACV when I contracted contact dermatitis. The ACV dilution w/water helped soothe my skin rash, BUT I'm not sure if helped or maybe made my other symptoms worse since I could have too much potassium, or be salt deficient. It's been over a week now, and I'm not completely over the contact dermatitis. My extremely dry skin is almost gone, but the rash seems to have spread. I'm stopping consumption of diluted ACV, and will now consume the sea salt flush after reading a snippet of "The Water Cure" on allergies.

I started developing hives and painful swelling around both my eyes just a few minutes ago, so based on what I learned from here and the water cure about sea salt's benefits, I drank 1/2 tsp of sea salt in 1/2 cup of warm water, chased it down with 12 ozs of filtered water, and my eyes feel SO MUCH better and the swelling around them is almost gone.

My guess now is I'm abundant in potassium (ACV), and now need the sodium to cure the rash, swelling and any hives that develop.

Replied by Sheila
(San Diego, Ca, Usa)
05/04/2011

Update: I definitely need to get some tests done!

I used the saltwater flush a few more times and the angioedema around my eyes was worse. Someone on another messageboard I'm on wrote to keep flushing although it was counterintuitive. Well, I didn't continue it since my eyes started to swell more and I didn't want to land myself in Urgent Care with anaphylactic shock. Ugh.

I gotta stop going back and forth, and just stick to what I know now for this bout of dermatitis: diluted ACV topically to alleviate the itchiness and dry skin caused by Benadryl; consume nettle tincture in water for itchiness; Benadryl to alleviate the swelling and the itchiness, primarily at bedtime; exercise to increase adrenaline; green tea in moderation to reduce the swelling; drink plenty of filtered water to hydrate, flush and balance. Doing the above has brought me closer to normal.


Apple Cider Vinegar, Sulphur Clay Mask

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Elizabeth (Nashville, Tn) on 01/17/2011
★★★★★

I've had an outbreak of dermatits on my face, on either side of my nose and underneath my nose. I remembered I used ACV and bentonite clay for a rash I got from a swimming pool and it cleared it up in a matter of days, so I thought I would apply the same principles to my face. This is what I did:

Wash face every AM and PM with gentle soap. Used cottonball to apply H2O all over face and let sit for about a minute. Then applied ACV, full strength, with cottonball over the H2O. Let air dry and put on lotion and mineral makeup For the day ( I have a customer service job). At night I would apply the H20 and ACV, Let it dry and apply a sulfur/bentonite clay mask to only the affected areas and leave on while I slept.

I started this 5 days ago and I'm about 85% clear. Not to mention the ACV/H2O has exfoliated really well so I have smooth skin.

Hope this helps someone!


Apple Cider Vinegar, Vitamin E

1 User Review
4 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Michelle (Frisco, Tx) on 02/21/2011
★★★★☆

Dear Earth Clinic & Contributors - I wanted to let you know how grateful I am to have found the info on this site. I have had perfect skin my whole life and am 37 years old. Last fall, I tried a "biological peel" that I purchased at a high end store for a large price. Within two days of use, my skin started breaking out. I thought, "oh maybe my skin is 'purging' itself of impurities" so I kept using it a couple times a week. That was a huge mistake. By a month I had broken out very badly. I stopped using the product, but my face did not stop breaking out. I tried a few OTC products including the cardinal sin of cortisone cream (DON'T EVER DO THIS) and finally ended up in the dermatologist's office with a diagnosis of POD. He gave me a topical product…Protopic - that didn't seem to help and had scary side effects/warnings. I stopped using it because I had to take an antibiotic for a sinus infection - the meds seemed to start an even worse flare up.

That same week (about 3 months into POD), I started following the instructions on this site. I washed my face with warm water and no soap. I used a washcloth to apply the apple cider vinegar undiluted (Heinz) and then rubbed in vitamin E oil from Golden Way (d-alpha tocopherol acetate - the real, not synthetic E). I also took Nature's Way Primadophilus culture caplets one or two a day and mid way into the two weeks since I started, I added TriMedica Facial Redness Cleanser. My POD is about 90% cleared up. I'm going to continue doing this and hope for a full recovery in another week or so. It took a full week or more before I saw significant improvement, so keep the faith, people. Also, use a nubby towel to gently rub in the vinegar - not to the point of exfoliation, but get it in there working. Thank you Earth Clinic readers for your wonderful tips. I am so happy that my skin is almost back!


Apple Cider Vinegar, Yogurt

3 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  67%
3 star (1) 
  33%

Posted by Deborah (Cork, Ireland) on 07/11/2014
★★★★★

Hi there, I suffered from very mild dermatitis a couple of years ago, but then it got worse until I had a terrible outbreak, did the usual thing and visited the dermatologist , did the antibiotics and steroid cream for about 2 months. all was well until finished the cream , a week later I got out of bed looked in the mirror and was horrified, my skin on my face was swollen , itchy , the corners of my mouth and eyes cracked, I was in a terrible condition. So I found this site, yahoo!!, tried the suggestions of firstly making a face mask of natural organic yougurt mixed with organic honey, oh the relief!! Then I dabbed my face with diluted apple cider vinegar with the Mother, it stung but I was desperate. I started to drink the ACV daily and continued to use the face mask twice daily, by the following week my face was completely clear, it was amazing.I've never had an outbreak since thanks to drinking the ACV daily, I've not looked back since.


Apple Cider Vinegar, Yogurt
Posted by Anon (Anon) on 08/02/2011
★★★★★

Thank you so much for this post. I have perioral dermatitis but didn't know the name for it until I went to the dermatologist 3 weeks ago. She gave me Metrogel samples to try, and said if I didn't see any improvement in 4 weeks, I should come back and she would put me on an oral antibiotic. I saw no improvement. I think it actually got worse with the Metrogel. Three days ago I started looking on-line for some answers. I have been using the ACV, yogurt and Acidophilus for the past 2 days and have seen an amazing improvement. Needless to say, I will not be going back to the dermatologist for the antibiotic.


Apple Cider Vinegar, Yogurt
Posted by Heather (Sarasota, Fl) on 06/15/2010
★★★☆☆

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

I have been using Apple Cider Vinegar for my PD for about four days now. The PD was bad because I had been using a steroid cream to treat it as I thought it was just a rash problem and not PD.

I have been using an organic, raw ACV twice a day, once in the morning and once before bed. I have also used a plain, organic yogurt mask twice in the past four days. I have switched to a fluoride-free toothpaste and only use a gentle face cleanser. I have continued to use mineral makeup. I live in Florida so avoiding the humidity and sunshine isn't really an option for me.

Although it seems to be getting better (the pimple-looking spots have slightly diminished and the rash is not so red) one patch on my chin is severely scaley and dry.

How do I treat the dry, flaky part of my PD without bringing on the yucky whitehead looking parts? It seems to be needing a moisturizer, but what should I use?!

Please help! This is incredibly embarrassing and being a bartender with a rash on my face makes me so self-conscious. I wish I could just hide until this gets better. Thank you!

Replied by Heather
(Naples, Fl)
10/04/2010

Have you tried Calendula cream? It did wonders for my PD. I use an organic brand.

Replied by Joann
(New York)
12/10/2015

Extra Virgin coconut oil


Apple Cider Vinegar, Yogurt, Diaper Rash Cream

1 User Review
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Posted by Sunnymummy (Seattle, Wa) on 06/24/2011
★★★★★

My daughter had a bad case of PD about a year ago. I think hers was brought on by stress because it was right around the same time she broke her toe (she was 6). So I looked on this site desperate for answers after

1. Our idiot doctor told us to use hydrocortisone cream which instantly made it 100% WORSE and

2. A dermatologist told me that the only cure is steriods which I did not want to put on my 6 year old. So I started first with the ACV. I put undiluted ACV on a paper towel and held it on the effected area for a few seconds and then would remove it and blow on the skin because it would burn quite badly. My daughter was a trooper and although she would cry when it was time to do it she would let me do it anyway. So I would use the ACV 2X daily and it dried the pustules within a few hours.

However the dryness and redness got worse so I added the yogurt. I bought plain yogurt and put it on her face 2X daily for one day and although it gave her relief and was soothing it made the rash worse again. So I stopped the yogurt and added the diaper rash cream. I used the Butt Paste on her face 4X a day or more and still used the ACV on her 2x a day and after a few weeks it was totally gone!!! I was amazed, as was she, and I am SOOO glad I came here where all three remedies were suggested.

Thank you SO much! We have also used ACV to treat my other daughters horrible athletes foot, the bananas for warts remedy, and this one and so far nothing but wonderful results! Thank you EARTHCLINIC!

Replied by Dennin
(Hemet, Ca.)
06/24/2011

I relieved my skin of perioral dermatitis by washing my skin with baking soda. I have coped with this fungal based dermatitis several times over the years, the ONLY thing that completely cleared it and kept my skin glowing is the baking soda. In fact I no longer use anything on my skin to wash but baking soda. I brush my teeth with it also, no more costly bar soaps or toothpaste, yeah!



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