Dermatitis Treatment and Natural Remedies

I've been reading everyone's post and am overwhelmed by the feeling of community here. You guys are great!

My PD started with a small rash on the side of my month that was slightly itchy. I didnt think much of it and left it alone.. Then it got worse. It spread around the right side of my mouth and near my chin. It was really scary because I couldnt figure out what it was until I did some research online.

A friend of mine is an esthetician and she recommended super milk thistle with a juice cleanse. I am allergic to ragweed so I couldnt do milk thistle since it can cause an allergice reaction if you have plant allergies.

I realized my PD started because I was not exercising as regulary as I do, drinking tap water which is high in flouride, & consuming 2-3 alcoholic beverages which compromised my gastrointestinal system & liver.

I switched to flouride free toothpaste, drank only bottled/filtered water, began excersing (sweating out the toxins), and drank 2-3 cups of ____ blended juice (organic). Today is the 3rd day and my face has changed dramatically. I highly recommend to go on a cleanse to help your liver and internal systems get rid of the toxins.

I hope this brings relief to anyone experiencing PD. It is awful but you all these post helped me with the psychological trauma that comes with this disfiguring illness.

Love to all of you!

I suffered with PD since after giving birth to my son. I use a ready made natural cream with calendula, lavender oil, tea tree oil and east cape manuka oil. It is amazing for clearing away all of the PD around my face (used to look like a muzzle and was horrible). I still get minor outbreaks in small patches but after using my cream it clears away again.

After much trial and error I have found that the most simple is the most effective in treating this frustrating and annoying condition. I take probiotics 2x a day, plus Vitamin A and E and C. I don't use soap or lotion on it. I wash the area with water. I use Squiggle toothpaste. ( a little pricey, but let's be real, no amount is too much to spend to get rid of this right? ) The most effective change that I made was to stop chewing any kind of gum. I have been rash and itch free for a month now. Oh and don't touch your face! I hope this helps and I want to thank everyone who posts on this sight. So helpful!!

So here's my story. I got a pimple in the corner of my mouth so I used my topical clindamycin solution on it. A week or so later I developed a dry patch of skin, it didn't itch or hurt, just was very flaky. That lasted for a couple of months despite using aquaphor on it several times a day. 6 months later I was developing little fluid filled bumps that would break open and then leave a yellow/orange crust on my skin. The area expanded and then a little further out I got a very dry patch of skin, this time no flaking. I started using hydrocortisone on the area with the bumps and it would keep it under control but it never completely went away. After dealing with this for a year and a half, I finally got in to see a dermatologist who diagnosed perioral dermatitis. He put me on clindamycin solution, oral erythromycin (3 week course). I was pregnant at the time so I could not use the Protopic (tacrolimus) ointment he wanted to prescribe. After 4 months of using the clindamycin twice a day the symptoms were gone and I just needed to put a little aquaphor on the corner near my mouth and was able to stop the clindamycin. About 3 months after delivering my baby, the bumps started coming back in the same spot. I started using the clindamycin again but it seemed to get worse and even started spreading around the bottom of my lip to the other corner. I went back in to see the dermatologist who thought it was contact dermatitis this time. He recommended topical steroids, oral antibiotics, and topical tacrolimus. I was still breastfeeding so these medications were scary to me and I didn't .

So here's what I did. I switched toothpastes to a non-fluoridated one. I bought the organic Apple Cider vinegar (my local grocery chain had it - Meijer - for like $4). I tried drinking 1 oz (shot glass) straight but it was so acidic it hurt my teeth (I have severe tooth sensitivity). Even watered down I couldn't take it. So then I put it directly on the affected skin and all around my mouth. It burned like crazy but did seem to take away the bumps, however I still had very noticeable redness and dry flakiness. I put yogurt on the skin after the acv. I started taking acidophilus supplements as well. After a week of doing this, I stopped the yogurt. I then started putting a diaper rash cream on the area (MotherLove diaper rash and nipple cream - $9.00 online but costs $9. 00 for shipping. I got it for $12.00 from my local lactation consultant). It started to get significantly better, almost looking normal. However, after a few weeks it was still red and my lips started to become very flaky. I almost resorted to giving up breastfeeding to take the recommended medications because I have to work and it was so embarassing. Then I started putting the Apple Cider Vinegar on my face again but this time also dabbing it on my lips and the mucosa just inside my lips (pull the bottom lip down to expose the inside and swab Apple Cider Vinegar there and on the inside of the top lip). I use Vannicream moisturizer on my skin and vaseline (dermatologist said not to use aquaphor because it has lanolin and it can be irritating) on my lips and MY SYMPTOMS ARE COMPLETELY RESOLVED. No bumps, no redness, no dry flakiness.

My heart goes out to you, this is an extremely irritating and embarassing condition. Hope this helps.

First I would like to thank everyone for sharing what has worked for them. This has been a nightmare! But I think I have found a routine that works for me and hopefully will work for you. Every morning I take probiotics and ACV capsules. (I tried drinking it but couldn't do it again) At night I take more of the same as well as green tea vitamins. I changed my shampoo to non sulfate. I also changed my toothpaste to non flouride and only drink bottled water. Before I go to bed I put organic plain yogurt on, and keep it on all night. This combinbation has worked well for me and I hope it works for you.

I am soooo happy I took the time to browse your site a week ago for some ideas to help clear my skin up. About 9 months ago I got small rashy pimples around my mouth. I've been lucky to have always had near to perfect skin. I could see myself that they weren't spots and more rashy type of pimples. It didn't shift for a number of weeks, so I paid a visit to a dermatologist. She recommended a cream called diprogenta and antibiotics and advise I try changing to non-flouride toothpaste (diprogenta- steriod type cream - but sure I didn't realise it was steriod cream at all at the time, and wasn't aware it can thin the skin out and cause a heap of further problems down the line). The rash cleared up, but I could only keep it at bay by topping up with steriod cream every day.

A few months later I tried a Different dermatologist. She recommended cold turkey from the steriod cream and prescribed antibiotics. A week later I returned and as she could see the rash was getting no better, did some scrapings and flippantly decided that it was a fungal rash. She didn't really seem used to dealing with celtic skin and I wasn't convinced But took the fungal meds she Prescribed. She prescribed a fungal Cream also (which later I found had some steriod in it) - and low and behold the rash disappears, but once again to keep the rash at bay I had to keep topping up with the cream daily! Problem not solved.

Last week I decided I'd try cold turkey and take a more natural route to solve my now 9month skin prob. I booked a few days at the beach, thinking that the saltwater and fresh air will be good for my skin. I checked this site out to see if there are any natural supplements / topical stuff that were recommended. I hit the health store and stocked up on apple cider vinegar (to drink and apply topically), epsom salts (to gently exfoliate skin), probiotic supplements (to cure from inside out), ethyl alcohol (to apply topically), virgin coconut oil with ginger extract (to apply topically), tea tree oil cream moisturisor (to moisturise). In addition to that I ate quite healthy food during the week - fruit smoothie in the morning with poached egg on toast. homemade soup with crackers and homemade hummus for lunch, homemade lasagne and salad for dinners.

day 1-2 of cold -turkey the rash was ablazing! Stung like hell to apply the apple cider vinegar and ethyl alcohol but calming after a few mins.

day3-4 of cold-turkey, much the same but the rash was no longer spreading and appeared to have peaked. Rash was getting quite crackly at this point so before applying makeup I found dipping my face in a bowl of warm water with epsom salts and left to air dry left a v. Fine coating of salt on the skin, which strangly worked v. Well as a base for applying some concealor over the rash. there was no hope in hell I was going to go into work without concealing the rash and thankfully it didn't backfire! An amazing concealor/fopundation I used was by roche possay - AMAZING stuff!

Day 6 - skin 80% back to normal and with a touch on concealor you couldn't see any rash.

Day 8 - skin is 97% back to normal!

in 4 days time I'm hitting the beach, for what I though would be a weekend of laying low and letting my rashy skin get some air and sea water. Turns out my skin is already cured so instead I'll be flashing my new amazing skin!

I'm not sure what caused the initial rash, but it was after a few weeks in the tropical sun. I suspect old suncream may be the root of the problems - or alternatively flouride toothpaste. I've since switched to a non-flouride toothpaste from the health shop, just incase it is the root cause. I'm going to continue with my epsom salt face soaks and use it as an exfoliator mixed with my usual cleanser and will use the apple cider vinegar as a toner at night, and continue to drink it during the day, as my skin is Glowing from it at the moment! The great bonus about the apple cider vinegar is that it's also a natural appetite supressant. Not that I'm trying to diet, but I've noticed over the past week that I've no interest in junk food or over-indulging! thanks to everyone who contributed on your site with all their great ideas - you really have saved my skin!!

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.

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!

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.