The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Shea Butter
Posted by Ginger (New York, New York) on 06/25/2008
★★★★★
Contact Dermititis: I recommend 100% organic shea butter....great healer for a lot of skin problems.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Francy (Lewisville, Texas) on 12/18/2007
★★★★★
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.
Cold Showers
Posted by Katrina (Sterling, VA) on 08/28/2006
★★★★★
After the death of two very close friends and a lot of stress, I ended up with stress induced psoriasis all over my head, neck and shoulder. I tried EVERYTHING OTC and nothing worked so finally, I gave up, and started saving money to go to the doctor. I came across the cold water therapy on this site and although I did nto intend to use it to treat this issue, it sure cured it. I started taking cold water showers in the hottest months here in Virginia. Immediately I noticed the increase in energy and my hair is SUPER SOFT even after months of harsh psoriasis shampoos that had my hair turning to straw. Call me crazy, but it seems my shower doesn't get as grimey as it did before when I was using hot water. My complexion has improved, and there is an obvious difference in my pores. Basically, I have nothing bad to say about cold showers. After 2 months of them, I can't even STAND a hot shower now.
Swimming in the Ocean
Posted by Eion (Los Angeles, California) on 10/13/2015
★★★★☆
First I want to thank all people who post on this site. A community of people sharing remedies for healing outside of the Big Pharma profit paradigm is a beautiful thing.
I read so many interesting regimens for curing dermatitis but I was wondering why mine had come back in the first place. I have not had it at all for 9 months and all of a sudden it's back on my face.
After doing my detective work I have realized there is one factor which makes all the difference for me. 9 months ago I moved close to the ocean. The only time I have left my home area in those 9 months was to work in Puerto Rico for the summer (and I was in the ocean all the time there). Only now that am I away from the ocean (Toronto) has my dermatitis returned. I am a regular ocean man. I am in it every other day now that I live close by and now that I look back on it, since my reconnection to the sea water, I have not had ANY dandruff of facial Dermatitis. Until Now, having been away from the ocean the last 2.5 weeks I have a flare up again.
So, for anyone suffering from Dtitis who lives near the ocean, now's a good time to take up surfing.
All my best, Eion
Dead Sea Salt
Posted by Anilove (Holland) on 06/03/2014
I've tried almost ANY treatment listed here, calendula ointment, coconut oil, acv, neem oil, tar soap. ACV spread the rash further! So did the coconut oil and calendula. Yogurt masks only helped a little bit and still left my face dry and tight.
As I believe it's caused from the inside and I think my reason is I react badly to Magnesium stereate, clogged bowels/liver while I've been suffering from constipation as well besides eating gluten/dairy/egg/nut free. Please look into candida and or parasites as well which I believe may play a big role in this! Flushing with castor oil works wonders in cleaning out the bowels and healing my skin.
Now when it comes to treat it topically:
please please stop using any lotion, ointment, oils natural or not!!! It only spreads the rash further (learned it the hard way).
1. buy some Dead sea salt (make sure it's 100% pure).
2. I usually use a bowl and fill it with warm water, dissolve about 1 tbsp in it.
3. I then wash my face with warm/slightly hot water to open my pores and splash my face with the sea salt water. Yeah it will sting and burn and seem irritated, but a good sign, the yeast is reacting to it.
4. After splashing my face a few times with it, I end washing my face with cold water. Pat dry with a clean towel.
my face actually doesn't feel tight or dry after it at all. If it does I moisturze carefully with a tiny bit of cod liver oil cream.
My redness was decreased almost 100% overnight the next day!!! Do this once in the morning and at night.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Don (Irving, Texas) on 10/05/2012
★★★★★
I really enjoyed reading some of these posts as I have struggled with seb dermatitis for years. Never really new what it was until one day the dermatologist matter of factly told me and gave me some gel for it.
To the point, about 4 months ago I had a food sensitivity test and found out I was mildly sensitive, not intolerant to gluten. I decided to cut it out altogether or at least not eat anything that obviously would contain any significant amounts of gluten. The psoriasis/dermatitis I had on my arm went away within a week of stopping eating gluten. I lost about and inch over my waist and my hair actually began to grow on my head in thinning places. No other reason I can figure for these changes since I had tried many things for months to get rid of the dermatitis, bloating and and the only change was eliminating the gluten. So, I believe that the gluten was most likely a big factor.
The dermatitis on my face which comes and goes but never really goes away totally for long even got better and went away in some areas. This is even with the use of Elidel cream twice daily. After reading these posts I decided to apply ACV to my face morning and night and within three days it has almost all disappeared. I also began taking biotin and probiotics even though I am not sure how much of a factor they have been.
Thanks to the folks here who posted about ACV. I have taken ACV before at times but never used as an astringent on the face. I don't know how long it will have an effect but hopefully I can cut down using it once a day and maybe longer as time goes on. My skin actually looks somewhat normal now. Wooohoo.
Dandruff Shampoo
Posted by Lily (Ny, Usa) on 03/02/2012
★★★★★
I do have PD and try many things like most of u, from pills, creams and many home remedies, but this was what work for me. I started treating my PD as mites or fungal infection. I use dandruff shampoo (which is and anti-fungal shampoo, generic brand for head n shoulder because I have sensitive skin. The lady on this site recommended nizoral- too strong for my skin) to wash my face with it (the first time I letted sit in my face like for ten minutes and I saw a big differece right way) dry all the bumps, ichying was gone. After I rinsed my face and dry it well I applied an anti-fungul cream (oxistat 1% is RX but lotrimin is over the counter) 3 days later big improvement. Now that my condition is better I am going to put lanolin (lanolin is to help heal sore, cracked nipples, fos women that breastfeeding) to help the skin healing process faster (like I said nizoral was to strong for my skin so it buned my skin a little). I hope this help others. I will post later to let u all know how's going. thank u Earthclinic for this site.
Dandruff Shampoo
Posted by Lily (Ny, Usa) on 03/08/2012
Updating I'm my PD. I can happily say my face is 95% clear now. I am still washing my face with dandruff shampoo and applying antifungal cream 3 times a day. There are 2 area (each side of my nose) that still shows a litlle PD. So this morning I applyed an antifungal liquid call NO MORE FUNGUS (sally hansen brand) and wow 3 hours later big different! Please don't give up, keep trying this is what I did untill I found the remedy that worked for me and I am sharing it cuz maybe might work for someone else too. Thank u Earthclinic for this site! :)
Dandruff Shampoo
Posted by Jrheats (Nebraska) on 03/17/2016
★★★☆☆WORKED TEMPORARILY
I have tried dandruff shampoo and apple cider vinegar. After using each a couple times, the dermatitis would flake and seem to clear up with no more bumps present; however, it has returned both times after it had appeared to be gone.
Lily, how did it turn out for you?
Chlorine
Posted by Andream7878 (Knoxville, Tn) on 12/30/2011
★★★★★
I found that chlorine helped- at least that is my best guess- as it was the hot-tub that cleared it up. I know it sounds strange, but mine went away within a month or so just by immersing the lower part of my face into the hot tub each day (sometimes every other day)... I had the POD for a few months- much to my embarrassment and had previously tried the ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar- organic) treatment, externally and internally, as well as eliminating as much of the SLS (Sodium Laurel Sulfates) from use as possible. Perhaps I just didn't get quick enough results, so when I noticed sitting in the hot-tub one time had such a profound effect (when I woke up the next day the whole area had flaked up and revealed improved skin when flakes removed), I just kept doing it. Now, it is completely gone... and the red area where the rash was, is starting to disappear as well.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Martin (Melbourne, Vic) on 12/03/2011
★★★★★
I stumbled across this page as I was also looking for natural remedies for dermatitis as an alternative to the mometesone furoate that I've been applying for years.
What I immediately noticed is that everyone talks about how to control the symptoms, but none of you seem to delve into why it is that you have this condition. I was much the same for many years, as GPs and dermatologists all just kept prescribing corticosteroids and telling me that I will have this the rest of my life, and the best I could do was manage it.
It wasn't until I decided this wasn't acceptable, and did my own research and testing. What I found was that if I overindulged for a series of days, i.e., ate heaps of sweets, junk food and drank alcohol, I would flare up more the usual.
I suspected dairy was my issue, so eliminated it from my diet. Lo and behold, no more dermatitis! I then went to a naturopath who specialises in digestion, and she informed me I had leaky gut and put me on a gut repair program. I also did an igE blood test which tested me against 99 different foods. The results showed I had a strong dairy allergy, followed by yeast, and a few other mild ones. For 6 months I followed a strict elimination diet, and I didn't have a single breakout. I also slimmed down as I was always prone to bloating as a result of the intolerances.
Since then I do lapse occasionally as I suffer from a sweet tooth! And when I do flare up (it takes weeks now to show, instead of days as before) I've been using the mometesone. I wish to stop all together, as I suspect it has affected my fertility - that's a whole other story!
Anyway, I want to share my story, as the more I learn about digestive issues and related intolerances the more I'm fascinated to learn how many effects can be related.
P. S. I also stop snoring if I eliminate the foods I'm intolerant to, which my wife enjoys most of all! :)
Contact Dermatitis
Posted by Debbie (Melbourne, Australia ) on 11/06/2011
Donnalsm, some good ideas to help prevent the symptoms of ezcema and dermatitis but I believe you need to get to the root problem in the first place rather than just treating the symptoms.
I believe that dermatitis and ezcema and many other skin rashes/conditions are caused by Candida/yeast infections. If you only treat the symptoms, the underlying cause is still there. Often antibiotics are the cuprit for getting candida/yeast infections.
Iodine is one of the best ways to cure candida/yeast/fungal infections. If you are lacking in iodine the yeast will take over your body and cause many problems throughout the body. Dr. Orian Truss in 1953 used an Iodine Protocol on many people with many disease problems and cured them. He found that other problems that had plagued them including depression were cured after he gave them iodine. Google him.
Oatmeal Paste Topically
Posted by Lori (Newport, Ri) on 09/29/2011
★★★★★
This has always been my standby for quick relief of contact dermatitis, especially those lttle bumps on the face: Using a mortar and pestle, grind plain old fashioned oats to a fine powder; Mix with enough very warm filterd water to form a paste and apply gently to damp skin that has been washed in a mild fragrance -free cleanser. (Apply after rinsing). Let dry for about a half an hour. Rinse with tepid then cool water and pat dry. Use a mild moisturizer only around eyes and lip balm. At bedtime, rinse with warm then cool water and apply light, fragrance-free moisturizer. Never use a facecloth and soap on face or dry with a towel that has had fabric softener added. Good luck.
Acidophilus, Biotin
Posted by Diane (Ottumwa, Ia) on 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.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Jerry (Cleveland, Ohio) on 06/16/2011
★★★★★
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.
Flaxseed
Posted by Ruthie (Madison, Wisconsin) on 05/25/2011
★★★★★
Flaxseed ground, seems to be an effective treatment to help with the PO dermititis symptoms. I use 1Tbps in a cup of plain yogurt (no added sugar) each morning and evening. High fiber, so drink plenty of water! The oil is an "inner" moisturizer, so I don't put other lotions or aloe on. I also take 1 floragen (acidophilus) in Am and Pm.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Bunnylebowski (Seward, Ne) on 11/12/2011
It's me again... 7 or so months later and still no PD! Try the prosacea stuff! The active ingredient is sulfur.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Vitamin E
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!
Diaper Rash Ointment
Posted by Sasha (Seattle, Wa) on 05/04/2012
★★★★★
I had small bumps on my face and I'm not sure what caused it. Anyhow I was going to go to the store to buy the diaper rash oinment, I looked up the active ingredient in the diaper rash ointment which is no other than Zinc oxide, which I always have on had for summer sun put some on my face and it works!
Diaper Rash Ointment
Posted by Linda (Fl) on 10/29/2015
★★★★★
I was prescribed Mometasone Furoate Cream .1% for a mild case of perioral dermatitus which came and went for 2 months before I went to dermatologist. Used the cream for 4 weeks as directed but the red bumps returned with 2 days. Continued use of cream once a day for another couple of weeks but upon slowing application rash always returned. Stopped cold turkey after I found this site and a closed Facebook group and decided on using non-rx products. My face broke out horribly from stopping steroid cream. Red blisters on sides of chin. Found relief using Butt paste 40% zinc oxide by night and California baby calendula cream by day. No makeup! It's been 3 weeks post steroid and I still have red and flaking spots but the blisters are gone. Please don't use steroid cream. PD can be managed naturally, I am confident of that now.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Ashie D (Makati, Philippines) on 01/25/2011
★★★★★
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!!
Castor Oil
Posted by sac (houston, tx) on 06/23/2009
★★★★★
I had problems for years with some type of dermatitis on my face. I'm not sure what type, but it was around my hairline, eyebrows, and around my nose. I applied castor oil several times per day for several days and it has been clear now for over a year.
Ingredients to Avoid
Posted by Brook (Atlanta, Ga) on 01/26/2011
I disagree with removing silver/mercury containing fillings, and it is irresponsible To Tell people To do that. I have been a dental hygienist for 25 years. Silver fillings have been declared to be safe by the American Dental Assoc. Many dentists refuse to do silver in favor of white composite types because they can charge the patient alot more for White composite fillings, and because the life span of one is 2-5 years vs. 30-40 for a silver filling. The Risk from mercury toxicity from removing the silver filling are much greater that leaving it in there. Not to mention that every time a filling is removed it must be replaced by a bigger one that removes even more tooth structure and weakens the tooth more. And dentists know this!
White fillings are a big increase in a dentist's production. Dentists who refuse to do silver fillings are very close to being considered unethical in my opinion, and I wouln't trust them.
