Has anyone had & cured dermatitis?

[LadyMaryofDownt0n]

I've some how ended up with facial dermatitis. It's awful looking, very itchy & it's very hard to hide with makeup. Which I only wear when at work (16 hrs pw).

I've always had really good skin, I never even get spots. So this is totally out if the blue & it's really getting me down.

I've been to the doctor but I've been given an antibiotic cream, which am not convinced is working. Any treatments/cures or ideas to what might have caused this is most welcome.

[bakewelltarte]

I recommend Aveeno moisturising cream - the one with active colloidal oatmeal. (Available in Boots and bigger supermarkets)

I was on various steroid creams for years for eczema and psoriasis until my pharmacist recommended this - I use it every day and have not had a prescription for steroid creams since!

[KatharinaRosalie]

Perioral dermatitis, around mouth and nose? I struggled with it since I was a teenager, and I think I have finally managed to conquer it with a combination of:

• antibiotic creme. I was prescribed Rozex (metronidazole) and it does work, but the first time I was prescribed it, it did take a while and it got worse before it got better. Keep using it and stay away from steroid creams.

• one of those acne lamps. I had Lumie Clear but there are similar ones available. My dermatitis always improved in the summer, so I figured that sunlight had something to do with it, and it does work.

• only using products for sensitive skin - mine always flared up if skin got irritated.

I haven't had a flare up in years. If I feel that chin is a little itchy, I use the cream or the lamp, and it goes away.

[TollgateDebs]

They thought I had this, and it was awful, but given I am allergic to aspirin thought they'd check whether I might have had an allergic reaction and advised me to stop any medication, which was Ramipril for high blood pressure at the time, just in case allergic to that!

First thing the allergy specialist said was that I could have had a mild reaction to something and Ramipril acts as an accelerant, so would have made a mild reaction considerably worse. Then he highlighted that as I react to aspirin that I am probably salicylate intolerant and that could have caused it too! So no more ramipril and care with diet, as you cannot cut salicylates from diet. I also used sugar / olive oil on my chin, which I read about and it helped. Time really and awareness that salicylates are in what you eat, touch and it goes on, so I wear gloves and am aware of foods that are high in salicylate, so have to balance things out during the day.

[Higge]

Use aveeno on your skin, sls free shampoo and soaps, lower stress, plenty of veg and good fats, enough sleep and exercise.

[LadyMaryofDownt0n]

Thanks for the replies. The cream I was given is called Anabact, I dint think it's specifically for dermatitis but it is an Antiback. The redness around my mouth isn't as bad, it's fading slowly. It's mostly the bumps that are still there & lots of dry/ red/bumps around my nostrils.

I have been very stressed for the last few months, maybe that contributed to it. I also changed my foundation, could that be a factor?

Not on any meds so not a reaction to that.

I did ask the doctor if there was anything holistically I could do i.e. change my diet etc but she disagreed..... surly it could be a factor. I dont eat very well at the min because of the stress I grab crap an go.

[LadyMaryofDownt0n]

I'll def try the products you've all suggested thank you. It's great to get advice from ppl in the same boat.

[maitaimojito]

I have been suffering with this recently too. I've been scouring the Internet and have seen a lot of good reports re using apple cider vinegar and zinc oxide cream (such as Sudocrem).

I've only used them for a couple of days but some of the redness and flakiness seems to have gone away. I still have the bumps and more have formed but I'm hoping it will completely clear at some point.

Some people have said theirs has gone on for months or years and the thought of it is awful.

[Love2dance]

I contracted dermatiitis on my hands after a period of stress and over-exposure to skin irritants. What Higge says worked for me. Once it calmed down with steroid cream I stopped using soap and sls shower cream and used E45 shower cream instead. Cetaphil is a very gentle facial cleanser. For some reason I couldn't handle raw chicken, fish or tomatoes. Even before it had gone the Aveeno really helped. They do an eczema cream which is stronger than the normal hand cream and which was amazing, even though I didn't actually have eczema. I originally bought it in the USA but found it hard to track down here, but it might be more widely available now.

I have also had something similar on my face by my hairline. A dermatologist recommended Eumovate cream, which is available over the counter and I was able to use it in that area. It did really help to calm things down.

[Love2dance]

P.S. if you are short of time re food, it's worth investing in a decent Nutri-bullet/Nutri-Ninja type thing so you can blend several fruit and veg in one go and have one quickly with or for breakfast. E.G, banana, Kale, frozen berries, 3 tbs oats plus almond milk. They are quick and easy to use. I found my skin improved and I got less colds.

[Higge]

GPs know very little about skin, unless they have a particular interest you will find better quality info from googling. Diet is so important to skin - it's one of the first places a deficiency will show.
It sounds to me like stress has been the stimulating factor in your condition. It will take a while to get rid, even when your stress levels are low. Pay attention to how it feels, try not to wear make up - it gets stuck in the flakes and can just look worse - carry a tube of moisturiser and keep it comfortable, it will hurt like hell if it gets over dry.
Love2dance I agree Aveeno's Eczema Therapy Cream is amazing - they sell it on Amazon - it's expensive though.

www.amazon.co.uk/Aveeno-Active-Naturals-Therapy-Moisturizing/dp/B003O7IBZC?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[KatharinaRosalie]

Anabact is also metronidazole - so your doc at least seems to know the stuff and wouldn't prescribe steroids like my first one did. Steroids will actually make it worse, so you definitely don't want to use that.

If it's serious, you might also need oral antibiotics, but in my case, the cream helped quite nicely.
www.dermnetnz.org/acne/perioral-dermatitis.html

[Higge]

Anti-biotic cream will work if you have a bacterial infection on the skin, you will still have a rash though, it might also have an anti inflammatory effect, otherwise it's pretty useless.
Steriods are the stuff of the gods when it comes to eczema/dermatitus but you do a deal with the devil as they can have very unpleasant side effects and I'm suggesting you take them for your skin - but I had some for another condition last year and omg my skin was perfect after using them - my nephew has the same lovely side effect.

[Higge]

Sorry didn't read your update on it being perioral - I know nothing about that type - forget what I said about steroids and antibiotic cream.

[KatharinaRosalie]

Steroids work very nicely for some rashes and skin problems. If OP in fact does have perioral dermatitis, they would actually trigger it though, and should definitely not be used.

[KatharinaRosalie]

cross post

[iwannadancewithsomebody]

I had this a few years back, when I was extremely stressed. I was given something by the doctor but can't remember exactly what. It didn't do much good though.

Once the stress was reduced, it cleared up. It does flare up from time to time when I'm stressed.

It's horrible, made me very self conscious and I couldn't wear make up as it emphasised it.

Look after yourself

[HippyChickMama]

I suffered for years from dermatitis on my face. I was referred to a dermatologist and had patch testing. It turned out that I was allergic to lots of things used in skin products including arnica. I took antihistamine tablets, changed to make up that didn't include any of the allergens and started using Dream Cream from Lush (although it's not specifically for facial use). I've now got the clearest skin I've ever had.

[Solo]

I haven't got time to read everything here in full, but could you have an allergy to something?
My Mum recently refused a whisky and when I asked why she said her hands had not 'been bad' since she stopped drinking it. By sheer coincidence, a week or so later I had a whisky floater and my previously clear fingertips broke out, having not had a problem for a very long time. Clearly to me I also have an allergic reaction to whisky. I rarely drink alcohol these days and thought my dermatitis was an allergy to my previous works keys as I hadn't had a problem since leaving, but after Mum saying it and my breakout, I think it must be an allergy. Maybe you have one too OP?

[KatharinaRosalie]

Just to show that it can be cured - the first photo is not me, but this is exactly what I looked like. People were commenting, asking why I have red moustache etc.
The second photo was taken a minute ago, no editing, no make up.

[Love2dance]

I'm really sorry to hear you're feeling down LadyMary. It will be a matter of trial and error. It may seem like it's never going to change but it won't always be this way. [Flowers]

At one stage I ended up speaking to a nutritional adviser about foods which can cause or contribute to the inflammation process (I also had chronic sinus problems, but that's another story). It was all too restrictive for me (2 x DS and a DH who is a reluctant healthy eater). Basically, it was no to dairy and even soya. No to mushrooms and I can't remember the rest. Lots of water, fresh fruit and veg did help.

I tell the following story only to give you an example of how stress and skin conditions can be linked (IMO). My first ever bout of dermatitis happened just before Valentines day 12 years ago when I was working away from home and had a near fatal car crash. Apart from a bit of whiplash, minor cuts and some aches and bruises I was physically fine, but was very lucky. No tears or hysterics as I was trying to hold it together and was expected to go back to work a couple of days later. But I got the most awful rash on the forehead and hairline. I guess I must have internalised the stress and shock I was feeling. I was away from my GP in rural Norfolk and begged a pharmacist in Kings Lynn to sell me some mild steroid cream. After a week or so my hair started to fall out at the rash site. It was the year I got married and by the time of the wedding 5 months later it hadn't all grown back, so I had to have hair extension pieces put in so I didn't look bald at the front! But, it did improve. For a while whenever I got stressed the dermatitis would flare up again in that area but that doesn't happen now. Although I am very far from being a new agey/alternative health enthusiast, my DH knew someone who was an alternative health practitioner. I wish I could remember what was in it, but I bought an oil (containing some essential oils) which, although not what I would have used for dermatitis, really helped a lot. I don't know enough about this stuff to say whether the oils used were anti-inflammatory, but it was great because I could use it on my face. I don't know if DH would recall her name, but I can ask if you like and see if I can Google her.

Take care.

[Love2dance]

oops!

[LadyMaryofDownt0n]

Ah thank you all so much, your all lovely & I mean that from the bottom of my heart.

Kath, thanks for the pics. It's great to see how fab your skin is & hopefully mine will clear up as good as that. I long for the lovely clear skin I had.

I did have a very bad time at work just after Christmas, which caused a lot if stress, so it's very possible that stress caused it. It just happened to coincide with a new foundation that I'd never tried before. I haven't used it since & I've sterilised all my makeup brushes. (It was Makeup forever hd the new edition).

Love, thank you very much. That info is great. Am going to see a holistic healer/raw food specialist tonight at 6. She's apparently very good, I am travelling over an hr away to see her. Fingers crossed she can help. My DH wouldn't be a very heathy eater so it's difficult to get everyone on board with a lifestyle change, albeit a small one.

I am in Ireland but if I could buy the oils online I would deffo consider it, thanks again.

[maitaimojito]

If anyone is stuck for something else to try, I've found that mine has now almost disappeared after 3 days of using Calendula cream (bought from Amazon).

[maybemyrtle]

If it's greasy but also flakey and itchy, and focussed around your nose, perhaps around eyebrows/naso-labial folds, it could be seborrheic (sp?) dermatitis. My father gets this and I did for a bit, always in winter (think sunlight helps) and usually when life was especially stressy. In my case it was also triggered by using Retin-a. Mine went away with a very light dab of steroid cream daily, taking out anything at all harsh so no exfoliation at all, and patience. Hope it resolves quickly for you.