My skin - I'm in despair

[GiraffeFluff]

For the last seven months I've had patches of extremely dry, red, flaky skin on my face. Now it's spread and it looks awful. The red areas are down the whole 'middle' of my face - between eyebrows, around nose, chin and between mouth and nose. Makeup helps a bit but the foundation or concealer sits in the dryness and looks flaky (but less red than without any makeup).

I've been to the doctor three times and had the following:
Betnovate cream (did nothing)
Hydrocortisone cream (helped for a while but now does nothing)
Metranidizole cream for rosacea

It doesn't look like rosacea to me as it's not raised or lumpy. If anything it looks like eczema or dermatitis.

I've also tried - sudocreme, E45, Elizabeth Arden 8hr cream, vaseline, Aveeno and nothing makes any difference.

Help!!!!!

www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150508-these-mites-live-on-your-face

Ask about rosacea.

The bane of my life atm. Rough, red, bumpy skin interspersed with lumpy cystic zits.

www.google.co.uk/search?q=acne+rosacea&client=ms-android-samsung&source=android-browser&dcr=0&prmd=ivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiWzci9_LjWAhUBD8AKHUcWCoIQ_AUICSgB&biw=360&bih=512

Thanks again everyone. Skin is also very itchy today and the Rosacea cream seems to be making it worse, not better...but I'll give it a chance anyway then will go back to doc and get a dermo referral. It'll be quite quick here, luckily (not in UK).

Am now slathered in E45 as it's just so dry and flaky!
Skin is such a complex organ and it's so hard to diagnose a problem with it!
Interesting re the thyroid digestion...I thought an under active thyroid led to weight loss, which I certainly haven't experienced. Will ask the doc.

Thank you Picklemepopcorn, I had never heard of this before.

Overactive thyroid gives weight loss. My kind is the weight gain kind, of course!

I'd also be looking at your diet...maybe cut down on milk/cheese for a while and see if that makes a difference

Is it spreading? Could it be impetigo? If so with the right cream it clears in a matter of 48 hours.
Does it itch? Try an antihistamine if so, helps sometimes.

Stupid question alert. Doesn't cetaphil have to be rinsed off?
I would pester to see a dermatologist.

It might help to focus on prevention rather than cure. This will be a longer term thing.

I can drop an antihistamine and use creams to try and reduce my eczema but if I take evening primrose oil and avoid stress (one can but try), it eventually sods off. And the fewer products I use, the better.

It is a confidence destroyer though. You have my sympathy.

If you have a Lush shop near you go and ask for a free sample of their Dream Cream. DD's skin problems of eczema and a friend's psoriasis have cleared up with this cream. Might be worth a go.

I highly recommend Glad Skin. I have had loads of problems with the skin on my face (my GP was so puzzled he sent me to a consultant dermatologist who diagnosed eczema and rosacea). Hydrocortisone did get it under control but it wasn't long term solution.
My mum has similarly sensitive skin and her GP recommended Glad Skin Gel (I bought it from amazon). It is gentle and not greasy - brilliant for me as I have a fringe which was a nightmare with heavy creams - and it has kept my skin at bay. No more itching and dry flaky patches. Might not work for everyone but has changed my life day to day, it's such a relief. Other thing is I now (on the consultant's recommendation) take an antihistamine every day,

Stop trying lotions and potions and get to the crux of the matter CHANGE YOUR DIET! A strict diet of fruit, veg, lean meats or none depending on if your veggie or not. Cut the dairy, wheat, sugar. You will be miraculously cured, but it may take some time, but will 100% work.

Is it just on your face? I had this and it was an allergy to the foundation I'd been using for years which apparently can happen in rare occasions.

Wow - so many replies to catch up with - thank you all so much

Shit - does Cetaphil have to be rinsed off? I wipe it off with a cotton pad

Will reply to others tomorrow.

To the poster who asked if it's just on my face - yes. It's in a 'strip' down my face, eyebrow area, around nose and sides of my chin.

Oh goodness yes Cetaphil has to be rinsed off!! That's the equivilant of leaving soap on your face ! No wonder you're sore. Be careful with it,I find it super irritating for my skin.

I quite like ultrabland from Lush. Very oily. Or Camomile Cleansing Balm from Body Shop.
If it IS eczema the best thing to do is find an emollient that works. I use diprobase. Bizarrely Nivea is good. Or Elizabeth Arden's 8 hour cream. Kids use dermol. Mum uses Doublebase.
Ask about protopic too.
I'm weaning off steroids my skin is so bad and waiting for allergy testing.

Really sounds/looks like seborrheic dermatitis to me

Go to your Doctor and ask for a referral to a Dermatologist at hospital. Don't take no for an answer.

Right - no more Cetaphil - I'm trying to avoid water on face to stop it drying any further. I've got some body shop cleansing butter so I'll use that.
And yes, I've decided to go back to doc and get dermo referral.

This is how it looks today you can see my 'normal' skin and the contrast of the red skin.

I can't see the wood for the trees now and I don't know what to put on it right now to ease the dryness, soreness and itching. Vaseline?!!!

My GP suggested using Nizoral shampoo (antifungal) as a face wash when I had an irritating skin complaint. So dilute it in the shower and leave the suds on your face for a few minutes. Worked a treat.

I know you've had an anti-fungal cream but just putting that out there.

Thanks Deux.
Right - after a bit more research I'm wondering if the Cetaphil could be the culprit. Firstly as I haven't been washing it off and secondly as I've read it can not agree with some people's skin.
So - in hope - I went to a pharmacy and bought the gentlest Avene micellaire water, and Avene Skin Recovery Cream and I'm going to use nothing else for a few days and see what happens.
I'll report back and THANK YOU so much for all the suggestions, support and replies!

Hi I work with someone who suffers with the same. She has eczema. Despite all the creams the only thing that helps her is steroids and it then goes in 3-4 days and her skin is lovely again.

E45 is dreadful stuff I would stop using that.
Eucerin 10% urea cream is brilliant as is the aquaphor.
I know someone whose skin looked like yours and she has cut out wheat with good results.
But yes short term switch creams to eucerin or epaderm ( which you can use as cleanser too) but go back to gp for a referral too.