perioral dermatitis

[sunnyblue]

does anyone have experience with POD?

I think this is what I have and I look awful.

Seen GP 3 times so far. GP says she isn't sure what it is but doesn't think it's POD (not sure why - it looks exactly like the pics I found online).

She just keeps prescribing hydrocortisone cream which makes it worse. I used it for 8 days and I looked a million times worse afterwards than before. She told me I didn't take it long enough and I need to keep taking it (but I cannot, it just aggravates things). I have been also advised to moisturise, moisturise, moisture but this makes it worse too. The GP is of no use, clearly does not know what I have and how to treat it but refused a dermatology referral.

I look awful and whatever it is it's getting worse. I look awful.

are there any home remedies I could try (if it were indeed POD)? I am completely desperate.

[CQCnamechange]

Have a look at Nadine Baggot (beauty blogger). She recently did a video about it.

[sunnyblue]

I really think I need the ABs to clear it. either as cream or tablet. I have saved link on my phone with POD including pics... will show it when I go there next time. I am seeing yet another GP. Fingers crossed I walk out with something else than cortisone/steroid cream.

I am also saving up for a private appointment if all fails. Should have the cash together by early 2020

[pippyloo123]

www.dermcoll.edu.au/atoz/perioral-dermatitis/

Just found this. Might help.

[pippyloo123]

I haven't read the full thread. My daughter had peri oral dermatitis. The first GP ordered steroid cream and it got worse. Saw another GP who had a special interest in dermatology who said that steroid creams make peri oral dermatitis worse and prescribed erythromycin gel. It cleared up quickly with this. It came back two or three times but cleared again using the gel. She hasn't had it for years now fingers crossed.

[ElizabethinherGermanGarden]

Bugger.

[sunnyblue]

nope :(

I am putting nothing on right now to see if things settle. don't think it's working either.

I have another GP appointment in a week. I am not hopeful but will see.

[ElizabethinherGermanGarden]

@sunnyblue How's it coming along? Any improvement?

[sunnyblue]

nil, canesten is for fungal infections. I tried it too but didn't make a difference sadly.

[nilcarborundum]

Haven't read all the comments but my daughter had this and got rid of it with Canetsten cream x

[WhoWants2Know]

I've had this flare up a couple of times, and in the end it went away when I changed to kids fruit toothpaste. For me, it seems to have been the mint that caused it.

[MilsCookie]

If you do decide to try tea tree oil just don’t put too much on! But it definitely helped me.

It amazes me that so many of us suffer with this condition yet we have all tried so many different creams and remedies. I wish there was one clear answer!

[ElizabethinherGermanGarden]

Hope it gets better soon.

[sunnyblue]

thanks Elizabeth, I googled it and think.a friend is using it..I will just ask her to fill me some into a bottle.

thanks ellen, will have a look...

[EllenRipley]

Nelsons is good. Weleda do one too I think. Basically any brand that's got a high calendula content and fewest excipients.

[NaToth]

Dermol is amazing stuff. The only thing that keeps my pompholyx under control.

[ElizabethinherGermanGarden]

Weird as this makes me sound, if you want to DM me your address, I will decant a bit of dermol and send you some - I've got to buy a big bottle anyway and, as I said, it lasts years. You could see if it helps, then. I realise I'm an internet stranger...

[sunnyblue]

I stopped using anything. It's not getting worse as under the hydrocortisone but not going away either.

i think I will have to wait to see the GP again and hopefully get ABs or a correct diagnosis of some sorts

[ElizabethinherGermanGarden]

Re Cetaphil - it has alcohol in it, I think, for toner/getting really clean, so might be a bit harsh for the blisters until they're a bit better.

[ElizabethinherGermanGarden]

Actually, if you are really short of money, you could just try a short while - say 3-5 days - with absolutely nothing at all and see whether you start to see any healing before you buy something new. 'First, do no harm...'

[ElizabethinherGermanGarden]

I don't know - I use cetaphil now and love it but hadn't heard of it while I was in the dermatitis phase. I was told by a GP that the rash was actually caused by the hydrocortisone and that it's a known side effect so stopped using anything other than the dermol for two weeks and it cleared up completely in that time. I have found that dermol also worked well as a hot cloth cleanser for taking off make up, although I toughed it out without make up for the first few days and just had my hair over my face a bit.

Poor you having a bigger patch - I used to find it really stung/itched/burned when it was at its worst. Hope you get it cleared up. Just put the HC in the bin and that's a good start.

[alwaysgoodenough]

I got it in my early forties. Friend got it and she's heading for her fifties!

[sunnyblue]

Elizabeth, looks very similar with the redness and blisters. just a much bigger area, not just a small patch...

I cleanse my face now with cetaphil (I used the oil cleansing method before did a decade without issue). Is cetaphil any good for cleansing POD or is it the wrong product. It cost me £8, I spent £27 on prescription charges for the cortisone crap and fucidine. I am pretty short of money and cannot just try one thing after another.

If cetaphil is ok for cleansing I will stick with it but I worry that it's the wrong product too if that makes sense .

I have another GP appointment in 2 weeks. I have bookmarked the websites which show pics of my condition and will show it to them and ask for ABs.

[ElizabethinherGermanGarden]

This is what mine looked like all the time - similar?

[ElizabethinherGermanGarden]

I had this for four years, treating - as you were - with hydrocortisone, which was actually causing/worsening it.

Stop all the harsh treatments (don't go near the tea tree oil unless you're prepared for the burn) and get yourself a big bottle of dermol lotion. It is soothing for the itch, light textured so doesn't clump around the blisters and will clear it up within ten days - two weeks. You can get it from the pharmacy and it's about £12 for a massive bottle.

I have not had any recurrence of the dermatitis since that first intensive course and like dermol so much that I've continued to use it as my main facial moisturiser from then on. That's two years now and I've just finished the first enormous bottle.

I bang on about it all the time but it genuinely is a wondrous product and has changed my life. Those blisters are the worst and make you feel so rotten about yourself. It's worth starting on a Friday when you have a quiet weekend so you can go make up free for a couple of days, too.

[Haggisfish]

Print out what you think it is and go back and ask for the antibiotics. Seriously don’t just say oh well! Or register with a different Gp practise.