Seberrohic dermatitis

[BG2015]

I've had this in my ears, back of scalp and on my face to varying degrees over the past 18 months.

Ive had all the shampoos, ointments, creams from my GP (about 6 so far) and it just grumbles away in the background making me miserable. I cope with it but it's awful.

Im 57 and after breast cancer have been on an aromatase inhibited (Exemestane) to stop cancer reaccurance so I'm presuming my skin is now reacting (after 4 years of Exemestane) to the lack of oestrogen in my body.

Don't know if my GP has made the link but this weekend my face has been on fire - the SD is the worst it's ever been. I've got another appointment to see the GP later today and I'm going to push to be referred to a dermatologist as this needs addressing. I've got another 6 years of these tablets.

Anyone successfully had this treated - or at least made bearable.

I had this a few years ago, not as bad as tours - just around the sides of the nose and mouth and possibly eyebrows.
Did the usual thing of steroid cream only for it to come back which I gather is how it normally goes.
This sounds totally woo but I found a solution on the web (obviously) and it’s never come back (as I say, mine was no means a bad case).
It basically involves applying a mask of raw honey mixed with spring (bottled) water every couple of evenings and leaving if on for three hours before rinsing off. You use only the honey to cleanse, and I think no moistureiser for the duration (my skin is dry and I live for moisturiser but it was fine with this).
Ten years ago I came across it on some sort of seb derm forum with one particular poster recommending it; now it looks as if it’s been researched and is mentioned on various medical websites.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11485891/

https://kashmiril.com/blogs/journal/raw-honey-for-seborrheic-dermatitis

I’m sure google will supply you with much more information; mine has never come back 🤞.

Be warned though - it itches like mad but that’s a sign it’s working!

Have you tried coal tar shampoo? That's the only thing that worked for me. It took a few weeks using the shampoo three times a week.

Also Moogoo scalp cream is good once it’s cleared, plus their shampoo.

I've had :
Nizoral 2% shampoo
Capasal Shampoo
Betacap scalp lotion

Nizoral 2% cream
Aproderm oat cream

Hydromol ointment

Otomize for my ears - all prescribed by the dr.

Ive also bough various dandruff, coal tar shampoos, stuff people have recommended online - castor oil, olive oil based stuff etc doesn't touch it.

I've tried removing stuff from my diet but nothing makes any difference.

It's definitely hormone triggered. If I could twist my head off I would.

I get the cradle cap scales on my head. I use bicarb, teaspoon in a cup of warm water.

@sunnydayyzz in a paste? Do you leave it on then wash off

I've had this. I now wash my hair every day (otherwise it gets greasy and itchy) and use Faith in Nature shampoo (currently using the balancing one) and Aussie detangling conditioner. I know you said you've tried nizoral shampoo. That works for me, if I feel my scalp starting to itch I use that once in a while.

I had it on my forehead too and a small bit of Protopic got rid of it.

I have very dry, thick coarse hair and washing and drying my hair takes forever. It's now in a short bob so this does speed things up but I've never washed my hair everyday. I can go 3-4 days without washing it.

But I find now if I don't use the Nizoral shampoo every other day my scalp is so itchy. I use the Capasal too then wash it with normal shampoo as the smell of the shampoo is awful.

This serum has worked wonders for DH.

www.sebskincare.com/products/calming-serum?

@Sacredhare yes I ordered this earlier in the year but it didn't do anything to help. I've just pulled it out of the cupboard to try it again on my scalp.

Saw a dr this afternoon (not a GP I like unfortunately) she was totally unsympathetic and said "oh it's only a mild case" - not where I'm sitting love! She asked if I was stressed nd I told her I'm retired, I'm not stressed. Then, tried to blame it on the weather 🙄

Ive got hydrocortisone cream and they won't prescribe Nizoral shampoo anymore so had to buy some (I get free prescriptions).

DS has had good results using Jason’s shampoo and conditioner (avail from Amazon)

Thank you for this!

Where did you buy your honey from? I've googled it and Sainsburys and Tesco both sell raw, cold extracted honey. We don't have a Waitrose near us

With SD you are meant to was scalp every day.

I use the Bodyshop ginger shampoo. It’s usually only on my scalp but sometimes it pops up in my eyebrows and ears so when that happens I wash my face with it too.

Hi OP, I'm sorry to hear you're suffering. I've had seb derm for years, face and scalp. My GP prescribes me an 8 week course of doxycycline now and again, in fact I'm on it at the moment. It's used as an anti inflammatory for severe flares and it does help. Arrange to see the GP you most trust, even if you have to wait a few weeks, and ask them either to prescribe the doxycycline themselves, or refer you to a dermatologist.

I've taken a screenshot that describes the protocol, and near the bottom you'll see it mentions selenium sulfide. Have you heard of Selsun, a line of shampoos? The only type of Selsun that works for seb derm isn't sold in the UK or Europe anymore, sadly. It was banned years ago. There are sellers flogging other formulations of Selsun who claim their type works for seb derm. Trust me, it doesn't. Look at the other screenshot I've posted and you'll see the one to look out for. I've only ever been able to get hold of it on ebay, and it's pricey, but the shampoo is very thin and goes a long way. I use it mostly on my face after dampening my skin a little, and leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes. It doesn't smell great (the sulfide!) but it really helps calm mine down so that it's not itchy and a lot of the redness subsides. Once you've got the seb derm under control - I'd say do an application once a day for 3 or 4 days initially - you can then use it a couple of times a week to keep it at bay.

There's no cure for seb derm unfortunately and a lot of what's claimed to treat it effectively is rubbish. The money I've wasted over the years! 🫣

I tried the honey thing once for my SD and it dripped into my ears and I had a terrible ear infection, just to warn you.

i tried all the Nizoral etc. shampoos, but someone on MN recommended Revolution Hair Salicylic Scalp Clarifying shampoo, and I have never looked back. You can only buy it online now, I believe.

Good luck!

Have you tried diprosalic lotion on your scalp? It works wonders on the extremely itchy eczema that flares up on the nape of my neck when I'm under a lot of stress. It's not greasy and works pretty quickly.