Help me with my ears and hair line please

[Workyticket]

I'm slowly but surely sorting out my skin care and diet.

My nemesis is the skin in and around my ears and in the hairline behind my ears.

It's awful - scaly and flakey (awful I know)

I've tried loads of shampoos and moisturisers and now I'm turning to you lovely lot to see if there's anything else I can try?

If moisturisers aren't fixing your dry flaky skin then it might be eczema. My sister had very dry flaky skin around her eyes and steroid cream cleared it up. It was mild eczema. And can be caused by an allergy to certain products.

Try a very thin layer of hydrocortisone cream (OTC from any pharmacy). If it doesn't clear after ten days, see your doctor. You probably need a specialised treatment or referral to a dermatologist.

Perhaps try some dietary changes, cut out dairy for a start and see if that helps. Wheat, citrus, soy are other possible culprits. Try some gentle exfoliation as well, perhaps one of chemical ones (BHA etc).

If you ask a pharmacist for steroid cream for your face they are not allowed to sell it to you it's for your leg right?

Hydrocortisone would be fine to try for a week or two, even if it's the wrong treatment in the end - speak to your GP then if no better.

Fungal infections can also look like eczema & steroid creams would seem to help those at first, although anti fungal cream would be needed.

You can put a low concentration steroid cream on your face, that's what hydrocortisone is. Go for a mild one (0.1%)

Pp's right, it shouldn't be used regularly on your face so only use for a short period. Corticosteroids treat any itching swelling or irritation including eczema, dermatitis, allergic rashes or reactions but use sparingly.

Thank you - im getting married in july and desperately want to sort it. I need a hair cut and colour and it's putting me off going.

It's come and gone for years but it's quite bad at the moment

Have you tried moogoo? Worth a look if not, they do a scalp cream

Is it psoriasis? Have you seen the dr?

@HeraInTheHereAndNow

Is it psoriasis? Have you seen the dr?

Not seen a doctor- no chance of an appointment here either

@QueenPaw

Have you tried moogoo? Worth a look if not, they do a scalp cream

Just got this for the same problem and its working very nicely.

@HeraInTheHereAndNow

Is it psoriasis? Have you seen the dr?

That was my first thought too - mine started off just like this. Would it be possible to send pics to the surgery at all?

One of my teens had something like this and it turned out to be a fungal infection. Had to get a shampoo prescribed. If shampoo like coal tar or nizoral haven't helped you, you need something on prescription. Is your GP doing telephone appointments? Could you request a prescription over the phone?

My mum had psoriasis. When she was stressed, her ears were just like this.

Insist on a GP appointment. Even in full-on lockdown, we could see GPs when needed. We keep being told that “Your NHS is still here for you”. Bloody tell ‘em! 🤬

thanks everyone - it might be psoriasis. I can't see it but it feels terrible.

I'm a picker gross which I need to stop

Dp just suggested it might be my earings. They're stainless steel hoops (anything else irritates) I'm going to take them out and see if it is!

Could it be your shampoo that’s causing it? Maybe you’re allergic/sensitive to an ingredient.

I had this. I was constantly peeling flakes of skin off behind my ears. It was so itchy too

I switched to a shampoo without SLS or parabens and it soon improved. I use Faith in Nature but there are plenty of others

@Tisforptarmigan

I had this. I was constantly peeling flakes of skin off behind my ears. It was so itchy too

I switched to a shampoo without SLS or parabens and it soon improved. I use Faith in Nature but there are plenty of others

Not tried that - will have a look online for it. Thank you!

I use Selsun medicated shampoo when mine is bad like this - huge chunks of flaky skin off my hairline. It's sorted me right out. You can get it behind the counter in boots, doesn't need to be prescribed. I wish I'd found it years ago!

Just be warned that after the first use or two my scalp was obviously 'detoxing' and my hair was full of loose flakes - but then it cleared up beautifully so it's worth sticking with!

You need to see a dermatologist.