Help me with my **possible** perioral dermatitis

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to post an update and comment on a few of the recent discussion points.

I've been using zinc cream (first I used organic diaper cream but then switched to Cicalfate) for about a week now, and I have seen some good results. Thanks Fiona and all who recommended this! Overall redness is down and I'm getting fewer red bumps each day. I notice as well that these bumps are fading more quickly. So, I will keep this up. I'm using the Cicalfate at night in addition to daily yogurt masks which I'm convinced are beneficial for my PD. Other than this, I only wash my face with water.

Interestingly, I too am severely anemic. Last year my iron level was ridiculously low, and I was put on daily supplement of Ferrous Sulfate. However, when I got PD I had been supplementing for many months, so I don't know how deficient I could have been at that time. Still, the iron deficiency link is interesting. I think too that I am overall mineral deficient. I have suffered with chronic heart palpitations for many years until I started supplementing with magnesium and now those annoyances are pretty much resolved. Hence, I am seriously supplementing with zinc, calcium and other essential minerals.

I saw my GP today for the first time since I developed PD almost 5 months ago. We had an interesting discussion. He told me that he also gets PD during the winter months and manages it with a simple topical of OTC cortisone (1% low dose) mixed with petroleum jelly to achieve a 50/50 strength of the cortisone. This is what he recommended I try. In response, I told him that that treatment went against the emerging wisdom on how to deal with this condition and that steroid use is often implicated as the CAUSE of PD. He replied that the idea that that low of a dose of an OTC cortisone could cause PD or any lasting damage or even any rebound flare up would be absurd. He did agree that stronger prescription strength steroids should be avoided. Hmmmmm....

I also asked about the whole leaky gut angle. His response was that if leaky gut truly existed (to the degree described by Harry) we would all be in the intensive care unit. He believes the whole leaky gut idea as the source of all these ailments is a dramatic hijacking of a more limited medical issue. I am somewhat inclined to agree Coconutlover that if I had leaky gut as discussed here I would be experiencing vast and profound symptoms, which I am not. I have no allergies, no arthritis, no bloating, no digestion problems, no headaches. I never even get a cold. Just some mineral deficiencies and the dang rash.

All said, I STILL went out today and got enzymes. I don't believe they will do any harm and I'm following the probiotics and AVC protocol anyway, so why not??

Thanks for great discussion everyone. Let's keep hammering away.

Jennifer

Hey Jennifer, I'm running out the door but wanted to say, very interesting post. Want to go over it in more depth when I get back.

As I mentioned earlier, I'm anemic and have always had irregular heartbeat and problems with palpitations. Doctor fitted me with a heart recording device to track my heart function over a 24 hour period a long time ago and just told me that I had an irregular heartbeat.

I have always chalked up the palpitations to weakness that I feel when my iron levels are low. In other words, my heart working overtime to keep me standing. Sounds so naive but that's what I always thought.

Wonderful post

Hey I'm new to all this but I just wanted to give my tips and get tips about dealing with eczema, I used to have eczema when I was little and that seemed to have disappeared I am now 23 and for the last year or so it has come back and never left the whole time, throughout this year i have been back and fore the doctors and have been out on numerous things that don't seen to have been working as well as I wanted.. Fucibet, betnovate, hydromol, dermol and so on.. Until a few days ago when it got so bad doctors where reluctant to refer me to a dermatologist by this time it got so bad that 2 days ago I ended up in a&e for them to tell me they couldn't do anything but refer me back to my GP.. This has now speeded up the process and I have now got my appointment next Tuesday.. Within these lady few days I thought I'd quit with all this medication that I have been prescribed and took a shot with my own instinct.. I bath with either sea salt or radox herbal bath salts which leave my skin feeling revitalised and not itchy then follow that with palmers coco butter to soften my skin, this is the best I have felt in ages and my inflammation has gone down.. This night not help everyone but it's helped me so I wanted to share.. Please let me know of this helps anyone else thank you xxx

Hi,

I would like to start by saying that the offer of Funding for coconutlover is genuine, I would love to help you out and prove to a complete stranger that this theory is not Wacko as some GP's would like you to believe.

I had PD myself and I also had Gout. Im talking about Ten Years ago. The People that know me personally would all probably say "Go and ask Harry as He knows everything" A Know it all I hear you say, well I have researched my ailments and CURED THEM ALL, including Brain Fog, Joint Pain and Severe Anxiety. and I didn't use ONE Pharmaceutical product.

Ask yourself this.. If I am right by what I have told you, What would I stand to Gain and What would You stand to Loose by Taking my advise?

Now think about what the GP said.

What would He stand to loose by you taking my advice?

Alternative Medicine is always going to upset a Pharmaceutically educated GP, there is no getting around that, but surely its about YOU and what is Best for YOU.

Ask yourself WHY am I giving you this information in the First Place? I will Tell You straight, Its because I've been through the Mill and was NOT IMPRESSED. I decided to research my Ailments and my findings cured ALL my problems.

Should I then look at all the posts of desperate People asking for help and ignore them?

Absolutely Not.

By the Way, Pure Organic Coconut Oil is one of the BEST Natural products you can put on your skin and works wonders for your intestines too.

Chlorine can also affect your immune system and the way it functions, ironically making you more susceptible to infections. It does this because it is such an efficient killer of bacteria, but it is an indiscriminate killer because it kills the good bacteria too. Your immune system relies on beneficial gut flora in order to keep the bad bacteria in check. If you don’t have enough beneficial bugs, you will become over run with bad ones. This is how chlorine makes people prone to infection. Scientists now know that a major part of the immune system is located in the gut and not only does it aid in digestion but it also wards off pathogens and helps to stimulate production of immune boosting cells.

This is why researchers have become interested in probiotics and their effect on health. Consumption of probiotics is normally effective in preventing or treating gastroenteritis including rotavirus, inflammatory bowel disorders, skin disorders and in preventing or lessening side-effects associated with antibiotics. Probiotics may also help maintain urinary-genital health, particularly in women.

Bacteria such as candida albicans (thrush) naturally like to grow in the vagina as it is a suitable environment for them. Usually they don’t cause any harm, but if there isn’t enough good bacteria in the gut, the immune system cannot keep the candida under control and it escalates to the point where it causes symptoms of infection. That is why many people like to drink probiotic drinks or take probiotic supplements.

What they don’t know is, if they’re drinking water straight from the tap, they may be rendering their probiotics useless. When chlorine kills off the good bacteria, it paves the way for candida to take hold and can result in recurrent thrush, sexual difficulties and depression. In addition to altering your mucosal immune system, drinking chlorinated water might stress your immune system by affecting your production of infection fighting white blood cells. Studies in animals found that chlorine reduced spleen sizes, that the function of white blood cells was impaired and that chlorine was a mild immune-suppressant. It affected immunity at high levels of exposure, but the researchers were concerned about the implications for human health because although there are smaller doses in water, people are exposed to it repeatedly and chronically so that even small doses may become dangerous. Reduced immunity to infections and illnesses can cost people a lot, both financially and emotionally; especially if it is no fault of their own. According to money .co .uk, being prepared can help you mitigate the costs of unexpected illnesses and this will include those caused by chlorinated water, but health coverage is only one part of the solution; the other is to look at making your water supply healthier in the first place.

Look up the effects of chlorinated Water on Gut Flora. Gut Flora is your defence system against disease. Have you ever had an overdose of Social Alcohol and caught a Cold as a result? This is because you compromise the gut Flora/Defence and at the same time as picking up a virus from public contact.

I haven't spent any time yet looking into Harry's recommendations but I definitely am experiencing the "brain fog" that he mentioned in his earlier post. I had eaten little to no gluten in the last month and a half or so and was feeling clear headed and on top of things. My boyfriend brought home a hamburger and pastries and such the other day and I ate the hamburger and have been picking at the pastries and I feel LOUSY. Completely off kilter.

Kimberly I find your post really interesting because I have always believed that there is an element of anxiety/stress to this condition. I have had far too many crying fits over this condition; stupid and vain I know, especially with it never being serious or life threatening, but as you all know something being on your face is hard to ignore. I also don't think googling and self diagnosing helped me in this matter, when words such as "chronic" come up and when people comment on having it for 4/5 years. My pd spontaneously went away from around my eyes and chin when I went on a 3 week travelling trip and was too busy to worry about it and has thankfully never returned in those areas. I like to think I've got a better perspective on it all now and hopefully the meds will help you to get to the same place Kimberley.

Also Kimberley the bumps you may have been experiencing on your chin may not be pd if they aren't red and may be the oil purging your skin from normal closed comedones. I use the OCM (Google it if you have no idea what I'm rambling on about) and it has made the rest of my skin flawless - so moisturised, (which is why this remaining redness is even more bloody annoying!!!) it is understandable however that you stopped the hemp oil as having more bumps would be a nightmare when dealing with pd.

Harry thanks so much for all of your help. It seems to me like this is the only thing I haven't tried properly - yes I've tried ACV, probiotics but never with a proper gut healing diet and never with enzymes. I will try it for a month when I return to my own place and see if it makes a difference - what's the worse that could happen, I heal my gut?! I think this is the last thing for me to try, although I've not had antibiotics in 10 years and have never used cortisone or done something that would cause this this pd came about after a lot of alcohol, maybe 3 times a week binging and I was also under stress. Starting to believe I may have affected my gut to the point that this rash appears but no serious digestive symptoms.

Hi everyone,

I would just like to thank everyone for the Thanks posted and PM'd to me, I actually really do appreciate that feedback, I give you the information I know to be valid for the purpose of giving you the result you are looking for.

If I let you know a bit more about myself then maybe you will feel a little better about taking my advice.

I am 50 years old this July, I was a Navy Seal for 13 Years, I left the service in 1995 and have lived in the Algarve region of Portugal ever since. I now own six Companies and Manage a Huge Private Estate, built up from Trading Stocks and Foreign Exchange. I have a history of Serious Socialising in some of the Worlds Greatest places.

Its said that you spend the First Forty Years of your Life trying to Kill yourself, and the Latter Forty trying to stay Alive. I can seriously relate to that! Having said that, I am a person that will not accept "Probably, Maybe, Could be, I don't know, Try this and if it doesn't work, Failure, Bulls..t and Incompetence.

When I was Diagnosed with Gout back in 2003 I was experiencing some other Health issues that were being suppressed with Cortisone Creams and other Medications which were giving me all sorts of aggravating side effects. It didn't take long before I was on a Mission of my own. The Root Cause of my ill Health.

Subsequently my experience with Pharmaceutical GP's (Not Disrespect to them Personally) is one of discontent, this is due to their evident lack of practical thinking. I see all to often the cues of People at the Pharmacy, buying anything and everything prescribed by a GP for illnesses that can be irradicated by Practicing an Organic Pro Gut Flora regime, and seriously question why these people are sold a quick fix rather than given practical information on how they can better their state of Health for Longevity.

I am not a practicing Doctor and therefore not scared of telling my view about what I feel to be an over prescribed service by Persons who are supposedly Health Carers.

I Strongly Believe that 99% of ALL Ailments derive from Sustained Poor Intestinal Flora. I understand that for some of you this is a Bold statement. I was prescribed Alupurinol for Gout and told that I would have to take this for the rest of my life!! Guess how many tablets I took?

You got it!NOT ONE!

The Perioral Dermititus I had on my Forehead was really anoying and could be quite Painful at times especially when I applied the Cream prescribed by the Local GP.

I was inspired to research my Ailment by a Guy that I met from the UK who went under the heading of Naturopathic Osteopathic Physician. I found him by having my Back Injury treated in his practice that was located in the middle of nowhere, this was because he was opposed to GSM Transmitters as he reckoned that they interfered with the cells of the Human Body.

I wasn't prepared to question his philosophy as what he did with my Back injury left me speachless and in awe of his Talent. He just recently treated the UK Prime Minister for a Back injury sustained whilst playing Tennis here on his Summer Break.

So I have researched my Personal position with regards to Gout and PD for the last 11 years and have concluded that my situation is like Millions of other People out there based upon Sustained Poor Gut Flora. There are many factors that compromise Gut Flora, some of these are Toothpaste, Alcohol, Antibiotics, Chlorine, Bleach and pretty much anything that you put in your mouth that Kills Bacteria.

Then you have Processed Food (Enzyme Deficient Food) This along with Poor Gut Flora leads to Mal absorption of Nutrients and allows bad Bacteria and Fungus to wreak Havoc in your body.

The PD I had on my Forehead was about the size of a couple of AA Batteries, after about a year of (I could Kick myself) rubbing Cream on the irritated skin I decided to experiment with ACV. I put Apple Cider Vinegar with the Mother on a piece of cotton wool and Taped it over the rash on my Forehead. I had heard about killing Skin Moles using this technique and thought I would give it a go. PAIN was the initial reaction which eventually became bearable after an hour of so. After that I renewed the ACV on the cotton wool over a period of some 48 hours. Eventually after removing the Tape I was left with a rather nasty looking Graze Type wound. This dried into a thick scab and fell of within a couple of days leaving no sign of a rash or scarring what so ever. The area to this day has no discolouration, Sensitivity or Signs of returning. I believe this was a Candida Albican Colony as it was sympathetic to Stress and used to Flare up during Duress and felt like a Burn if touched.

I understand that Candida Albicans are linked to Stress and can inhibit your appetite if stimulated in this fashion.

Experiment with Colonic irrigation, see if this reduces your symptoms, as removing the Toxic waste from your Intestine will ease the stress on your system and you may see your PD calm right down. This would allow you the knowledge that your symptoms are Gut related and allow you to focus your efforts on what I've been telling you all along.

Don't forget to take Enzymes before EVERY Meal, it also Boosts your energy levels as you start to absorb your nutrients.

There are a Lot of Celebrities that live in my area that Practice my way of thinking and Swear by it.. so don't feel that you are alone when you suddenly start to feel better and take up the Gut Flora concept for the Long Haul.

Kind regards

Harry

Harry, in your view is it important that you take the enzymes BEFORE the meal as opposed to after? I was able to purchase the particular kind of enzymes you recommended - Twin Lab Super Enzyme Caps - and on the bottle it says to take the two capsules after every meal, and not to take on an empty stomach. The first time I took the enzymes I did as you instructed - to take before the meal and I did get some stomach discomfort, presumably because the enzymes are aggravating an empty stomach with nothing waiting to be digested. Can you clarify your thinking on this?

Thanks for all the information. It Is appreciated.

Jennifer

Hi Jennifer,

I personally recommend that you take two caps just before you eat ANY Meal. My reasoning for this is that Nature embedded all the Enzymes disigned to assist in the digestion of that particular Organic product. Therefore to take the Enzymes before consuming your food is the best application to maximise the distribution of the Enzyme with the Masticated Food.

I also take an Enzyme cap with ACV prior to going to Bed as this is proven to help clean through your system, pretty much like your body attempts to do anyway by constantly swallowing saliva in your sleep. As we all (should) know our Saliva contains certain enzymes that stimulate the Stomach to produce acid.

This is why Bulimia Nervosa patients run a High risk of stripping their stomach lining, and find their illness very hard to overcome once this situation arrises due to the Severe discomfort of trying to consume food once again. I also believe the underlined cause of

You would have to take a whole bunch of Enzyme caps and eat nothing for over a week to start and jeopardise your Stomach lining.

Another note, Now you are starting to believe the Theory of ProGut Flora, (Don't worry if your not there yet, You will be soon enough, Even if its your last Port of Call after being Poisoned by all the Chemical Symptom suppressants available) I would like to suggest that you go one step further and think about Bacteria in your mouth. We all have grown up believing that Plaque is is the Enemy and should be removed with regular brushing etc. etc. WELL!

Let me put this to you, for you to inwardly Digest, We all know how Amazing Nature IS, Right?, and how ingenious it has become over the Billions of years. I want you to try and pooh pooh MY understanding of Plaque.

When we open our mouthes and breathe in we unknowingly take in BACTERIA from our surrounding, this Bacteria adheres to the enamel of our teeth and is allowed to grow, thus forming a substance called Plaque, as we know it today.

We are taught to fear the very presence of Plaque on our Teeth because of its damaging effects on the Enamel itself. Now what if Plaque was part of our Digestive chain of events, given the concept that when we Masticate our food we effectively impregnate the Organic Food with Good Bacteria, thus complimenting the process of Digestion by supplying the Gut Wall with new bacteria. The only reason we are taught to fear this Bacteria is due to the Fact that Processed Sugars where introduced to our Food Chain which turns the Plaque into a Corrosive medium that corrodes the very implements that Nature provided us with.

In producing a antibacterial Toothpaste the Manufacturer uses the Corrosive process as its selling point and mentions Nothing about its effect on your Gut Flora.

I use a Homemade tooth paste as a breath freshener rather than a Bactericide and lenghthy Brushing to prevent the build up of Corrosive Plaque, although I avoid anything with Processed Sugar as if it was a Chemical Warfare Agent, which pretty much protects me from acid plaque anyway.

I know that some of you out there are questioning my Theory (You are entitled to do that), but one thing you can Guarantee is ALL the information I am sharing with you is not for Financial Gain, nor is it to pervert the Course of Nature. I merely want to embrace the People out there that have fallen Foul of modern Foods & Medicines, and give them a Lifeline to regaining the Healthy Lifestyle they deserve as part of the Human Race.

Sorry Jennifer, I got slightly carried away and drifted away from your request. Experiment with the timing but as I said, just before you consume ANY Meal (2 Minutes before)and with ACV 30 minutes before you go to bed.

Rgds

Now I am squeamish, wondering what germs are lurking in my mouth.

I don't think you are after financial gain Harry. I believe that you are absolutely genuine. I have no doubt whatsoever that you know your stuff. But could you not be a little more....GENTILE? I always come away from your posts feeling a bit spooked.

Respectfully,

Fiona

P.S. Navy Seal? Great!....Now we'll have to have the book jacket re-worked

Hi Fiona,

Im sorry if my information leaves you "feeling a Bit Spooked". As far as germs are concerned, if your Gut flora is at its optimal you don't need to worry about airborne germs because your Natural defence (Good Bacteria) will deal with them.

Kind regards

TYPO ALLERT!! I mean "gentle" NOT gentile. Ooops, what a knob I am