Help me with my **possible** perioral dermatitis

I have been catching up with all posts and reading with interest.

I cured my PD with antibiotics/Elidel. I also stopped all steroid creams and Black Cohosh ,took antihistamine,only used superior products on my face and took (and still do probiotics) and my face is clear now no redness at all.

 

My face was dreadful- truly dreadful,scaly,flaky,pus filled oozing mess. It was more PD then face My family would say “Your poor face”!

I was told repeatedly by GP’s that it was cold sores and put on antiviral tablets. I self diagnosed myself and finally got a GP to listen.

 

As said, there are so many triggers. My skin scrape identified no bacteria (unbelievably) but antibiotics worked. I think Promilla mentioned antibiotics with other regimes.

I also threw everything and anything at my face in an effort to be rid of it.

 

I think steroid cream/allergy/hormones/fungi and a supplement* all had their part to play in mine.

 

I am 47 and started peri menopause. I always had horrific periods and I was given a mirena coil to help combat this as it delivers regular progesterone .

 This was to help with heavy periods but was horrible and uncomfortable and I had it removed. Then I started HRT which made me bloated and I tried many types but ultimately gave them up.

I then started Black Cohosh* which seemed to sort me out hormone wise but then the PD started and it came with increasing awfulness every month almost to the day.This went on for about 4-5 months.

 

I am now PD free but need something to regulate my hormones and I may well try red clover as Black Cohosh is definitely linked to my PD.Maybe I was just allergic

 

As Fiona said Harry’s advice is good and for those having time to go in depth it is probably ideal. It still doesn’t address hormones though and this is a strong link I feel.

Kind Regards

Lisa

 

What a shame for a young girl of 19 to have to worry about attending class because of this mess.  This should be one of the most happy, exciting times of your life Promila and I hope that you find something....Anything helpful here.

I went through your list of possible remedies and I tried all except the calendula.  I too pay  close attention to the mineral aspect and zinc was my answer but if you are thinking of delving deeper into working from the inside out then I think Harry is your man.  If you haven't read through all of the posts yet; Harry's approach is to attack from that angle.  I have to admit that it's far more radical than I am willing to apply but I do agree with his theories and I would try anything if I didin't already have luck with zinc.  What type of zinc application did you try?

One thing that I have noticed that makes a huge difference to me and my general well-being (and PD?) is to curtail my gluten intake.  I threw my usual diet out the window this Easter weekend and I awoke this morning with a red patch and two blisters under my right eye, next to my nose. 

Even though that I feel that I contracted PD from a high dose of intravenous antibiotics, I would not rule it out as a treatment simply because I have read here of others (Lisa being one) who have had success with it.  And isn't it the point of this forum to try recommendations from people who have the same ailment?

I remember this past Christmas as I was speaking with a friend that dropped by...I could tell that he wasn't taking in anything that we were discussing....he was just focused on my mouth and chin area and I was dying of embarrassment.  I just felt like saying, "For God Sake!!  I don't know what it is either!!"  It is sooooo encompassing.  I truly feel for you because as I said, this should be such a happy time for you.  And how does a student keep on track with their diet when everything is so fast-paced and stressful?  When I left home, I survived off of tea, coffee, diet coke, frozen corn and rice and cereal.

I wish you all the best Promila.  Keep posting...there has to be a solution for you!

Thank you Fiona77498 so much for your answer. It's always so comforting to hear from other people who face the same problem.

I went through the whole forum, but I have the same problem like everyone else. I am really impatient and would like to try everything, and if something does not work immidiately I switch to other thing. Which I definitely shouldn't be doing. The thing is that we all would like to have effects just now.

Yesterday, while waiting for violet extract (which I read helped many people), I put coconut oil on my face... and low and behold the redeness started to disappear. Of course I got very excited, but I definitely shouldn't have, because the same initial effect was visible thanks to ACV. And later it stopped working, and I got even more depressed.

So for now, I am on coconut oil, and ACV/water, and waiting for violet extract.

I decided to quit gluten around 2 weeks ago. Still no effect. The thing is that, despite of being a student, I really try to eat really well. Huge amount of vegetables, eggs, fish, little meat. I have not taken antibiotics for 6 or 7 years. So, in my case, it is hard to explain on the basis of gut flora/candida/etc. I would even say that since I started eat even more vegetables, PD got worse and worse. Maybe it's some kind of intolerance, but I honestly don't have time and energy (however bad it sounds) to look for this needle in a haystack

Tomorrow I will do blood test for thyroid hormones, and maybe something for inflammation inside the body.

The worse thing is that our population is so focused on appearance, and everyone has to be ideal, that this sort of condition is really depressing and kind of excludes the sufferers from the society.

I see that all of us, we are aware that there are much more serious conditions out there, that PD is not life threatening, but somehow it makes as feel so miserable and depressed. I wish the society was more understaind of other people problems.

I will keep the forum updated, as I am searching for my "cure".

Btw. I'm sorry for any typos, as I'm usually in the rush. Hope you don't mind.

Promila, if it's not too late to suggest this, see if they can check your B12 levels when you get your bloodwork.  Like everyone else on this forum I've been experimenting with many things.  Antihistamine helped me quite a bit when the itchiness was driving me insane.  I got a full blood workup last week and my B12 levels were very low.  I just got my first of a series of B12 shots yesterday.  I read that B12 impacts the skin.  You get B12 from meat and fish.  I don't eat meat and noted you eat little meat.  My rash currently is a lot calmer than it's been in six months.  I'm taking a strong probiotic and I think that's helping the rash.  Not sure the B12 shot would have had that big of an impact in one day, but who knows?  Just thought I'd throw out the B12 suggestion since you're getting bloodwork anyway.  Hang in there.  You are not alone!

hi Promila! I really feel for you. Its so upsetting because I know exactly how you feel- you've really gone through it, with your face so red and inflamed. Which country are you in?I would guess the UK if you were prescribed Zineryt (I used it too!)? If it is really bad, effecting you to the extent that you don't want to leave the house and uncomfortable, red and inflamed, I would make another appiintment with your GP and demand to be referred to a dermatologist. Explain that you have made numerous appointments over many years and the problem still remains. It is too long to have dealt with without a professional opinion, especially if it is affecting you mentally and emotionally. I think GPs are reluctant to refer to dermatologists unless it is serious or persistent, and in your case it seems the best candidate for a referral. If it is covering most of your face it may be PD combined with other issues.

In the mean time, definitely try zinc based products. With regard to your comment on topical antibiotics, that is something I tried and that I think worked for me. I was reluctant to take oral antibiotics, and I'm sure many would suggest that topicals can still effect the flora of the skin (or something!), but from what I have read, there didn't seem to be a problem for anyone who has used topical antibiotics for PD as long as they don't contain steroids. Combine that with an approach from the inside (as Harry suggests) and you are doing everything you can, safely, to ensure it is treated. Anything else should be at the hands of a dermatologist who can diagnose correctly.

I'm glad you have read through everyone's posts here. I know they are quite long and there are many of them, but its absolutely worth it if you're living with PD as all of us have been. Other than the practical advice, it has been a great source of comfort to be involved in a friendly community who are all going through the same thing.

Do keep us updated! Good luck. You can sort this!

Emily

Another one to you Emily!  

Thanks for the answer, 

I think I will go once again to my GP, and later to a dermatologist. I have bought Zineryt but haven't tried it yet. Is it the one which helped you clear PD? If so, I may actually try it. And yup I'm from UK. 

I have tried Zinc paste but it didn't really do any good, and I think the bumps got kind of worse, so I stopped it. No I'm using coconut oil, and it helped with redness, but did nothing to ichiness and rash. 

I just got one other product which is like a combo. It's extract from Calendula, Violet, white willow, Liquorice together with lecithin, Zinc  and Copper substances. It looks promising. Unfortunately it has also yeast which really scares me out, but with such a combination of compunds, I truly hope it will somehow help. I plan on using it together with coconut oil. Fingers crossed. 

I have read all the posts, and I seem to remeber that someone mentioned Nixoderm. Was it someone currently involved in the discussion (question to everyone) casue I would also like to hear your opinion, if you have tried it.  

Thanks once again for all the advice! 

Have a nice evening! 

 

Hi Suz!

You've come to the right place!

How long have you been taking lymecycline for? As I'm sure you've read on here, there are mixed reviews with oral antibiotics and PD. Be sure to take probiotics whilst you take the antibiotics, to keep the candida under control. Also try apple cider vinegar orally. All of these suggestions are summarised by Harry in many posts above, who stands by tackling the problem from within; the 'problem' being entirely candida and gut flora related. This is one opinion, but something that many have tried and stand by so is worth a try!

Although I don't have PD anymore (Just redness that it left behind!) I have noticed that my dry skin elsewhere on my face has reduced dramatically since I havent been using face washes or anything. I just used make up remover and wash it off with water and a muslin cloth. This seems to have stopped my face from overdrying, so by just using water I'd say you're definitely making a step into the right direction. Have you ever tried using oils? I know many people use the 'Oil Cleansing Method' on their face, which helps many dramatically with dry skin. But it might be worth using some on your body. I use almond oil on dry patches and this works wonderfully for me. There are many oils to choose from, but Amazon seems a good place for reviews on how each of them work. They are relatively cheap too, so definitely explore that avenue for relief on your body.

The rash on your arms seems like something outside of PD, but then I'm no professional. Which country are you based in? Have you been to the GP with regard to the rash on your arms? As I mentioned to a poster before, if you are having problems with dry skin on many areas of your body, its definitely worth a GP referring you to a dermatologist or at least taking samples to see if it is some kind of fungal problem. Many posters on this forum have suggested that eczema is affected a lot by diet. Research that for some interesrting insights..definitely worth considering. 

Sulfur soap helped me alot with me skin problems! Not necessary eczema but mild acne, My housemate also has eczema on his arms and his GP recommended sulfur soap- I think its been helping alot! It can be quite drying though, so bare that in mind. Maybe thats just because i was using it on my face though.

Keep posting here and we will do our best to help and support you!  You can get rid of this. It might take a while, but its not forever. I wish you the best of luck! In the meantime have a read through the posts on this forum which talk about people's experiences with zinc, antibiotics, candida and apple cider vinegar, amongst other things!

Take care,

Emily

Hi All,

I don't want to divert attention away from Promila and Suz right now but Jojo's mention of B12 shot made me remember that I have always been curious to hear opinions from people that have actually had it.  Did you really notice an increase in energy and better brain function?  I'm glad that you brought that up because I have to book a medical exam (ugh) and have been jotting things down as I think about them to ask my doctor.  Anyone's comments would be appreciated.

Back to Suz....Welcome!  I really hope that you find something here to help....it's nice to be able to hear from people with the same issue.  Emily's post was very informative so there's a good start.  I started the oil cleansing method as one of my first attempts at ridding myself of PD.  It didn't do a thing to help in that respect but I like the way my skin feels when I do it so at least I learned something new. And now because of Emily's post, I am going to check out Amazon and their variety of oils.

Anyway,  Good luck to you Suze; keep posting.  To Promila....Maybe book an appointment with a derm?  Grab them by the shirt collar and tell them that you're not leaving until you get an answer!!

My usual afterthought and then I have to run!

Emily....Do you never have a small reoccurrence of PD? I know that you mentioned an existing redness as I too have but never a small breakout?  I still get the odd redness and blisters as I did a couple of days ago and am kind of panicky at the thought of zinc losing it's effect as it seems that it did with Misty.  Ooooo...I hope not!

Hi Emily! Thank you very much :-) I can't tell you how happy i am to have found a group like this!

I live in London and I have been on the Lymecycline for a month, and I have to say it has taken the spots (lumps) down considerably.  I still have a red patch, but I guess that will go in time.  I did used to use olive oil to cleanse my face, but found that was giving me slight spots and the derm told me it wasn’t a good idea.  I personally disagree and I find a bath full of oil helps my skin from drying out.  I also started to use coconut oil as well on my face – didn’t help too much BUT in the last month the dryness has eased a lot.  I am only using a “simple” face wipe and water on my face now.

I managed to get an appointment with a consultant for next Saturday as I am really not happy with the service I have received.  I spoke about the candida diet I was following when at the derm but he didn’t seem to take note but stuck me on lymecycline for 6 months!! 6 months!!! I’d almost certainly have no good bacteria left and have to start the whole process again surely?! So I am going suggest that I come off the tablets.  I am trying to follow the candida diet which is very restrictive, but hey if this helps  - but I find with my eczema it suggests to eat eggs etc but I am not sure if these make my eczema worse!  I have ordered some sulfur soap to see if this helps, and also some cider vinegar, thank you for this.  When I go to the consultant I am going to mention the rash.  It looks like eczema but it’s weird it occurred when I started the antibiotics.  It’s nearly gone now as I treated with olive oil and double base etc. I will give almond oil a go as well! I guess I am looking for a lot of tips of trying to follow the candida diet to help with the PD yet also trying to adapt the diet so it is eczema friendly.

Thank you for your kind words.  It such a relief to find a group like this – unless you have been or going through this you have no idea how isolated you feel.

... i am also wondering if i may have a "leaky gut" as this seems to be linked to PD and eczema.  I am going to ask for an allergy test, see if this can help? not sure how much it can tell me.

WOW thanks for all this information, I too am new to the PD club, not by choice.  I live  inwestern Canadian.  I am 58 and went through menopause in my 40's.  We were in Mexico in Dec and I came home with a pencil eraser size red spot on side of chin.  I booked an appt with very well know dermatoligist, had to wait 2 mo.s.  I thought that would be my solution, he perscribed cortizone.  I used it for the 7 days twice a day and it worked.  YES. Until a couple days later yes as everyone has experienced its bigger and worse.  So I tried alot of the things that everyone else tried with not much luck.  I also found that zinc helped a little.  But the original spot is now  Loonie size and I have another on the other side of my chin and a few going up towards my nose.  Stayed up last night reading all the posts, with a paper list of possible trys....Looks like this is not going to be an easy journey. Mine is Red and inflammed looking, if I look closey  I can see small white pusstuals.  Nice...My heart always went out to people with some affliction on their face.  Here I am, looking in the mirror, more often than I want to.  I am going to find Desitin if it is in Canada or Sudocream which I have seen.  My daughter asked me to try Collidial Silver.  She has had friends with skin afflictions and this worked well.  I like the book idea

Fiona.....fingers crossed I haven't even had a slight reoccurence yet. Since it went early this year/toward the end of last year. I did notice in the past month or so VERY slight tiny tiny bumps which you can only see up close and in harsh light. But im not sure if thats just skin texture. They certainly arent inflamed, red, or pustules...just skin colour and extremely tiny. I think when you've had PD before you can get really paranoid and think that any new redness or skin condition on the face might be it coming back. But its been there a month or so and nothing has become of it, so I'm just going to keep calm and suppose that its a very slight skin texture. I hope so!

I'm still not entirely sure why it went. But it literally happened in days. I was trying lots of things so it could have been any of them. It did calm down alot with topical antibiotics though. I'm sure at some point in my life it will return, but I'm trying not to scrutinize my face too much and worry that its rearing its ugly head! I can get myself to caught up in it and down. Need to think positively

Thanks Emily

Just quickly....Welcome Sharon.  I am in Canada as well and yes, I saw Destin at the pharmacy yesterday when I was buying my creams.

Take Care All

In discussion on Facewash.  I used it occasionally, but what I did use prior to PD and am only using now is the Norwex face cloth.  It does have silver in the cloth, you only use water with it, and it does take off makeup really well.  You aren't ever to get any soap on it.  I believe you simmer it occationally to desinfect

Hi Fiona! 

Yup. I'm going to ask my GP to direct me to a dermatologist. But I honestly doubt that she will do this.

About B12. I can honestly tell you that vitamins B make a tremendous difference, if you are defficient with them. Otherwise, it probably won't make a difference. For me, it completely cured my horrible insomnia (I shouldn't tell it out loud ... cause it was the worst thig ever) and really improved my mood. So I would advise you to check it. 

 

Emily. Do you have any specific routine now? Or have you just left it after it had gone away.  

Hopefully it won't come back! 

Hey Promila,

Wow.  Just the thought of your doctor not allowing you a referral to a dermatologist!!  I am sick and tired of being at the mercy of doctors....I realize that we are not medically trained but do me a favour......we know our own bodies to an extent.

Thanks for the B12 advise....I am anemic and have always wondered about how it could benefit me.  The insomnia comment (don't want to jinx you) struck a cord too because I have suffered through quite a few bouts of it (sometimes I just can't shut my brain off before bed).

Interesting...Norwex facecloth.  My friend was just telling me about something the same for dusting.  Realize not the same!  I'm baffled as to how it would work.  Going to look into it.

Thanks

 

Please look back at my posts from page Nine onwards and if you dont get rid of all your problems then you are being Poisoned.

If you need creams use only Pure Organic Coconut oil once your symtoms clear up..  Your Gut Flora is where all your problems arise from.  Address this with a longterm outlook and you will never have this issue again.

it takes time but you need to build up your gut Flora with Good Fats and Good Bacteria.

Kind regards

Harry

What's more, You dont need a Doctor and you dont need Pharmacutical Medicine to achieve this.  Google "Gut Flora" and "Enzymes and Why" its a No Brainer...

Hello Harry!

I was wondering about you.  Thought that you may have given up on us! 

I have such a sneaking suspicion that all of my maladies would go away if I just paid closer attention to your posts.  For some reason, I am being bull-headed about it.

 Riho's posts (sorry Riho, I'm just not deciphering) about inflammation made me want to ask if you have an opinion on gelatin aiding with inflammation. 

I am an upholsterer and had a shop for years that I gave up due to disk injuries in my neck.  Very sad about this but anyway, when the pain flares up it is excrutiating and will last for a few months at a time.  3 MRI's say that the option is to operate which for one reason or another, I don't want to consider yet.

Back to the gelatin...I started taking it around November of last year (while I was searching for a cure for PD) because I read that it would help with inflammation and also collagen production.  I ran out of it two weeks ago and since then I have developed that same old twinge in my neck.  Also, I have noticed that my facial skin isn't as firm as it was while I was taking it.

This is way off topic and I apologise to all for veering off of the PD discussion but I am curious to see if Harry or anyone has any thoughts on this.  I will stress though that it really does seem to firm up my skin when I take it twice a day.

Thanks.  Good to hear from you Harry,

Fiona

Thank you Harry for your answer. I looked up the enzymes. The thing is that I now have very clean diet, take probiotics, and still I have quite bad problems. (allergies, PD, warts, etc.) Do you really think that enzymes are worth trying? And also, I removed gluten from my diet around 3 weeks ago... still no improvement whatsoever. You might be right I am being poisoned . . . I am studying chemistry, and so I am exposed to some chemicals. Still, lecturers and profs say that there is no danger, as these chemicals are supposedly not harmful for us. Still, as I seem to develop more and more health problems, I might considering changing my major.