1. Community
  2. Skin and nails
  3. Dermatitis And Eczema

Help me with my **possible** perioral dermatitis

Posted , 98 users are following.

emilyvb
emilyvb

Hi Everyone.

I am at my wits end with my skin and wondered if anyone could suggest anything.

About eight months ago I went on a course of antibiotics for a wound that wouldn't heal. It did the trick, but a couple of days after I finished the course I began to get huge flakes of skin coming off each side of my nose and just under it. There was no real redness at first, just extremely flaky skin, which Ive never had before.

This then turned red on one side and was quite sore. This cleared up, but switched to the OTHER side of my nose and this is what I have had ever since.

It has come and gone in various degrees of severity, but generally, it is red and mildly flaky/dry with lots of little bumps which look like acne but never come to a head. Having said that, I have been getting cystic type acne right in the fold of the nose recently.

TREATMENT: I initially googled the problem and concluded it was perorial dermatitis. I didn't want steroids as I know that makes it worse, so I went to the doctor (who didn't know what it was and had to GOOGLE perioral derm!?)who gave me DUAC cream. That helped a bit but it just came back.

I have since been to numerous doctors who have given me everything which I have eventually tried.

I was advised to use an anti fungal cream,so used canesten (without steroid in it). This gave me some kind of allergic reaction and i got eczema all around the area where I used it. To treat this separate condition -ergh) i was prescribed a steroid cream, daktacort, which made the eczema go away but then the PD came back worse and now I'm back to square one.

I'm almost positive its a classic case of PD, and since I tried everything the only option is antibiotics. However, I am EXTREMELY reluctant to take any seeing as it would seem that anti biotics gave me it in the first place! It all started as soon as I finished a course of them, having never had it in my life before.

I have no idea what to do, and would appreciate ANY advice. Apologies for the huge post!

Note: I should also add that I have tried lots of home remedies like coconut oil, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar which have helped mildly but not gotten rid of it. In the past three months I've also cut out wheat, sugar, dairy and yeast (considering it may be candida overgrowth). I even switched to fluoride free toothpaste. Nothing has gotten rid of it! (except the steroid/anti-fungal, and only temporarily!)

6 likes, 441 replies

441 Replies

Prev Next
  • fiona77498
    fiona77498 emilyvb

    Posted

    Plus, It looks like Promilla has made more comments but God knows where they are?!
  • fiona77498
    fiona77498 emilyvb

    Posted

    I just now left a post for Lisa yet it is showing up BEFORE my post of last night.

     

  • fiona77498
    fiona77498 emilyvb

    Posted

    Welcome Babae!

    I and others have literally slathered our faces in SLS products and it has done nothing to contribute to PD.  I myself had to be reminded that what triggers PD to some may not trigger to others.  Wonderful thing about us human beings...we are all created differently....But does it ever tick me off when some get results from remedies when I do not!

    Here's to you and your recovery from this pox

    Fiona

  • Terri709
    Terri709 emilyvb

    Posted

    Hi!

    I have been "lurking" in the shadows since February. I too have something going on with my face/chin area, nose and in the past week forehead. It all started with an itchy almost burning sensation on my chin. Which after a day or so turned into a red rash, then bumps. Then it went to pustules. I tried to visit my family doctor but was unable to get an appointment for 4 weeks. (Our healthcare system is nuts!) So I visited another dr that was filling in on the 18 March. He prescibed a topical cream and antibiotics. (Would love for my family dr to see but when I did finally get to see her it was cleared up). Long story short, I found what was prescribed wasn't doing a thing and started using extra-strength Zincofax with 40% zinc oxcide, I look like a clown but hey it works! So far. I have given up using makeup removers and soaps, found they were irritating, and now use whipped coconut oil to remove makeup and wash my face. I have also found Lush products to be gentle and their Mask of Magnaminty is a godsend. It seems I am breaking out approx every 4 weeks... maybe tied into my cycle, except I had an hysterectomy eons ago, so I truly am unsure. I have been religously following along behind the sidelines taking what everyone is saying into consideration. I thank you all for posting.

    • lisa66730
      lisa66730 Terri709

      Posted

      Nice to meet you Terri.

      I have not had a hysterectomy but  I am going through peri- menopause and I got my PD every month without fail like you almost to the day.

      I think I am right in saying a hysterectomy can bring on menopause-don't know if that is the case with you.

      Hormones have a part to play with PD

    • jennifer74484
      jennifer74484 lisa66730

      Posted

      Lisa, Thanks for opening FB page! 

      The next time I start to sound optimistic about my PD healing remind me - not so fast!  Along comes my cycle and I wake up with a splatter of new red bumps across my lip.  Even in areas I've not had them before.  Seems my hormones are in large part driving this thing.  As I cannot forsee relief from my wacked hormones, I may be in this for the long haul.  I just want to stick my face in my pillow today.....

    • sharon24908
      sharon24908 lisa66730

      Posted

      Thanks for the facebook invite.  Dumb question, is there anyway that the Patient co Facebook link is separate from my regular facebook page.  Don't really need the wold to know my face rash/ezema situation.
    • sharon24908
      sharon24908 Terri709

      Posted

      Hi Terri, welcome,  no more cycle for me.  I also found the Zinc works just as well, and less costly than anything else.  I slather it on night and sometimes during the day.  Mine seems to look faded in the morning, but has not ever gone away.  If I wash my face, touch it or anything it flares up.

      Fiona - the cicelfate worked for a few days it also has zinc in it.  I spread it a little thinner, but have lost faith.  First 3days it looked promising but I am right back to where I was. 5 months now.  I am trying Neem, on one test patchand it is so stinky. almost thinking that there is NO cure for this, not topically anyway.  It was lovely using the cortizone for a few days only payback after.

    • lisa66730
      lisa66730 sharon24908

      Posted

      Sharon the facebook is a  closed group-people have to join to see messages.Your comments should not be on your daily feed.
    • lisa66730
      lisa66730 sharon24908

      Posted

      Sharon try a test if your unsure with Facebook.

      Harry Please join FB It would be good to have your messages on file

    • lisa66730
      lisa66730 sharon24908

      Posted

      Hi Sharon have posted table on Facebook to make things clearer!
    • Promila
      Promila sharon24908

      Posted

      Hi Sharon! No worries, as the group is private people won't see that you have joined it and won't see you are posting things there, smile
  • fiona77498
    fiona77498 emilyvb

    Posted

    Hey Teri,

    Glad you finally decided to post here after all!  Welcome to the Club!

    My sister had a full hysterectomy when she was 39 and I can say for sure that she went into menopause immediately afterward.  I guess she should have realized that it would happen but her doctor never mentioned it to her.  I really felt sorry for her because her moods were all over the place and very emotional, as you can imagine.  Just so hard on her because it didn't happen gradually....full menopause as soon as she awoke from the operation.

    I too ride myself of PD using diaper cream to start with and then mixing CereVe with zinc oxide powder.  I still get pesky, small outbreaks now and again though but fingers crossed....it still works for me,  I do want to try the CIcalfate cream if it happens again because it can't be as messy as the clown face I get from the zinc oxide.

    Sorry to hear about your outbreak Jennifer,,,,,we all know what it's like.  We should get you one of those full-face visors and a t-shirt that says "Stay out of my way,,,Today is a No-Jennifer-Zone"

    Hey Lisa...It was driving me nuts trying to find your messages especially since I was able to see the first two.  Oh well.  I know have the facebook page so all is well,  Thanks for dragging me into the 21st Century.  Wonder how many will join?

    Take Care

Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.