Help me with my **possible** perioral dermatitis

Fiona,

Thanks. I feel like I am just so let down by doctors and I am going to have to educate my endocrinologist. These online groups and forums are such a blessing. If it wasn't for the FB group I'm on for my autoimmune disease, I'd be seeing the doctor next week and just doing nothing until I get worse or starting some synthetic medication. Unfortunately, for me, I can't have seeds or nuts, as they often irritate the immune system nor can I have nightshades, like tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers. Kale, spinach and broccoli, I believe are thyrpid irritants, so I can't eat those either. I'm still learning! I am so glad you are on your way back up! Keep it going!

RUN - do not walk - to your nearest supermarket. Purchase a pot of LIVE yoghurt. Run home. Apply liberally to POD. Wait 15 mins. Rinse with luke warm water. Observe miraculous results!

I'm 42 years old and I've been living with POD for 3 months which seems a lifetime to me but, from reading some of your posts, must seem like a second to some of the rest of you. I don't know how you are managing to stay so positive!

I had a small/pustular breakout on my chin 3 months ago. It wouldn't go away. Went to Doctor who prescribed Duac for acne. I was pretty sure it wasn't acne (I rarely get spots - did all that in my teens) The Duac succeeded in getting rid of pustules but effectively burned off a large section of my chin. I ended up with big, red raw scabs either side of my chin. Went back. Saw a different Doctor who prescribed first Canesten then said it was impetigo and prescribed Fucidin. Both reduced the redness for a few days but then the pustules returned with a vengeance. My belief then was that the steroids either exacerbated or actually caused the POD because the symptoms became much worse since I first went to the Doctor and after 3 weeks covered my whole chin, instead of just a small area on one side.

I was at my wits end. My face looked terrible. People were staring. My friends were sympathetic but horrified at how bad it looked. Eventually Doctor diagnosed POD and prescribed oxytetracycline tablets. He gave me 5 boxes of 28 tablets and told me to come back if it hadn't gone by the time I finished the course! He said it would take 4 weeks, at least, to clear.

Yesterday, it looked so red raw, bumpy, scaly with little pustules all over that I felt I couldn't face anyone and I called in sick. I felt awful for being so vain but it was really affecting my confidence and my ability to do my job. I was tearful and desperate (and on the first day of my period, coincidentally). I spent the morning trawling the net for remedies and noting down things people had tried, making a list of things to order, whatever the extortionate cost! I felt at the end of my tether with it.

I read all your comments and stories with growing unease. It sounds like this may be something I'm stuck with. But one thing struck a cord - the belief that POD is linked in some way to Candida. This would explain why the Canesten seemed to work initially but the steroid content of the cream I was prescribed was making the POD worse which is well documented. Then I remembered something. Years ago, at college, I got a killer case of thrush over a bank holiday weekend (in the days when shops actually closed on a bank holiday!) I couldn't get anything to help and a friend recommended Greek strained yoghurt. The cultures in the yoghurt are supposed to counter act the candida. Anyway, I'll spare you the gorey details but it worked. Yesterday I wondered whether if POD is truly candida related, whether yoghurt would work here too. It couldn't hurt, I reasoned. My face couldn't possibly look any worse.

I applied a thin layer. Waited a while and rinsed. I couldn't believe what I saw. In 15 minutes my POD had gone from red raw, angry looking pustules to pale pink. I applied twice more throughout the day. Honestly, it's as close to a miracle as, I think we're ever going to get. It hasn't cleared it entirely (yet! - I'm going to keep trying) but it is far less noticeable. This morning, for the first time in weeks, I walked my kids to school without being paranoid that everyone was staring at me.

I realise that the oxyteracycline may have kicked in but the improvement was so immediate and dramatic, I feel sure it must be the yoghurt.

Please give it a try. I never log in to forums etc but felt I had to share this. I was so depressed after only 3 months and some of you have had it for years on and off. I really do hope it's not just me and that this helps some of you too.

You'll smell funny for 15 minutes while you're doing it and you have to remember to wash off if you answer the door but other than that I think it really could be a partial solution. No chemicals, not expensive and it really does help.

Good luck.

If you do give it a go, I'd love to know how you get on and if it works for some of you too.

Best wishes all of you.

x

One more thing!

Working on the basis that POD is yeast/candida based. A quick online search has just revealed that these types of skin infections can be as a result of Iron Deficiency. This is what I've found:

"To produce red blood cells, three essential elements must be present, iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid. Hence, iron deficiency anaemia is anaemia caused by the lack of iron to create red blood cells. Iron deficiency may also result in skin problems.

In cases where anaemia develops over a period of time the patient can often tolerate extremely low concentrations of red blood cells (<100g/l) for some time before developing any symptoms. the first symptoms to appear are usually increased lethargy, shortness of breath and palpitations (awareness of the heartbeat).

in some patients pruritus (itching) may be present.

nails become brittle and fragile and develop vertical stripes. nail plate changes result in koilonychia (spoon shaped nails).

patients develop angular cheilitis, a condition in which painful cracks appear at the corners of the mouth.

the tongue may become swollen and smooth and develop a burning sensation.

dryness of the mouth and throat making it difficult to swallow.

hair becomes dry, brittle and dull. increased hair shedding may be noticed.

skin is abnormally pale if the patient is anaemic.

iron deficiency may also predispose to bacterial and fungal infections such as impetigo, boils and candidiasis - i.e. yeast infections of the skin"

this might explain why b vitamins help - but they'd probably help more combined with iron and/or folic acid...

this might explain why some contributors have a real urge for sugary foods - to get an energy rush because they're suffering from iron deficiency which causes fatigue/lethargy

reading the above has struck a number of chords with me so i've taken an iron tablet!

i'll let you know how i get on..

)="" for="" some="" time="" before="" developing="" any="" symptoms.="" the="" first="" symptoms="" to="" appear="" are="" usually="" increased="" lethargy,="" shortness="" of="" breath="" and="" palpitations="" (awareness="" of="" the="" heartbeat).="" in="" some="" patients="" pruritus="" (itching)="" may="" be="" present.="" nails="" become="" brittle="" and="" fragile="" and="" develop="" vertical="" stripes.="" nail="" plate="" changes="" result="" in="" koilonychia="" (spoon="" shaped="" nails).="" patients="" develop="" angular="" cheilitis,="" a="" condition="" in="" which="" painful="" cracks="" appear="" at="" the="" corners="" of="" the="" mouth.="" the="" tongue="" may="" become="" swollen="" and="" smooth="" and="" develop="" a="" burning="" sensation.="" dryness="" of="" the="" mouth="" and="" throat="" making="" it="" difficult="" to="" swallow.="" hair="" becomes="" dry,="" brittle="" and="" dull.="" increased="" hair="" shedding="" may="" be="" noticed.="" skin="" is="" abnormally="" pale="" if="" the="" patient="" is="" anaemic.="" iron="" deficiency="" may="" also="" predispose="" to="" bacterial="" and="" fungal="" infections="" such="" as="" impetigo,="" boils="" and="" candidiasis="" -="" i.e.="" yeast="" infections="" of="" the="" skin"="" this="" might="" explain="" why="" b="" vitamins="" help="" -="" but="" they'd="" probably="" help="" more="" combined="" with="" iron="" and/or="" folic="" acid...="" this="" might="" explain="" why="" some="" contributors="" have="" a="" real="" urge="" for="" sugary="" foods="" -="" to="" get="" an="" energy="" rush="" because="" they're="" suffering="" from="" iron="" deficiency="" which="" causes="" fatigue/lethargy="" reading="" the="" above="" has="" struck="" a="" number="" of="" chords="" with="" me="" so="" i've="" taken="" an="" iron="" tablet!="" i'll="" let="" you="" know="" how="" i="" get="" on..="">

in some patients pruritus (itching) may be present.

nails become brittle and fragile and develop vertical stripes. nail plate changes result in koilonychia (spoon shaped nails).

patients develop angular cheilitis, a condition in which painful cracks appear at the corners of the mouth.

the tongue may become swollen and smooth and develop a burning sensation.

dryness of the mouth and throat making it difficult to swallow.

hair becomes dry, brittle and dull. increased hair shedding may be noticed.

skin is abnormally pale if the patient is anaemic.

iron deficiency may also predispose to bacterial and fungal infections such as impetigo, boils and candidiasis - i.e. yeast infections of the skin"

this might explain why b vitamins help - but they'd probably help more combined with iron and/or folic acid...

this might explain why some contributors have a real urge for sugary foods - to get an energy rush because they're suffering from iron deficiency which causes fatigue/lethargy

reading the above has struck a number of chords with me so i've taken an iron tablet!

i'll let you know how i get on..

>

Huh, Laura's comment just connected another dot for me.... I was diagnosed with chronic anaemia at 16 (I'm 46). I don't know why PD showed up in the last few months only but after doing research on it and trying various things, I am convinced that it has everything to do with mineral deficiency.

If you can, eat a diet rich in minerals and use zinc ointment and concentrate on B vitamins...it's not time consuming or difficult to fit in BUT...do not take an iron supplement unless you get blood tests done and KNOW that you are anaemic because you can seriously harm yourself....I cannot stress that enough!

Fiona's absolutely right, of course. Not advocating you OD on iron. Anaemia is a serious issue. I just took a multivitamin with iron because I think it's the underlying cause.

The iron issue might also explain why dark chocolate seems to provide some relief…?

I think iron deficiency is the cause but the symptoms are candida based.

Do please try the yoghurt!

It's absolutely unbelievable the difference it's made, honestly.

One day later I just have pale pink marks on my chin, no blistering, no scabs.

It really works - or has done for me anyway. I just hope it lasts!

Let me know how you get on.

I was wondering about stressing the iron harm issue and sounding preachy about it but I thought it was worth it. Every time that I buy it the pharmacist always asks if I have had blood tests and stressing the danger of it so I thought I'd risk it and pass it on.

The mineral issue is exactly the reason why I eat dark chocolate every day....they recommend about 35 grams a day for a man (?!) so I just have a few squares of at least 70% cocoa chocolate every day. Vitamin C helps with the absorption of a lot of vitamins so I make sure that I get that in too. Through all of this I read up on the foods that contain the highest amount of every vitamin that I think that I need and how they react to each other and made a list, stuck it on the refrigerator and use it for shopping and making sure that I get it in me every day. I am really glad that that part of it is over because it was so time consuming to make it as simple as possible and most important, as realistic for me to actually consume on a regular basis.

I really hope that I do not sound like a know-it-all on any of this because I just think that if anyone can get any use out of it then why not pass it on.

I'm glad you are on top of money guarantees on your purchases Sammy......I'm so "through" with getting fleeced also!

I agree with Lisa and having yogurt everyday.....so good for your body and skin.....especially probiotic

Hi folks! I just discovered this site this evening after researching my skin symptoms. Everything I read has not indicated OLDER people having this. I am 70 years old, and woke up 3 days ago with a horrible red, burning PAIN around my nose, mouth and chin. I thought it might be an allergy to food but I have had nothing new. In some of these replies I caught hormone change, anemia problems. Well, my endocrinologist decreased my Armour Thyroid medication and my platelets have not come back to normal after having C-Diff (no, I have not been on antibiotics for over 5 years). I swabbed with apple cider vinegar 2 days ago and woke up the next morning with horrible peeling of my skin but no pain and severe redness. I woke up this morning with the same mess. I read to try Bacitracin ointment. I left the computer and headed to the drugstore. I have applied it and absolutely the burning pain stopped! . I have written down a lot of these suggestions and will approach my dermatologist with my findings. The earliest appointment was for next week, so this gives me some time to experiment what may work. I think I will try 2 things - Neem soap and Bacitracin. ONE THING FOR SURE - NO Antiobiotics!!! What is disturbing is that I never had acne or skin problems in the past. I definitely do not want to go out in public with this mess! Say some prayers for me. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Denna, If you have PD, please save yourself some aggravation and just try zinc ointment (diaper cream). It works.

Hi everyone and welcome to all newcomers

Well I am tentatively thrilled!

My skin is clear and the dreaded PD has not come back so far.

It was coming in monthly cycles on approx 17/18th of each month.

Antibiotics worked but since taking them I have been using probiotics and avoiding breads and most sweet foods (which I crave in a most decadent manner I have to add)

I have been brave and tried toothpastes/shampoos directly on skin and no reaction but I have not used steroid creams at all as I definitely think they contributed before.

I have stopped taking black cohosh as I also think this contributed too.

I have stopped getting thrush regularly too.

I was very interested to read peoples thoughts about thyroid problems and anemia as I am losing a lot of hair.

This is not new and has been happening for a few years now,luckily I have thick hair so it does not show.

I am anemic but all all Iron supplements make me vomit and one can only eat so much spinach.

I do eat watercress and marmite sandwiches which are surprising lovely and rich in iron...this was craving in my last pregnancy which lingered on.

I have been tested for thyroid problems so many times I have lost count but nothing conclusive.

I think the test is slightly different in the UK, as my friends in US tell me they have been diagnosed wth it and the US test is more 'catch all'.

I don't know, UK GPs are getting more and more money saving in their outlook and I firmly believe this has had an impact on their helpfulness shall we say.

I still think Elidel cream (pimecrolimus) is amazing and I have stocked up on zinc creams too.

This discussion is wonderful and I think we all should publish a book on PD,there is a need for this information badly.

Keep posting

Lisa

Please, folks, try putting a small amount of live yoghurt DIRECTLY ON YOUR FACE.

Leave if for 15 mins and rinse with luke warm water.

In my case it worked much better than the zinc cream. It really was miraculous.

Two days of doing this 3 times a day and I just have two pale pink patches left. That's it.

By all means, eat the yoghurt as well but I think you'll be amazed at the different it makes in only a matter of minutes.

Wow....can you tell that I have the week off of work?......I'm on this site even more than usual....Lisa summed everything up beautifully and I'm so glad that we seem to have a handle on what was an aggravatingly mysterious problem. When I think back to August or September when PD first showed up and I had absolutely no idea what if could be.....and the misery of the apple cider vinegar and burning and having everything in my kitchen on my face....it's pretty satisfying to see what a group of people from different parts of the world can do when they put their heads together. And Yes.....sign me up for the book.

Hey Laura, glad that you are having success with the yogurt. Putting that o

I cut myself off before I finished...lovely. Anyway, I put yogurt and turmeric on my face almost everyday since this started because I read it somewhere and surprise surprise, it got rid of the dark circles under my eyes. Completely. I had no idea that it could do that until after it did and then looked it up and sure enough I found that others use turmeric for that very reason. My point is that I've had some pretty nice outcomes through doing research on PD. Not to sound too soft but it really made me feel less isolated reading and sharing your thoughts and recommendations.

Okay....I'm off.....I was supposed to catch up on my housework on my week off and I haven't even come close.

P.S. Lisa, I have been anaemic for years and went through digestive problems from taking iron supplements...there are two kinds...in Canada anyway....Iron Sulphate and Ferrous Gluconaate. The sulphate was horrible on my stomach but I take Ferrrous Gluconate and it doesn't bother my stomach at all. But everyone is different. I wish they had have told me that when I was first diagnosed though as I had no choice not to take then because I would pass out if not. Then years later the pharmacist told me about the Ferrous Gluconate.....why the doctor didn't let me in on that helpful info is a mystery to me.