Help me with my **possible** perioral dermatitis

While I was LONG-WINDING my last post Jennifer commented about contracting PD after having an IUD inserted......Someone else commented about that on this forum a few weeks ago. After having spent so much time on my last post, I don't want to read through to see who it was but I find it very interesting that it happened to both of you.... Yeast infection from an IUD which ended in PD. I didn't want to mention it (stupid to be embarrassed, I know) but I had my first and only yeast infection in my life last year after having intravenous antibiotics. It's just too coincidental for yeast not to be a major factor .

Fiona and Jennifer, you have made me feel so much better abt something that has been plaguing me for years... Can't thank you enough. PD seriously makes me feel crazed sometimes, and when I describe it to someone else, they never understand. Haha but I guess that's because I myself don't even understand it. It's nice to have people to relate to.

Jennifer, I totally know what you mean abt it always being on your mind. I'm always conscious of lighting and too many times have made the mistake of pulling out a mirror at work to see if any new bumps appeared... They always have, and it always makes my heart drop to my stomach. You'd think after all this time it wouldn't suck so much. please let me know how you like the Avalon (way to take the plunge--hopefully you are pleasantly surprised tomorrow am) and kolorex. I ordered zinc powder today and am right there with you on trying to get rid of candida, because it seems to make the most sense. But tomorrow I could convince myself it's fluoride in water. Or my laundry detergent. Sigh.

That said, I'm wondering.... Has anyone taken fluconazole? My derm rx'd it for me and I saw no change. Wouldn't that take care of any yeast probs?

Fiona: love all your input... Thank you! I did order the zinc powder today and am wondering if you think it's ok to mix with almond oil. My skin doesn't seem to react to that. Also-what do you use to wash it all off with? I haven't used a cleanser in a year (again, out of fear) but am afraid water won't cut it. Regarding popping, I honestly only get one blister or so a month, and I never try to pop those. I meant the fluid-filled bumps. I get at least 2 a day and they drive me INSANE. There's nothing like coming home at the end of the day and realizing you've been in meetings, on the train, etc with whiteheads on your face. Oddly enough, my red "beard" isn't too bad (or have I just gotten used to it?!). My chin/mustache area is more rough/bumpy than anything. I wish I could post a pic! You are so lucky to have yours relatively under control. Once I get the zinc I hope to finally be able to say the whiteheads aren't greeting me every morning!!!

I hate that you guys suffer from this too, but it sure is nice to have people who understand AND are willing to help. Thank you!!!

I absolutely have to get to bed!

Hey Kimberly, I think you should use anything that you know that your skin can tolerate with the zinc but I am just not sure how the powder will mix with the oil...it may just slide all over...not sure...give it a try.

Just so you know, you have to wear a mask when mixing the powder because the fine particles can be harmful if you inhale them. Don't panic...I asked the pharmacist about it and she said it's no problem as long as you wear a mask. It sits on your skin but does not penetrate so no worry about it entering your bloodstream. I just used a mask that I had leftover from house painting. But to be honest, when I see a new blister starting and am too lazy to mix any up I just use Penetan diaper cream.

When this all started I looked into so many things and one of them was OCM (oil cleansing method) so that's what I do now to wash my face....I love the way it makes my skin look and feel but you must make sure to rinse your face really well. When I want to wash off the zinc ointment I just use a hot wash cloth.

To moisturize I use CereVe cream because it contains ceremides (and other stuff that I can't remember right now) which pull moisture into your skin. I have totally foregone paying hundreds at a time on skin care for the moment because I am pleased with this cream and I am sick and tired of falling for the sales pitches that never amount to anything. I am however going to start using prescription Retin A as soon as I can get an appointment with my doctor because I am no longer afraid to try new things on my face for fear of aggravating the PD.

I know for me that make-up does not aggravate PD or soaps or fluoride or my water or any of the other many things that I concerned myself with because I have exposed myself to all of them since then and never had another huge outbreak (just these pesky little ones). Whatever it was (antibiotcs?) just did not agree with me and it wreaked havoc with my skin but it was NOT any of the above.

As to the popping...the only thing that I did at first was burst the fluid filled blisters not the whitehead ones so hopefully the zinc will help you with those as they did me.

Night night!

Well, the cream I applied had no affect... The redness might have gone down a little, but it looks like more bumps are present. I don't have the cream in front of me (because, I'm at work, oh joy), but it probably had petroleum in it - I didn't look for it, I just applied and took a chance.

As much as I hate to say it, I am probably going to go to the dermatologist to see if I can get a topical antibiotic. I really didn't want to get back on the antibiotic path, but if it minimizes it - great.

I have some more zinc cream arriving today, and i'm hoping this one will not "stain" my forehead so I can apply it before leaving the house. My skin is so dry right now, it's making it really difficult not to itch again.

Lastly, I have flouride in my water too, and I'm really leaning towards that as a major contributor - every time I rinse my face, it always gets really irritated.

Hey Cory,

I am too. I take doxycycline for something else but as soon as my doctor gets back from vacation, I'm asking for a new prescription. I really do think that the antibiotics that I took last year caused my PD (maybe a different kind?) but I still want to give it a try to get rid of these leftover blisters.

As to the zinc cream (I can't remember what you said it was called but I know I had never tried it).....yes, the bad part of it is the "clown face". I even tried mixing it with my foundation but I still glowed so I just used tons of it when I didn't have to go out and before bed. It didn't stain me though....I could wipe it off. It's so hard not to jump around to different things when you don't see a vast improvement but how else will you know what works?

As I said, I learned later than neither fluoride or petroleum was making my skin any worse as I tested my toothpaste and used diaper cream so I am really confused there.

Sorry that your skin is so irritated...I remember how aggravatingly maddening that was!

Hey Cory! You just raised something which I often wondered. In relation to yeast, do you think topical antibiotics are relatively harmless, seeing as they don't effect the yeast inside you? That was my approach. When my PD was really bad, I ended up giving in and using a topical which didn't contain steroid. I can't remember the name of it now. It definitely helped, I'd say, and I've had no repercussions. What does everyone else think?

Kimberly- when I read your post I felt so empathetic with the way you're feeling! I can't second the ladies above anymore. It WILL be okay. It absolutely crushes your self esteem, I know. I also become a bit obsessed with the mirror even though to see new bumps (which happened alot) would actually destroy me. I lost count of the times I would just cry and decide not to go out. It sounds ridiculous, but I think it culminates from lots of frustration and uncertainty about how you can treat it. At least if you knew you could use something to get rid of it you would feel relieved that it would only be temporary. Have a good read through all of the posts on here, if you can, and check out people's theories and experiences. I have to say,I am still almost positive it has a strong relation to yeast as countless have said above. In which case, I would definitely try probiotics as a first port of call. It can't do any harm! I really feel for you and hope you keep everyone updated with progress in the future!

Fiona (and Kimberly!) oh God, I know exactly what it feels like to scrutinize literally every single thing you do in worry that it might contribute to PD. And look at EVERY single thing online. I actually feel like this forum is fantastic because it seems that all of us here have researched the damn thing to death, and have bought all of our knowledge and experiences to one place. I am so pleased we have helped each other!

Michaela- not sure if you're still reading the thread but I posted a reply to you and it got deleted when I disconnected from the internet. I was so annoyed and have only just got round to replying to you! Firstly, I am SO glad you understand how bloody appauling GPs are in relation to PD. After prescribing me steroids, I explained to mine that i thought it was almost certainly PD to which he said 'oh I'll just google it.' After skim reading an article, he tried to prescribe me a steroid cream and I explained that it makes it worse. He then said 'well which antibiotics do you want to take?'. I was so shocked! I mean, he is the GP. He should know more than me!?! I ended up just explaining that a 'friend' had used a topical anti biotic to get rid of it (which I had read online) and he prescribed me what I mentioned. Ridiculous! I was prescribed Erythromycin/ Zinc (Zineryt) for something seperate, acne, and it took a couple of months to work fully. Maybe give it another go ? Secondly, I too have IBS. I never considered that link before but its definitely a possibility.

Lastly, just out of curiosity (Not that i think it matters of is linked), but what sort of skin or skin type do you guys normally have? My skin has always been quite dry and I am prone to dry patches. When I first starting getting PD I assumed it was a bad case of this. To make things worse, I am prone to rosacea and scar easily, so having PD just made my face so raw and red. Even though mine has gone, I am left with redness around my nose. Very annoying!

So incredibly pleased this forum is still so active. Best of luck!

Emily, thanks. It helps to read that. Although I have to say, I'm more than a little jealous you've squashed yours. I first had bumps pop up four years ago, and I used hydrocorotine + metro for THREE, which kept it under control. I'm terrified that's three years of yeast building in my body... which would mean if it took majority of you months to get it under control, my recovery looks more like years.

I am with you on thinking the topical antibiotic is harmless in the grand scheme of things. Although it did nothing in my case (might have irritated it even more), I think we're dealing with a whole other beast when the yeast is inside. Just my two cents.

When I was still seeing derms regularly, they had me try a prescription antifungal (fluconazole, I think). It was one pill a week for four weeks. And it did nothing. Did anyone else go that route? Yeast makes a heck of a lot of sense, but one would think if that were the cause of all this, that drug would knock it out.

As far as my skin goes, it's oily. I never get dry patches, even when dealing with the PD. Mine is just the red bumps and small whiteheads mainly in my chin area -- never any dryness.

Because I'm waffling so much on if yeast is the source of the problem in my case, I think it's best to hit it from all angles. I'm going to continue to avoid exposing myself to SLS and fluoride via shampoo, soaps, toothpaste and drinking water, but also hit the possible candida via supplements (including probiotics), approved foods and drinking ACV daily. Topically, I've only been using water, so I'm going to venture out and try putting some of the zinc oxide powder in greek yogurt for a mask 2x daily, and, if it works, some zinc mixed with almond oil.

To be honest though, I don't have any faith, and the panic is setting in as I'm typing this. Why? I've tried all this before. To treat candida, derms gave me strong antifungals. If it's a food allergy, I was tested for sensitivities and followed a strict diet for two months. If it's a systemic allergy, I'm not using products with SLS or fluoride. And in the past, I used to mix zinc cream with sulfur and apply it religiously. NONE of these changes stopped new bumps from appearing daily.

I'm sorry to bust in and be such a debbie downer. I just feel like I've researched the vast corners of the internet, and everyone else finally finds the thing that works for them... and I'm the straggler. I let it affect my life way too much, and it terrifies me to think this could be a lifelong affliction. I think the reason is that it seems everyone else HAS found their "cure," and I fear mine is going to continue to get worse and harder to treat. People don't get rashes for no reason, and the fact it's there means something in the body is wrong. I have a tough time letting up on research or accepting this is the way life is knowing something needs to be FIXED.

Gah. Thanks for letting me vent.

Hi Everyone,It is very clear that what will trigger PD for one will not for another and what will help one will not help another.

Like Fiona I delibrately put products on my face that are no,no's and I had no reaction-certain shampoos,fluoride etc.

In hind sight I think it would have been better for me to try one thing at time to see what helped and what didn't,because although my skin is clear I am not sure if it was one thing or a collection of things that worked.

As said even though antibiotics were helpful for me definitely 100% that steroid creams made it worse.I think allergy and yeast are MAJOR factors.

Kimberly mentioned fluconazole and yes that does help as it kills yeast however there is such a fine balance that is needed I think probiotics are much needed to get balance just so.

I also had a Mirena coil fitted and removed maybe this contributed too.

My skin has always been combination both oily and dry,however it was noticeably dryer before PD started.It has always been super sensitive.

It is super frustrating to find out one thing works so well for one person,only to try it and it not have same result.

I tried Dalacin (clindamycin) in topical form and it did 'bugger all' for me. However I was prescribed it when my face was terrible and I think it wasn't 'man' enough to help-for want of a better expression.

I think probiotics could help us all,I think antihistamines could help us all (two weeks to get fully in system). I think Elidel could help anyone just because of what it is.It is very helpful when steroid creams have been previously been used and is suggested in the very latest information on treatment for PD.

I have not been able to find any information that lists zinc as part of the ingredients of Elidel but it does say:

Pimecrolimus is used to treat certain skin conditions such as eczema (atopic dermatitis) in people who should not use or have not responded to other eczema medications (e.g., topical steroids). Eczema is an allergic-type condition that causes red, irritated, and itchy skin. This drug works by changing the skin's defense (immune) system, thereby decreasing the allergic reaction that causes eczema. Pimecrolimus belongs to a class of drugs known as topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs).

I found this wonderful,it won't cure it but noticeable improvement over night.

Hi Kimberly,You will beat it,you will if you keep on like your doing.

Steroids definitely feed PD and when I stopped taking them it got worse before it get better.

A great deal of this does not make sense and my GP admitted it was a difficult area and he could treat the symptoms but couldn't find the cause. I was referred to a Derm consultant but that could take months and I am now free of PD.

I was getting it every month without fail around same date so hormones have a lot to answer for.

As previously said swab showed no infection or bacteria ? My face was bright red,scaly,oozy,itching and used to feel like 'zingy'. If one huge bump oozed onto clear skin it would spread there.

Yet antibiotics did help but not the topical clindamycin but doxycycline tablets worked in conjunction with other treatments previously said.

Please ask your GP for Elidel cream.

Kimberly,

I sent a reply to your e-mail. I am so happy for you to have received reassurance from us because I know for myself that being able to talk with others about this made all the difference in the world to me.

Emily,

Thank you again for starting up this discussion all those months ago because as I said, it was and is so helpful to me.

I too am appalled at the reactions I have read about from doctors....I snorted with shock when you mentioned that you were asked by your doctor what "you" thought you should be prescribed. It absolutely stuns me. And the fact that you had to say a "friend" had problems with steroid cream to avoid being prescribed it rings true for me too. I have actually formulated that angle in my own mind to use on my own doctor if she ever tried to recommend steroid cream to me.

Also, I am so glad that you asked about skin type...I have always wanted to ask too. Your description of your skin matches mine to a tee. I have dry skin with dry patches and redness due to rosacea. I was afraid that when I asked my doctor about my PD that she would just chalk it up to my rosacea instead of looking at it in it's own light. In other words, taking the easy way out and making a "blanket" diagnosis.

Although I lean towards the high dosage of antibiotics that I was given just over a month before my first outbreak as being the cause, I still wonder if rosacea had a hand in it and would like to hear from others if they too have rosacea.

So good to hear from you and I'm glad that you still check in!

Kimberly, You are not a debbie downer, you are just fed up and frustrated. The one thing for sure is that stress is definitely a factor in PD. I too was devastated but IT WILL GET BETTER. You will not have your face taken over by an alien dermatitis and we are hear if you need us!

Lisa,

You are very right about Elidel cream not containing zinc and I have been meaning to correct that. I think it was Laura or someone that used Cetaphil that DOES contain zinc and I got it mixed up (there goes my credibility!)

What I read about was using Elidel cream "in conjunction" with zinc ointment...Ooops! Nice catch!

I too agree with SLS', fluoride, makeup and everything else you mentioned not being the cause of this or making it any worse. I am still of the mind though that we can't all be that physiologically different that there can be so many different triggers for each person. I just can't wrap my head around that one.

Take |Care!

P.S. Please forgive all of my typos!

Lisa and Fiona, thank you. Some day I hope to be in your shoes, talking someone off the ledge.

I want to weigh in on Elidel. I actually used it for two weeks (2x a day) and it kept my PD totally suppressed, just as hydrocortisone did. The problem is, it functions just like a steroid in that it causes a rebound once you stop it, at least in my case. My derm wanted me to use it when I had just stopped the hydrocortisone, to alleviate the flare. But my finding is, your skin gets addicted to this as well.

I actually decided a couple weeks ago that I'd had it with trying new things and was simply going to use Elidel for the rest of my life, since i knew it worked just as well as cortisone but doesn't thin the skin. Sadly, upon applying it to my chin, it turned all red. Magical cream no more.

I'm not saying Elidel won't work for anyone because it definitely helped in your case, Lisa, but I wonder if another change you made KEPT the rash under control. I read on another board about a woman who figured out her trigger was SLS, so she removed it from everything while using Elidel, then stopped applying it and her rash was gone. Just want to say that those of us who aren't able to remove the trigger should be aware that it might cause a rebound flare. I also worry (common theme? ) about using an immune system suppressant -- with cortisone, the belief is that using it makes a fungal infection worse.

"For instance, topical steroids may appear to help fungal infections, but they actually suppress the

body’s ability to fight the infection and make it worse." -http://www.iacdworld.org/skin/steroid.pdf

Hello everyone, I have had PD now for a good 6 months, and have pretty much tried everything, starting to feel so fed up of looking like a spotty teenager when I am due to turn 40 this year :-( Anyway weekend just gone I decided to give my son's oilatum that we used to use for his eczema. I used cotton wool with water and a little of the ointment to wash my face. I then followed with Elizabeth Arden eight hour cream that a friend recommended. I was really shocked the next day how much it has calmed down. Still have a couple of bumps around my nose around my nose but it has almost disappeared. I picked up the cream in a sample tube from the make up counter so at least it didn't cost anything to try. I think I may go back to actually get a tube this weekend. I am pretty much putting it on several times a day and it seems to be really working :-). Fingers crossed it will continue to do so

Hi everyone,

I registered here just to reply to this thread, having read it from beginning to end. Thank you so much to everyone here for being such an active community, there's a real sense of camaraderie here. This may be a bit of an essay, but I feel compelled to write this up in case it a) anyone can help me or b) it helps anyone else.

Bit of a skin history: I'm 24. I have typical english rose complexion, very pale and prone to redness. This has been suggested as mild rosecea by a derm. I've also struggled with excema my whole life. Used to use steriods around my mouth for irritation there until I got PD, did the research, and found out it was a trigger. Whoops!

I've had PD (diagnosed) for about 4 months. It's not as bad as some, I only get very small red bumps (with fluid if scratched), lots of flaking though, incredibly tight and itchy, and a total clown mouth.

Currently what I do... Take orally: Iron, korolex, zinc, probiotics and also doxycycline (got prescribed, but starting to regret it after reading here).

Topically I was originally applying Lucas Paw Paw, which I actually got a lot of symptom relief from, but then I read it has petroleum so stopped. Then I was onto Rosex from my useless derm (similar to metrogel), this seems to make it much tighter, flakeier and also spread, so I've now stopped that too.

Now I'm 100% pure jojoba oil, applied with a cotton swab. I did read in one of the earlier posts that oil is a really bad idea? Does anyone know if this is true/why? I saw great results the first few times I used it, but now it does seem worse again.. sigh.

My next steps I'm going to try in order of what seems best here are: Avene Cicalfate cream, Osmia Organics skin care kit (lots of good reviews from PD sufferers), Elidel cream, then Calendula Cream. I will review each as I go here. If all those fail.. god knows then.

Ps. Diet wise: I've removed virtually all gluten and all refined sugar. Trying to eat mostly veges, fish, chicken and fruit. I'm sure it's good for my health so I'm going to keep it up, but can't say it's much of a cure yet.

Read a great quote about PD which suggested we all seem to be obsessive type A personalities. Have to think there's some truth in this, which may be why it also seems stress triggered for a lot of us too, and also why the seemingly endless search for an elusive cure, with no clear rhyme or reason, seems to be so harrowing for us.