Seborrhoeic Dermatitis

[Emma0489]

Has anyone ever came across this skin condition? My GP reckons I have it and after trying numerous creams it's not cleared up. He's given me Antifungal antibiotic for two weeks and will refer me to skin clinic if doesn't help. From what I'm reading online I won't ever be rid of this skin condition now and unfortunately it's the worst place it could be over my face [emoji31] not great when I'm starting out as a makeup artist! just wondered if anyone has ever came across it and if so any recommendations to help keep it at bay? At my wits end so would appreciate any advice given.

Thanks geeks x

 

[PamieD]

Oh dear, sorry to hear that. It can be down to so many things, you almost have to be your own doctor to work out what aggravates it and how best to manage it. If you're really, really stressed then that will delay healing so def try and have faith in this new antibiotic treatment, and take it one day at a time. Worth having a really good look at everything your skin touches and vice versa, from pillowcases to face wash to moisturiser. What do you use for skincare and makeup at the moment?

 

[Emma0489]

Thanks it's so hard because I have always had fantastic skin (even through puberty etc my skins never given me any problems) I hope the new antibiotic treatment does help. Subconsciously I am probably stressing about it although trying not to! I've been trying to keep a note of things that would make it flare up but to be honest it's on an even keel at the moment not getting worse and not getting better. I have been using no7 for my skincare, used it for a long time. For makeup it's a bit of everything and seeing how it works on my skin trial and error. Soon as I'm in the house it comes off to allow my skin to breathe. It's so hard to try and figure out what aggravates it x

 

[PamieD]

It's a very unfair condition for sure. I would perhaps try laying off all skincare products for the moment, and only use facial wipes to clean/remove makeup. Also I'd stay well away from long lasting makeup. Sorry I can't help more, you're in the best hands with your doctor though

 

[Emma0489]

I appreciate your comments! Thank you x

 

[squidgernetball]

Sorry but totally disagree with advice to use wipes. They are loaded with chemicals to stop them growing bacteria and to prevent them drying out. No one should ever use wipes. They're hideous products. They can also remove all the healthy bacteria from the skin as they're so stripping.

I have a client with this condition. Blue led light helps during environ facials as does environ skincare. My client had just had a mirena coil fitted which has really exacerbated her condition.

I can highly recommend you get yourself an environ consultation. We're getting good results with minimal skincare.

Unfortunately doctors are general practitioners and often don't know much about skin. If you get a referral to a specialist, all well and good but even then, results are mixed.

Re make up. A top quality mineral is your best bet. I don't rate bare minerals as they contain a product called bismuth which although it's a mineral can aggravate. Jane Iredale are excellent. The purest mineral I've come across.

Any questions, please ask.

Vic x

 

[noreenoconnor]

I have this and unfortunately it is a condition for life, however it comes and goes with its severity. I have found stress to make it worse for sure.

obviously every person is going to be unique but what has worked for me is washing my hair every day and giving the scalp a really good rub, then drying with a hair dryer and making sure all of my scalp is completely dry, like bone dry no dampness at all. I get it on my eyebrows and corners of my nose if very stressed and you have to treat skin carefully to avoid irritation as it can be quite stingy otherwise. I just cleanse my skin with a face cloth to get rid of any flakes and then use a good oil free moisturiser.

I've also found that colouring my hair keeps it at bay so colour it every 4 weeks (well I try to anyway)

I found the medicated shampoo might work for a week and then would be useless and no other meds seem to work.

BUT this is just what has worked for me and may irritate your skin so tread carefully xx

 

[squidgernetball]

I'm guessing yours is mainly in the scalp then @noreenoconnor? My clients is mainly on the face. They've linked hers with hormonal upset hence the problem with the new coil.

Vic x

 

[noreenoconnor]

I'm guessing yours is mainly in the scalp then @noreenoconnor? My clients is mainly on the face. They've linked hers with hormonal upset hence the problem with the new coil.

Vic x

it normally effects the scalp and can travel down to face and judging by the OPs initial posting I think it may be effecting her scalp primarily and has now moved to her face too. It's caused by an a naturally occurring fungus we all have living in our skin, but people with high levels of it it cause irritation. I would often wake up with blood under my fingernails at night because it would get so itchy. It's awful for anyone to go through.

I remember my doctor saying to me , do you know when you see old men with a loads of dandruff and a flaky nose... yeah that's what you've got. I was 18 at the time and thought my life was over what a way to explain it to me

I still get bad bouts of it during times of stress but you do learn to manage it!

 

[PamieD]

Sorry but totally disagree with advice to use wipes. They are loaded with chemicals to stop them growing bacteria and to prevent them drying out. No one should ever use wipes. They're hideous products. They can also remove all the healthy bacteria from the skin as they're so stripping.

I have a client with this condition. Blue led light helps during environ facials as does environ skincare. My client had just had a mirena coil fitted which has really exacerbated her condition.

I can highly recommend you get yourself an environ consultation. We're getting good results with minimal skincare.

Unfortunately doctors are general practitioners and often don't know much about skin. If you get a referral to a specialist, all well and good but even then, results are mixed.

Re make up. A top quality mineral is your best bet. I don't rate bare minerals as they contain a product called bismuth which although it's a mineral can aggravate. Jane Iredale are excellent. The purest mineral I've come across.

Any questions, please ask.

Vic x

Blimey, what wipes are these then?! They are mostly water with a very small amount of detergent, far less than in normal cleanser and much less foaming agent. It's the first thing I recommend trying when the skin is broken as it means minimal contact with water, so as not to open up healed up scabs. Thing is, I wouldn't tell anyone not to try Environ or any other skin care systems just because of the clients I've had with bad reactions to them, I know it's just down to their skin type and most people have good results. It has to be an individual thing imo, that's why I suggest trying things out. Doctors are crap at acne but with other skin conditions it's more likely to be a systemic problem.

 

[squidgernetball]

Wipes are the first thing I suggest clients give up.

If you secure something moist in a bag, it's loaded with chemicals to stop it growing bacteria and to keep it moist. Seeing the face on a visia machine shows no bacteria. None whatsoever.

There are a lot of products that can help improve the skin but wipes are not one I'd ever recommend x

 

[Trinity]

I have this on my scalp too, I have tried hundreds of shampoos, lotions and potions. Sulfate free, baby shampoo, coal tar, benzowhateveritscalled from the doctors, and everthing inbetween including a bespoke tincture from Neals Yard and the only thing that keeps my scalp in any kind of good condition is Bumble & Bumble Seaweed Shampoo. The conditioner on me is pants, makes my hair really static but the shampoo has been a godsend. (I've also tried dairy free diet, meat free diet, and food free diet (meal replacement shake for 5 months, lost 6 stone) but still flakey).

It's not cheap at £48 a litre but worth it for the confidence to be able to leave the house without being embarrassed. I've tried other versions of SeaKelp shampoo (the name of which escapes me right now and it didn't work at all) so definitely try the B&B.

 

[squidgernetball]

I have this on my scalp too, I have tried hundreds of shampoos, lotions and potions. Sulfate free, baby shampoo, coal tar, benzowhateveritscalled from the doctors, and everthing inbetween including a bespoke tincture from Neals Yard and the only thing that keeps my scalp in any kind of good condition is Bumble & Bumble Seaweed Shampoo. The conditioner on me is pants, makes my hair really static but the shampoo has been a godsend. (I've also tried dairy free diet, meat free diet, and food free diet (meal replacement shake for 5 months, lost 6 stone) but still flakey).

It's not cheap at £48 a litre but worth it for the confidence to be able to leave the house without being embarrassed. I've tried other versions of SeaKelp shampoo (the name of which escapes me right now and it didn't work at all) so definitely try the B&B.

That's interesting. So much of what works is trial and error. I have read that diet just doesn't affect it although you have to have the correct diagnosis to begin with x

 

[Emma0489]

Thank you for all comments geeks!

Mines is only on my face, the worst affected places are cheeks nose and chin. My doctor did recommend using an anti dandruff shampoo and gently rubbing the lather from shampoo on the face on areas affected. But this didn't seem to help either. He has checked my scalp and theres no sign of it on there for me.

I know everyone's skin is different and can react differently to things so just wanted to know of anything tried and tested by you guys that you have found works as so far I haven't found anything to keep it at bay.

I am on day 6 of 14 for antibiotics and I would say today is one of the worst days I have had

I will try out the environ skin system and see how I get on with that.
Thanks!

 

[PamieD]

Wipes are the first thing I suggest clients give up.

If you secure something moist in a bag, it's loaded with chemicals to stop it growing bacteria and to keep it moist. Seeing the face on a visia machine shows no bacteria. None whatsoever.

There are a lot of products that can help improve the skin but wipes are not one I'd ever recommend x

Well there you go, the first thing I do is say stop using products and switch to wipes for a month lol. Look I really don't know who told you skin wipes are so bad, or where you read that, but every single cosmetic product has to adhere to the same european directive for cosmetic safety. And there are lots of different names for the same ingredients, some chemical sounding and others more hippy like (water can be labeled as aqua or dihydrogen monoxide for example). They're no different at all to putting some cleanser on a cotton wool pad and applying. And if Visia are really claiming they can show the levels of bacteria on the surface of the skin then that's false advertising. We're made of bacteria after all. If you don't like wipes fair enough, but everyone has to see what's right for them personally at the end of the day.

 

[squidgernetball]

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

Of course products are cosmetically 'safe' but that doesn't mean we want to put them on our face. Up until about 2011, MI - Methylisothiazolinone - was banned from products that are left on the skin. This changed and allergies to this preservative have gone through the roof. Just because this is approved doesn't mean it's good.

Simple science would dictate to me that if you make something moist and seal it in a bag it will start to grow bacteria it will also start to dry out. Something has to stop these two events occurring and is usually alcohol and preservatives, although clearly some wipes are better than others.

If you have seen a Visia machine in action, you will know that they show the levels of bacteria on the skin along with all sorts of other amazing bits of information like the sun damage, dehydration etc. Not false advertising at all.

To the OP. Sorry this has gone slightly off topic. As PamieD says, you need to find what's right for you. If you can get to an environ salon with a Visia machine, you can start getting some evidence based skincare. As I said previously, our client is getting good results and is coming into the salon regularly for regular facials and regular scans on the Visia machine. If I can help at all, just pm me.

Best of luck.

Vic x

 

[PamieD]

It's not a matter of disagreement, methylisothiazolinone was banned precisely because of the EU cosmetic directive I mentioned, and it was in normal packaged skincare products (including some salon only brands). Well I've looked at the Visia literature and it says it measures the p.acne levels due to fluorescence. That's not removal of all bacteria. And the thing is, any good skincare regime will reduce the amount of p.acne.

Well the literature to support this measurement is here http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02547809

You're just plain wrong about preservatives though!

 

[Gina Ballerina]

Not all preservatives are bad. MI & MCI is hideous though. I had a swollen face and peeling off skin for 4 months before I had the patch testing to diagnose it.
They took out the 'bad' parabens and put in MI/MCI and its in everything from cleaning products to makeup. It keeps things wet so very prevalent in wipes.

 

[squidgernetball]

My opinion is that wipes are bad for your skin - I have never known any skincare professional to recommend them. You do - great. I don't.

I use a Visia machine regularly in the salon - it shows bacteria levels on the skin - I didn't say that it removes bacteria. It often shows zero bacteria on skin where wipes have been used.

As @Gina Ballerina says - MI is a hideous product. It isn't banned. It was initially only allowed on products washed off the skin, but is now allowed in products that remain on the skin, causing horrendous reactions.

The bad press that parabens get means that f they're paraben free, you wonder what preservatives they actually use. give me good parabens any day!

Vic x

 

[Trinity]

That's interesting. So much of what works is trial and error. I have read that diet just doesn't affect it although you have to have the correct diagnosis to begin with x

No diet doesn't affect it, and clearly not on me for sure, but you always get someone say 'oh have you tried cutting out dairy/wheat/sugar/food/dust/whatever?' so I thought I'd get in first with what I have tried

Curiously, about 8 months ago, after using the B&B for about 4 months, it completely cleared up on my head but a massive patch of scaly, flakey, sometimes red, skin has appeared on my left shin. It's like it's moved. I'm not sure if you can get SD on your legs??? but it wasn't on my scalp anymore and I'm happy with that. Sadly in the 2 months or so its started again on my scalp but no changes to anything that I can attribute it to. If anything stress is reduced.

I think it's the not knowing that frustrates me, which in turn depresses me which in turn makes it all worse