Dermatitis Treatment and Natural Remedies

I first started having red spots on my face. I noticed they would flare up after eating certain foods. I decided to have allergy and food testing done to see if I could find the culprit that was making these red spots on my face. My allergy testing revealed I am sensitive to corn, soy and yeast. I changed my diet to try and avoid these foods. I also saw a dermatologists during this time. He got me out of my severe redness stage with a shampoo and steroid but did not solve the problem. My wife decided she wanted an oil diffuser. This puts different types oil into the air. She read that lemon oil behind the ears helps complexions. I tried it and started seeing good results. I have been putting several drops of Lemon oil behind my ears twice a day. I have had a few occasional mild flare up but I have seen a drastic improvement. I am not sure if lemon juice works or not. I would at least suggest diluting the lemon juice if you try this with water. But my best results have been with lemon oil. Good Luck

Then one day I wondered if I was fighting a bacterial infection that would be better healed by alkalizing my skin rather than acidifying it (with apple cider vinegar). So I put magnesium chloride on a cotton ball and spread it all over the rash. It stung like crazy!

The first thing I noticed was that after one day of applying it 2-3 times, the eczema started drying up and flaking off. It seemed to be working. Slowly, over the course of a week, the eczema disappeared. I still had some dermatitis rash remaining, but it was much improved.

It has been one month now. All my eczema is gone and the dermatitis in 99% gone. Occasionally, I get a single puss-filled eruption, but I immediately apply the magnesium chloride and it disappears within a few days.

For scalp, I wash my hair with a baking soda/ water mixture (at a 1:4 parts ratio) and then rinse and follow with a ACV vinegar/ water mixture (same ratio). This hair regimen has removed all scalp dermatitis (I have to keep doing it or it WILL come back) and I would like to add that my hair had begun to thin due to the derm but now my hair is very full and baby hairs at the hairline have returned. I even get compliments on my skin and hair and the look of surprise when I tell people about the cheap and simple products I use. I really hope that this helps someone, I know this thread is old but I also know the struggle of dealing with the embarassment of derm. Regardless of whether or not you get the eczema, derm, acne, whatever, under control, you should know that you should live your life and those that matter won't mind and those that mind shouldn't matter to you.

Much love, peace, and wishes for the skin you dream of :)

I use honey ALL over my face every morning (& night if it's really bad) after I wash; pat dry gently, smear honey all over & leave it anywhere from 5 min to an hour. It's so soothing & deeply moisturizing; rinses clean w/luke warm water- CAN'T LIVE W/OUT IT. I just use raw unfiltered local honey, one day will try Manuka but regular stuff works great. May sound crazy that I wear make up but my skin feels calmer w/it on & my Derm Dr. says it protects my skin. I use Tarte Amazon Clay BB cream (for normal/oily) the clay makes it somewhat water/sweat proof (need make up remover wipes to get it off) this stuff is great for my sensitive skin (NO Parabens, dyes, fragrance etc.. & SPF 20 is mineral based) & Neutrogena Longwear foundation (I NEED coverage) I'm very sensitive & this doesn't bother my skin.I take Biotin (very low levels). I was taking Max. dosage Biotin years ago & it was giving me HUGE CYSTS on my chin (never had that prob before) & I read that could happen in sensitive skin types, quit taking it & stopped having that problem. Maybe I have deficiency now?? Thanks for tips everyone, hope my info helps=)

My PD started with a small rash on the side of my month that was slightly itchy. I didnt think much of it and left it alone.. Then it got worse. It spread around the right side of my mouth and near my chin. It was really scary because I couldnt figure out what it was until I did some research online.

A friend of mine is an esthetician and she recommended super milk thistle with a juice cleanse. I am allergic to ragweed so I couldnt do milk thistle since it can cause an allergice reaction if you have plant allergies.

I realized my PD started because I was not exercising as regulary as I do, drinking tap water which is high in flouride, & consuming 2-3 alcoholic beverages which compromised my gastrointestinal system & liver.

I switched to flouride free toothpaste, drank only bottled/filtered water, began excersing (sweating out the toxins), and drank 2-3 cups of ____ blended juice (organic). Today is the 3rd day and my face has changed dramatically. I highly recommend to go on a cleanse to help your liver and internal systems get rid of the toxins.

I hope this brings relief to anyone experiencing PD. It is awful but you all these post helped me with the psychological trauma that comes with this disfiguring illness.

Love to all of you!

when my most recent outbreak occurred, i began reading your blogs on this forum. i have to say it was quite discouraging.... the remedies would work for some and not for others..... i spent all my free time reading and researching different possible causes of pd. the one that made the most sense to me, was the link between pd and overgrowth of candida in the body. (since my pd felt itchy and raw like a yeast infection). i began to cut out all sugar from my diet. all dairy.... all breads.... all sweet fruits. basically i eat chicken breast, fish, nuts and veggies. nothing fried. then i started taking a probiotic.... (get a high quality one that contains acydophilus. ) i also started taking biotin everyday.

i tried some of the recommendations on here, like acv. the only thing that did for me was irritate and burn my skin. took it a week to start looking somewhat normal color again. so personally, i wouldn't recommend doing that one.

i kept reading and researching and found a blog from a guy who suffered from pd. he said the only thing that cleared his pd up was an antifungal lotion. i was willing to try anything at this point, as i was almost three weeks into the outbreak! and miserable!!! i went to the drug store and bought some lamisil and began applying it twice a day... liberally. i've been using it now for about 5 days. my pd is almost completely gone! maybe it's the anitfungal lotion.... maybe the diet finally started working.... maybe it's the supplements.... or maybe i just landed on the miracle combination!

for those of you who suffer with pd, i'm so sorry that anyone has to go through this. it's such a stubborn unresponsive condition. but my pd definitely responded in a very positive way to this treatment:

candida free diet

probiotics

biotin

antifungal lotion

hope this helps someone! stay positive! :)

Thank god for earth clinic and all of you because it has started a wonderful journey of discovery and appreciation for nutrition. I wanted to share my experience and return the favor.

The first thing I discovered was that the commonly prescribed treatment for PD is tetracycline, which has dangerous long-term side effects, and the PD always returns. I never saw a dermatoligist for PD - I self-diagnosed myself by researching the problem, checking out photos and comparing my symptoms.

After much research and dealing with this problem I now believe I know the cause and what I need to do to CURE PD. I started my natural treatment a little more than 2 months ago. After 2 weeks my severe PD symptoms disappeared. Since then I've had to stick to a regimen, but I completely stopped using my wife's makeup, and I've lived without any embarrassing signs of PD for over 2 months now.

From my research and experience I have determined that the cause of PD is an overgrowth of Candida in the body. In order to CURE the disease you have to kill the candida overgrowth, but this is very hard to do. Here's what works for me to get rid of the symptoms.

Before you do the following, remove all toxic chemicals that contain sodium lauryl sulfate and flouride from your home. Buy a new toothpaste without flouride, remove all soap, shampoo, body wash, dish soap, household cleaner, and laundry detergent that contains sodium lauryl sulfate. Natural food stores have natural cleaners without these harmful chemicals that actually do a better job! You need to stop wearing makeup and using ANY creams on your face until your PD symptoms disapear. Once your PD clears up, you can experiment and see what makes the candida thrive and makes your PD flare up. Also, throw out any old makeup - this is filled with bad bacteria that feed candida, and for some of you it may have caused the candida overgrowth in the first place. After you've done this, you're ready to start fighting the candida overgrowth that causes PD by doing the following regimen.

1. Apple Cider Vinegar on Face - This must be organic and unfiltered with the mother (it will say "with the mother" on the label). Use cotton balls to liberally apply the ACV all over your face. No need to dilute it with water! It will sting, but that's a sign it is doing its job. The pain will reduce after a few days. Do this once in the morning and once at night.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar Ingested - Every morning and every night you need to drink a shot of ACV. This is very important because it attacks Candida in the body.

3. Apply an organic plain yogurt mask before bed. The yogurt needs to be organic with live cultures. Have at it, stick your whole hand in the yogurt and slop it on your face and leave overnight. I'm serious - the live cultures in the yogurt kill candida.

These 3 things alone had great effects on clearing up pretty much all of my PD symptoms in less than 2 weeks. This may not be enough to cure the PD, however, because it might not completely kill the Candida overgrowth in the body. Personally, if I stop this regimen the PD starts to come back. Also, your diet will determine how effective steps 1-3 are. To get even better results and work towards CURING your PD, add the following.

4. Make sure you maintain great oral health. Scrape all that white stuff off your tongue (which is candida) and gargle twice a day with 3% hydrogen peroxide.

5. Candida overgrowth is believed to begin in the intestinal tract. Acidophilus is a good bacteria that does a great job killing candida in the gut. Get an Acidophilus supplement and take 2x/day. This is also called a probiotic - just make sure it contains Acidophilus.

6. DIET! - What you eat will determine whether the candida is thriving or getting obliterated, which has a direct result on the quality of your skin. Stop eating sugar, all processed foods, alcohol and bread. Try to minimize meats and dairy products. I know, it's hard. The most important thing is sugar. My PD showed no symptoms, and then I ate 3 big bags of chips, a jar of nutella and a loaf of French bread. The PD started coming back even though I was on the regimen. Then, after eating a ton of vegetables and eliminating sugar, it cleared right up after 3 days and stays clear as long as I don't eat much sugar.

7. Amalgam fillings - Amalgam fillings release mercury (a serious toxic poison) into your body every time you grind your teeth.

Low level mercury toxicity suppresses the immune system, which allows candida to proliferate. It is also believed that candida thrives on mercury. Unfortunately I have A LOT of amalgam fillings in my mouth. I'm currently saving money to have them all taken out. If you do have them taken out, you need to have it done at a holistic dentists office, where they understand the dangers of mercury poisoning. After removing your amalgam fillings you need to detox your body of the metal poisoning. You can find natural products that remove heavy metals from your body at the local natural food store. Also, cilantro is great for removing mercury.

I strongly believe that once this mercury poisoning is out of my body, I will be able to starve and kill the candida overgrowth through a strict diet, and actually CURE my PD. My goal is to no longer need this regimen, and be able to eat very moderate levels of sugar, dairy, meat and bread without effecting my skin. If you are truly healthy, there shouldn't be symptoms like PD. Imagine going to bed and waking up without having to put anything on your face - that sounds awesome.

Good luck, and whenever I get the fillings removed, I'll give you an update.

The first time this flared up, over 5 years ago, I got rid of it with vaseline, as it was just above my top lip. The second time, I let it get way out of hand by hiding it with makeup and putting on perfume-y lotions and even using exfoliating facial scrubs. Yikes. I looked like a leper! It spread to under one eye and a patch on my forehead. The doctor didn't diagnose it but prescribed me a strong topical steroid. Of course, it went away but soon I noticed I needed to keep using it to keep the rash at bay. I went on using it for about 8 months. Then the rash flared up again. I finally broke down and put hydrocortisone on it, as I had done some reasearch by that point and knew steroid creams were just a vicious cycle. Well, I started that around October. A doctor gave me some Tetracycline, but it didn't really help at all. In May, I moved into a new apartment (not sure if there was a correlation, or maybe the weather?) and the patches gradually became smaller. By July I had actually managed to wean myself off the cream.

Fast forward a year and a half, and all of a sudden I woke up one morning with my top lip inflamed and the area above it as well. I thought I was done with pd, so I was pissed! This actually happened after I had been drinking ACV for a month or so for other reasons, (which seems opposite what many people on here are saying) but I'm not sure if it's related. I had also been brushing my teeth with baking soda which leads me to believe I may be allergic to it. Regardless, I wanted it gone and did not want to go the hydrocortisone route again just because I happened to get lucky last time.

Topical ACV and Grapefruit seed extract just made it much redder and worse. I bought some cardiospermum cream from a health food store because it said it was an alternative to hydrocortisone. It seemed to sooth the redness, but didn't diminish it. I started using Peelu toothpaste (no Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or Fluoride) also. I then bought some zinc diaper rash cream. It definitely hid the redness, but didn't really take it away. I also got some calendula cream which helped the redness and chapping directly on my lip, and was very soothing.

Finally, I bought some rosacea gel called Prosacea from Walgreens. I put in on clean skin before bed, topped it off with some Calendula cream, and a little of the diaper rash cream. I woke up and it was much less red! I am hoping this continues. I have gone awhile with no hydrocortisone and it seems the worst is over. It is barely noticeable today. I will update if anything changes.

A few months later I tried a Different dermatologist. She recommended cold turkey from the steriod cream and prescribed antibiotics. A week later I returned and as she could see the rash was getting no better, did some scrapings and flippantly decided that it was a fungal rash. She didn't really seem used to dealing with celtic skin and I wasn't convinced But took the fungal meds she Prescribed. She prescribed a fungal Cream also (which later I found had some steriod in it) - and low and behold the rash disappears, but once again to keep the rash at bay I had to keep topping up with the cream daily! Problem not solved.

Last week I decided I'd try cold turkey and take a more natural route to solve my now 9month skin prob. I booked a few days at the beach, thinking that the saltwater and fresh air will be good for my skin. I checked this site out to see if there are any natural supplements / topical stuff that were recommended. I hit the health store and stocked up on apple cider vinegar (to drink and apply topically), epsom salts (to gently exfoliate skin), probiotic supplements (to cure from inside out), ethyl alcohol (to apply topically), virgin coconut oil with ginger extract (to apply topically), tea tree oil cream moisturisor (to moisturise). In addition to that I ate quite healthy food during the week - fruit smoothie in the morning with poached egg on toast. homemade soup with crackers and homemade hummus for lunch, homemade lasagne and salad for dinners.

day 1-2 of cold -turkey the rash was ablazing! Stung like hell to apply the apple cider vinegar and ethyl alcohol but calming after a few mins.

day3-4 of cold-turkey, much the same but the rash was no longer spreading and appeared to have peaked. Rash was getting quite crackly at this point so before applying makeup I found dipping my face in a bowl of warm water with epsom salts and left to air dry left a v. Fine coating of salt on the skin, which strangly worked v. Well as a base for applying some concealor over the rash. there was no hope in hell I was going to go into work without concealing the rash and thankfully it didn't backfire! An amazing concealor/fopundation I used was by roche possay - AMAZING stuff!

Day 6 - skin 80% back to normal and with a touch on concealor you couldn't see any rash.

Day 8 - skin is 97% back to normal!

in 4 days time I'm hitting the beach, for what I though would be a weekend of laying low and letting my rashy skin get some air and sea water. Turns out my skin is already cured so instead I'll be flashing my new amazing skin!

I'm not sure what caused the initial rash, but it was after a few weeks in the tropical sun. I suspect old suncream may be the root of the problems - or alternatively flouride toothpaste. I've since switched to a non-flouride toothpaste from the health shop, just incase it is the root cause. I'm going to continue with my epsom salt face soaks and use it as an exfoliator mixed with my usual cleanser and will use the apple cider vinegar as a toner at night, and continue to drink it during the day, as my skin is Glowing from it at the moment! The great bonus about the apple cider vinegar is that it's also a natural appetite supressant. Not that I'm trying to diet, but I've noticed over the past week that I've no interest in junk food or over-indulging! thanks to everyone who contributed on your site with all their great ideas - you really have saved my skin!!