Apple Cider Vinegar and Calendula for Perioral Dermatit

My PD actually started about a year ago as a small red bumpy rash on my chin near the corner of my mouth. I have sensitive skin so just chalked it up to a winter rash of some kind. I was at my family doctor for a different reason and mentioned the rash and was prescribed a steroid cream to treat it. Worked like a charm. It was my little skin care army cream that I would use anytime something would pop up . Then one day it just stopped working. I had clearly abused the cream and was now paying the price.

I have been dealing with a bad, angry flare up for the past three months. It spread from a small patch near the corner of my mouth to all the way around my chin and then up around my nose. I googled the heck out of the rash to try and find natural cures. Nothing seemed to be working - not even my cream. Then I found this website. I immediately cut out the cream (and people are right - you do get worse before you get better). The rash looked angrier than ever and even spread up around and on top of my eyes.

My Regime - this is what I found worked for me.

The first week I cut out the cream and any face wash. I was using coconut oil to remove my makeup. I would then apply undiluted apple cider vinegar (with the mother) on a cotton ball directly to the affected areas. I would suggest doing this process over a weekend as the rash really got red and inflamed. I would then apply a Calendula salve to the area without washing my face after the ACV application. I did this about 4-5 times a day. During the week I would only do it 2-3 times a day. After week one not much difference. In hind sight I think I might have been detoxing from the steroid cream still.

Week two - I began applying diluted ACV letting it dry and then applying a coconut oil to moisturize my chapped skin. I do ACV twice a day and moisturize about 3-4. I am still in week two, but the PD has gone down significantly. My main issue is now the dry skin and not the redness or bumpiness from the PD! It should also be noted that I cut out all SLS and have been using just baking soda to brush my teeth.

I hope that my post might help at least one person out there. The embarrassment that this condition caused me was unfair. It robbed me of my social life for quite a while as even make up couldn't fully hide my PD. Just stay committed and be disciplined and you will see success! Good luck on your journey!

I also thought this condition could've been linked to my hormones since I am 43 and have used nasal steroids for years and never had this problem. So I also cut out sugar, coffee and ate cleaner (although I already was eating clean) and started drinking more green tea and bone broth. I believe the bone broth truly helped too. It balances hormones. My PD cleared up in less than a week. I didn't wear much makeup and only used zinc oxide mineral sunscreen. I will now wait and see and hope the PD stays away.

The reason why to point this out is because POD can be either bacterial or VIRAL. If you do not find a cure the way other people do is because yours may be viral - that's why some people do not respond to to antibiotics because antibiotics do not cure viruses. Alas, I've used the antibiotics in the past with much success, but there is a point in time a person just does not want to live like that.

I use the apple cider vinegar with a quick swipe like a toner and spot treatment for anything that resembles a zit. If you over do it, you will dry out your skin day to day. Don't do that.

I carefully went out into the world and looked for calendula products like Herb Pharm Whole Flower Calendula Oil. I rub a few drops into my face - intended for food - you can buy the tea. I don't drink the tea and I don't put it into my water because I have no way to establish that variable as working. But I rub that in without any harm. I got this at the health food store. I then had a few choices from Boiron for calendula products, but I settled on Calendula lotion because it had the least amount of ingredients that troubled me (as many of you know, it's hard to pick). I had a lot of success with this combination. But it was not perfect. I finally found my finishing balance with ...organic unrefined coconut oil - my face needed a little moisturizing from all the products and drying out.

I am still going to search for a zinc soap to wash my face with day to day, but I did not want to write until my face was cleared AND remained cleared for a month. I still get a little 'zit' which...as we know I cannot just use zit cream. I have to tone with ACV and use these select products. But I feel in control, and I credit this board for giving me a million ideas. I wanted to say thank you.

I discovered your website and read more about the Apple cider Vinegar treatment and Calendula cream. For the last 5 days I've been following this regime. The first 2 days, my skin became red and dry but I just kept using the Apple Cider Vinegar internally and externally. I also used pure organic Calendula cream, and this soothed my skin a lot. My eczema improved, but it wasn't cured, until I discovered products online. The HONEY&PROPOLIS cream saved my skin. I promise you, after 2 hours of application, my skin is 95% cured.