The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Connie (Greensboro, Nc, Usa) on 05/29/2011
★★★★★
Hi All, I am so happy that I found this site, just as I was about to give up and resort to long-term antibiotic treatment. I'm into my second round of prednisone, prescribed by my dermatologist, who admitted he had no idea what the flame red, swollen, itchy rash encircling my mouth and creeping up into my eyebrows and on my eyelids could possibly be. This is even more frustrating since it's difficult to treat a condition that is so hard to identify. Thank goodness for the internet, and to all the brave souls suffering with this ailment that took the time to share their experiences.
My PD started after weeks and weeks of raging allergies, which caused me to blow my nose from morning till night. The skin directly under my nose was bright red and never would clear up. I thought I was doing myself a favor by using the tissues with aloe or the anti-viral ones. Boy was I wrong.
During this time I also developed cellulitis and was prescribed strong antibiotics to treat the infection. I take probiotics regularly, but I must not have been taking enough to counteract the strong antibiotic therapy. My first visit to the dermatologist I was prescribed a mild corticosteroid and told to apply it 3x a day. I smeared it all over the affected area, and it seemed to work for a few days. About a week into the treatment, after applying to the area under my nose, everywhere I put the ointment starting to burn, swell, turn red, and itch like crazy. I never thought for a minute it could be the steroid ointment causing all this mischief.
Back to the Drs. office to find out what was wrong. They didn't have a clue; gave me more samples, and a round of prednisone to calm things down. Of course, the prednisone cleared up everything, and I kept applying the new steroid samples to that area. Then just like before, it all came back with a vengeance. Back to Drs. Office for 3rd time. They are more puzzled than ever; prescribe another round of prednisone, and still more samples to try! I was also instructed to stop using the treated tissues, stop all makeup, moisturizers, etc. This was becoming a nightmare of endless agony to the point where I was too embarrassed to leave the house---except to go to the doctor.
I knew there had to be an answer out there somewhere, it just takes persistence and people willing to share. Like the suggestions from others I went to the health food store and got the avc "with the mother", organic greek plain yogurt, a bottle of high count probiotics. Started the treatment last night and can't get over the remarkable difference already. I am taking the Apple Cider Vinegar by mouth and applying a 50/50 dilution with water to a cotton wipe and applying it over the affected areas on my mouth, chin, and eyebrows. I also did the yogurt mask and it really was so calming. The visible peeling flakes of skin have almost completely disappeared, the redness is almost not visible.
The Keflex for the cellulitis really threw everything into turmoil and the topical steroids, along with the prednisone just added to the mess. I feel certain it's a yeast overgrowth underlying these skin issues. Unfortunately, the treatment that the dermatologist recommends makes matters worse with no end in sight. Thank you, thank you, thank you all. I hope everyone has the quick response I've had. It's truly a miracle.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Sjaan (Slc, Ut, Usa) on 11/03/2010
★★★★★
I have suffered from DH for about 8 years now. I have stopped eating gluten, sugar, changed my whole diet really as well as all soaps and detergents in the house, installed a central vacuum system etc, etc. However, I would still occasionally flare up with a horrible rash on my face, arms, back, legs and thighs. It would itch, burn and after scratching it to the point of bleeding, it would look absolutely scary and disgusting really... To the point where I became a recluse. The doctors would prescribe triamcinolone (which would help if I put it on right at the onset of an outbreak), betamethasone for around the eyes and Allegra for the swollen eyes. None if these really helped. My last attack started 2 months ago after a trip to Europe. Nothing seemed to help, even the Kenelog shots did not, and my face felt and looked like someone had poured acid on it. My eyes were swollen to the point where I could not see out of one eye. To those that suffer from this, I don't have to tell you how painful this is and how much it affects your psyche. After 2 months of pain I became depressed and just saw no way out. I could not think of anything else and that is how I found this site.
I tried the 2 tbs of ACV with equal amount of water 3 times a day on an empty stomach. Splashed my face with diluted ACV or put a rag on my face which was soaked in a bowl of ACV for 10 minutes (That stings the first few days:() and then applied VCO(virgin coconut oil) all over my face followed with hypoallergenic moisturizer. Two days later I saw a slight improvement and the stinging was not as severe. Then I added cayenne pepper to the drinking mix and a splash of agave to mellow the vinegar taste. That night I started to sleep like a rock, the dreams were amazing, and after another 3 days the itching was GONE. On the 7th day, when I woke, my face was no longer red and swollen. I felt human again and hopeful for the first time in 8 years of not having to take meds my whole life. YAHOOOOOO!!!! I will continue with the ACV probably forever. I still have a little dry skin but nothing the VCO can't handle. I love that stuff, soooo soothing. To say "thank you" to all of you who contribute to this site seems insufficient. Please know... You change lives. I know, you changed mine.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Zsaqwe (Brownsville, Texas, Usa) on 09/14/2010
★★★★★
After more than 15 years suffering from dermatitis in my face and chest, I am free. I drink ACV with the mother everyday to curb my appetite. It has change my whole skin organ including the scalp, no more dandruff. But the way I was cure from my face and chest from dermatitis was:
1. Washing my face. (with anything)
2. A cotton ball with Ethyl alcohol to clean the area(this kind of alcohol does not dry my face)
3. A cotton ball with ACV with the mother to apply in the affected area (painful in the open wounds, but the cure is fast in less than a week it will not hurt anymore)
4. I finish with natural aloe vera when the ACV is dry. Natural Aloe Vera from the plant is like a gel, When it dries it feels tight like a transparent mask that keeps the moisture in. Now the problem area around the eyes, just do it carefully I do clean around my eyes with the cotton ball with ACV and the alcohol. Just to have clean eyelashes. I don't have the problem around the eyes. It has never gone inside the eye. Be careful and nothing is going to happen , perhaps only it will hurt get over with it. You will be free from that crippling disease in no time and forever, as I did. I will shout it in the mountain top to anyone who have ears to hear.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jenny (Mooloolah, Queensland, Australia) on 09/13/2010
Hello my name is Jenny, I suffer from dermatitis around all of my eyes, in my ear canals and my privates. I'm mostly concerned about my eyes they are red sore and swollen I'm not sure what to use on my skin. Is Apple Cider Vinegar alright to use around my eyes? Please help me. Kindest regards Jenny.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kat (Seattle, Wa) on 04/29/2010
★★★★★
I've never had PD and was recently diagnosed with it. My naturopath recommended the apple cider vinegar along with honey, vitamin C and probiotics. She thought yeast might be the culprit based on what my lips looked like. The directions were as follows: splash a little bit of apple cider vinegar on a cotton ball and lightly touch the skin around your lips - once a day. The vinegar will dry out the lips and take away moisture yeast needs to thrive. 10 days should be enough, but everyone is different. Meanwhile, apply honey on the lips for moisture and to prevent cracking once or twice a day. Use a double doze of probiotics during the 10 days, adhere to a well balanced diet and take vitamin C. My naturopath suggested 2000mg a day for me. Overall, my PD took around 3 weeks to clear. The important thing is to watch out for infections from the dried lips and consult a doctor/naturopath if you feel the rash has changed.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Leah (Calgary, Alta, Canada.) on 02/04/2010
★☆☆☆☆
Hi I was so excited after reading all the yeas for acv, but unfortunetly it didnt work for me. I tried it for 2 day topically 2x-3x daily, and 2tlbs 1x a day with orange juice. The end of the 2nd day my pd was bright pink, and not diminishing. For the first day I was applying it neat, the second day I wet the cotton first- but its just making it worse. I filled my perscription of minocycline, and elidel. I've cut sugar, fruits, grains, starches, and yeasts from my diet, and hopefully when my pd calms down I will be able to continue with natural remedies. Thank you for this website- it helps so much to know that Im not alone in this.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ama (Perth, Western Australia) on 01/09/2010
★★★☆☆BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
Dermatitis on the leg
I have been using apple cider vinegar for a week a now and wiping with white vinegar and acv on the legs. I put 2teaspoon in a glass of water twice a day. the rash is gone a bit but it has turn very dark in colour. i want to ask if that normal.
thank you
Ama
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Linda (Treorchy, Rhondda South Wales UK) on 04/05/2009
★★★★★
YEA!!! I have NEVER had a good skin. In my teens I did the lot, steaming, OTC creams, liquids perscription stuff nothing worked. Then about 15 years ago I started getting hot red patches, this was the start of rosseaca. BAck to the GP, more creams pills andhospital visits nothing. I spent 100's on miracle cures, some helped a little, but never enough to justify the huge price tag. In the end I was prescribed Veil Cover Makeup. This was horrible. and made it worse by bring me up in spots. Finally I found tht rooibos tea applied to my face helped tremendously, and is also great for nappy rash (I used it on my grandaughter). However the past 5 days my skin has gone in to freefall, and not even that helped. I had masses off white pimples, red imflamaed areas, and my face was so sore. I tried the ACV cure, and I am amazed so far. This morning when I got up my face looked as if it had had boilling water thrown at it over night, and felt like it too. So before my bath this morning, I gently cleaned it with warm water and dabbed ACV over it, yeah it stung a bit, but not that bad, and not for long. Afterhalf an hour I looked in the mirror and I had a differnt face!!!! Its not all gone of course, nothing would work that fast, but the redness was down by about 50%, the soreness has gone 100%, and my skin looks less raw. This was just using cheap supermarket ACV from ASDA (.79p a bottle). I'm off to Cardiff tomorrow to find a health food shop and get a bottle of raw ACV.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Dawn (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) on 03/02/2009
★★★★☆
Hi, I`ve been reading all these posts for a month now to try to find an answer to get rid of my POD. I`ve tried quite a number of things, but for now the ACV seems to work when I get the bumps, but my problem is that I cannot seem to get rid of the POD for good. I`ll go a couple of days with it cleared up and then out of no where the bumps return. I`m wondering if anyone can help me figure out what is causing the bumps to return. It`s been quite a roller coaster, thinking it`s going away only to have it return. I only have a couple of small spots on the line from the corner of my mouth to my nose, so I realize I`m very lucky not to have it worse and feel terrible for those with it really bad. I have tried to eliminate SLS from my shampoo and switched to nonfloride toothpaste. I have been using the ACV and applying presribed metrogel after it dries, twice per day. Also, I am heading to Florida in a couple of weeks on holiday and am stressing about the sun and my POD...any suggestions there would be great too!!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Mau (London, London) on 01/27/2009
Applying AVC on the face, that will burn and irritate, and if you have itch the irritation would be more and cause so much redness, you should really dilute it. AVC great for the scalp, but for face..so so..
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jen (Portland, Maine) on 12/18/2008
★★★★★
I also have been suffering off and on from Perioral dermatitis. I was using a steroid cream I had prescribed for something else. Big Mistake. I had to go through the 2 weeks of awful withdrawals, but luckily I had been warned how bad it would be from this site and similar ones. Definitely DELUTE the ACV and make sure you get the ORGANIC as well.
I mostly used this topically, as I find the 2 tbls really hard to drink, even with juice, BUT when I do it really helps out heart burn for like a week at a time just from one dose!:) I use ACV every other day at least. It will burn like heck at first, esp. on delicate skin-my was very bumpy, peely, and pink from withdrawal reaction.
What ever you do...quit your steroids. I was also on Flonase for my mild allergies; I thought back to when I first was prescribed that and it correlates to the first signs of my PD!
Best of luck- It has been about 5 weeks since I quit the cream and started using ACV and I have hardly any red left and only 1 or 2 tiny remnants of a bump. :)
2 more tips:
Crush up an aspirin and mix it into plain organic yogurt-on those bad days- make a soothing mask and relieves the swelling of the bumps a little.
And also rest your face in your clean hands with cold water in the sink. This seems to help a little as well.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Taylor (Las Vegas, NV) on 12/16/2008
★★★☆☆WORKED TEMPORARILY
I found this forum and decided to try the ACV. At first my POD got red and irritated and then it seemed to be clearing up, at least looking better. I used the ACV twice a day for about a week. It started looking worse again, so i finally went to see the Dr. He prescribed me topical Metronidazole Gel. I have been using it for 6 days now and i'm not seeing any sign of it clearing up. It's very aggravating and dry. I put a call into the Dr. to try and get tetracycline. I'm glad the ACV worked for some and wish it had worked for me. Good luck to everyone dealing with POD.
EC: POD = Perioral Dermatitis
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 12/12/2008 490 posts
Hello to Jenna from Philadelphia,
You say your rash has been around for 8 years now and you are a 25YO! My first question is do you use makeup, because most girls like to start using makeup around the age of l6 -l7. If so, it could still be an allergy or a reaction to makeup.
I suggest you leave off all makeup and all soap for several days to give your skin a chance to heal itself, if this is the case. Washing the face with a wash cloth soaked in vinegar to get all residue of soap & makeup off for the first day or two & see what happens. If you still have the rash, remember the dermatologist's rule of thumb:a (If it's wet dry it, if it's dry, wet it) and proceed accordingly. One of the most drying agents is good old magnesium sulfate (epsom salts) and I have had very good results with a saturated solution of apple cider vinegar and epsom salts. You make a saturated solution by dissolving the solid in the liquid until no more will dissolve. If the rash is wet or purulent, just knock the tops off and swab it out with the saturated solution of vinegar/epsom salts 3 or 4 times per day and they will soon dry up, if they're wet. If they're dry just use a good A&D vitamin ointment or moisturizing lotion on it.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jenna (Philadelphia, pa) on 12/12/2008
★★★☆☆WORKED TEMPORARILY
I have been using the ACV for 3 weeks now and everything was fine until a few days ago my chin started getting irritated again. It is now bad like it used to be. Could i be immune to the ACV? It was working so wonderfully, i was so excited and now i am back to square one. Anyone have any suggestions?
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jenna (Philadelphia, PA) on 11/21/2008
★★★★★
I guess i have had this mouth rash problem for quite some time now but never admitted to having a problem. I blamed it on allergies. Now that i think about all the mornings i would make Green Tea and press the warm tea bag on my face. This helped temporarily, really just stopped the irritating feeling, never took away the discoloration. It has been 48 hours since i first used the ACV applied by a cotton ball (2 morning applications, 2 night applications) My face has not looked so good in years. I am 25 and have had this for about 8 years now. Wow am i happy i learned this trick from you guys. I will be starting my probiotic supplements when they get delivered and will be sure to try out the yogurt too. Thank you so much. If i could see you guys i would hug you :)
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Cari (Pensacola, Florida) on 11/10/2008
★☆☆☆☆
I have had Perioral Dermatitis on and off since I was a teen. I did try ACV while I was pregnant and did not seem to help. Any other ideas? I will probably have to end up taking Tetracycline. THANKS,
Cari
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Maria (San Francisco, California) on 10/30/2008
★☆☆☆☆
After the dermatitis cleared up the ACV seemed to make it worse. I gave up all the doctor's medication and I also stopped all the self treatment because I was lookin really bad and it hurt by this point. After a lot of thinking I decided to find a really good dermatologist and see what happens. I did find a really well known doctor and the day I saw him I gave him a little resumee of my condition and symptoms for the last 6 yers. After taking a sample to the lab he said that it is actually an ATOPIC DERMATITIS meaning ECZEMA. He also said he found a type of bacteria that usualy lives on the human body anyway but it was more concentrated where my iritation and lesions were. He gave me low dose cortison creams and he said that in order to have a normal life I would have to use this as minimal as I can for a long time. He also said that for some people it goes away on it's own and for others it never cures. So I decided to have a normal life without living in a glass globe. I am better now then I was on the natural self treatment. I even did a liver cleanse and a Candida cleanse but no change. Now I am using the steroids and I have started to use make up again. I feel ok and if I put the creams on when I feel an out break I have no issues. My advice is that you must really find out what kind of condition you relly have without guessing on your own. If none of the natural treatments work do not give up and find a good doctor. I have not heard of people dieing because of some medicated creams. I was more stressed when I was trying to buy all the organic natural miracle cures. I am convinced that the natural plants have many good healthy uses and I am still buying some of them. I still use organic creams and cosmetics. Now that I have my eczema under controll I am not stressed out anymore. I hope my feed back helps. I think this site is extremly helpfull for many people. I will continue reading all the testemonies.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 10/19/2008 490 posts
To Elijah from Bay Shore: Hello Elijah, I just use my apple cider straight from the bottle for problems like this. Just sop a washcloth with it and make sure you get it all over the hand at least 3 or 4 times a day. If you don't notice a difference after a week or so you might add using it after every handwashing, as this washes the vinegar off each time. I would just let that hand air dry instead of wiping dry after applying the apple cider vinegar. You didn't mention whether this is a "weepy" rash or a dry one. If dry, use the vinegar alone. If it is a weepy rash you might want to make a saturated solution of vinegar and epsom salts. Apply this with a cotton ball several times a day and let it dry on the hand. It works well on weepy rashes.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Elijah (Bay Shore, US) on 10/18/2008
Hi my name is Elijah and I have a question. I have dermatitis in my left hand for eleven years now. I have the apple cider vinegar for a different problem I am having with my appearance. My question is how do I apply it to my hand for best result, and being that I have had this disease this long can I expect to see results.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Rho (Seattle, WA) on 09/13/2008
You can use glycerin which is cheap at the drug store. Mix with water 50% each. Apply thinly to face/neck as too much will make it feel sticky. Also I tried using Tom's of Maine Mint toothpaste, no fluoride. Cinnamon may cause flare ups or moisturizers for dry skin can actually make it worse. My 'expensive' department store moisturizer I just bought caused my last flare up. I am going back to the cheap stuff.
