Sebderm-like conditions
In spite of my derm’s diagnosis, I’m still a little unsure that I have
sebderm. I wanted to know if anyone suffering from seborrheic
dermatitis is familiar with these symptoms…
1.] mild redness between eyebrows, nose, and cheeks. It’s always
present (i.e., no rosacea-like highs-and-lows), no heat or pain
sensations. I’ve had this conditon since about 2000.
2.] presently, almost zero acne. I used to have normal acne then had
to take accutane to tackle a bad case of prednisone-induced acne that
wouldn’t respond to regular antibiotic treatment. Finished my 20 week
accutane treatment in December 2004 and now I only get one or two
pimples per week.
3.] light, dry flakes sparringly distributed on all over my face (i.e.
forehead, eyebrows, eye lids, smooth-skin area around the eyes, nose,
cheeks, jaw, mouth area…everywhere). However, there’s more stubborn,
larger flakes/scales on the left side of my mouth. Zero itching
anywhere on my face. My scalp’s not at all affected. This condition
has developed within the past 5 months.
4.] inability to tan on chest or face since 2000 to the present.
However, my forearms and calves/feet are dark brown, which is my
normal color. (I thought it could be tinea versicolor but a derm told
me that it wasn’t). One really curious thing is that back in July
2004, I got a very bad sunburn and peeled for one week. Couldn’t
touch or wash my face because of the peeling but after the peeling had
finshed 7 days later, my face and chest had reverted back to my normal
brown color, complete with a perfect complexion. However, within
about 3 days the color disappeared and I was left with my lighter-
colored, dull red facial skin.
5.] Just discovered that I have contact dermatitis to Cetaphil soaps
(which I’ve been using for years), so for that past three weeks I’ve
just been cleansing my face with cool water and a sterile gauze pad.
To make things more complicated, washing with Cetaphil caused my skin
to flake, a la sebderm. However, even though I’ve been Cetaphil-free
for a few weeks, my skin is still flakey.
6.] Dull red marks (but not acne hyperpigmentation) localized only to
my cheeks. These have been with me since about 2000, although I have
refrained from popping pimples for years. Plus, when I do get acne,
the pimples come and go, leaving a spot of hyperpigmentation that only
last a few weeks at the most.
Anyone have one or more symptoms like these? Has anyone had a skin
biopsy? My conditions don’t seem to respond to anything my derm has
give me (Ketonconazole and Desonide) so I’m thinking that a biopsy may
help nail down my condition(s). Any respone is much appreciated.
December 8th, 2005 at 9:18 am
If you can’t tan and its not Tinea Versicolor ( does it show up
under a Woods light? UV lamp, did the derm do a biopsy?) then you
have a pigmentation problem.
look, u gotta find a good doctor. i dont know what city your in but
larger cities have magazine on the Best Doctors. NY magazine has, ive
seen it in washington DC Washingtonian, and LA must have one. or
there are books on best doctors .
forget the Botox cosmetic guys, you need a Derm that treats disease.
December 8th, 2005 at 7:26 pm
I read your post with interest. I have skin symptoms very similar to
the ones that you describe, especially the inability to tan on my face
and front torso.
I have dark brown hair and blue eyes, and up until the age of 18/19
would tan fairly easily with an accentuation of my then moderate
freckling. Taking oxytetracline for acne though made me incredibly
sensitive to the sun, and since that point my facial skin has retained
a pale, dull grey caste. All my freckling has disappeared and although
my sensitivity to sunlight has diminished, I never achieve even the
slightest hint of a tan on my face, only redness.
My seb ecz also first appeared at the time of my antibiotic usage, and
I had extremely visible green/grey markings around my eyes which I
initially thought to be pigmentation, but later found to be extremely
adhesive seb flakes. This ceased with the stopping of the antibiotics.
Like you my seb ecz is pretty much consistent - never blatant but
always present and slightly flaky with the occasional pimple. I am now
34 and pretty much resigned to having weird skin.