The symptoms and the cause
The only thing that bothers me about experimenting with all the
different lotions, creams, ointments, shampoos, and on and on, is they
are simply prescribed to treat the symptoms but not the CAUSE of
seborrheic dermatitis. I realize it’s not on the level of cancer and
AIDS but I hope research is being devoted to this nasty disease.
July 23rd, 2006 at 12:40 am
Chris, I completely agree! I can’t believe that the best we can hope
for is to "control" the symptoms, and as most people have mentioned,
the body adapts to these treatments, sending you scrambling for the
next one!
July 23rd, 2006 at 12:11 pm
Neal, would you mind sharing the symptoms you are experiencing? I
don’t recall seeing you in the group, although I’ve only been here a
short period of time. What has or has not worked for you, and how long
have you been a seb derm sufferer? Thanks!
July 23rd, 2006 at 8:58 pm
I’ve been lurking for several months, just trying to find new
ideas…Here’s the history:
Started getting symptoms about 10 years ago or so, and it was pretty
minor.
Over the pas 5 years it’s gotten steadily worse. I now have SD in a
variety of places: along the hairline, earlobes, outer ear canal, one
knee, both elbows, eyebrows (sometimes), forehead, moustache area
(sometimes), etc etc. One odd thing is how I tend to get it one both
sides in the same location (e.g., one my forehead in the same spot on
either side of my face, or next to my temples).
Let’s see, what have I tried?
I forget most of the early things (low dosage steroids), but here are
the most recent:
Shampoos:
Nizoral & a coal tar shampoo (alternated) - I’ve also tried a
salicylic, but it didn’t seem to help
Topicals:
Tea Tree Oil (straight from the Australian bush country), but it worked
for a few days only
Protopic (0.03%) - Good as a non-steroid alternate, but it seems to be
losing its steam
Clobetasol Propionate (0.05%) - I was told this was really strong
stuff, so I use it sparingly - I have the same tube I was prescribed 5
years ago.
I’m also going to try Lamisil (as mentioned by dermadoctor), and see
how that works.
I’ve recently switched to a more mild cleanser as well to see if that
helps.
July 24th, 2006 at 5:16 pm
Roxy, I took a look at psoriasis.org, and you are probably right -
the elbows & knees are likely psoriasis.
Of course, that doesn’t make me feel any better..let’s see, not only
do I have SD, but also Psoriasis…what’s next, crotch rot?
Seriously, it seems that the treatment is pretty similar,
corticosteroids, coal tar, sal acid, etc.
Thanks for the info!
Neal
July 26th, 2006 at 1:03 pm
Roxanne–I get huge welts on my face from time to time–they look just like
mosquito bites but they aren’t–not sure what to call them and cannot
identify the cause.
However, when I feel one coming on I put some benzoyl peroxide on it and it
takes away the itch very quickly and makes the welt/hive disappear usually
within 1-2 hours.
RJ