Seborrheic dermatitis and other skin conditions

[Gymhoned]

I have had had seb derm for years and can recommend a new regime of treatment that seems to work for me.

I went to a dermatologist ( NHS) :

3 months of Lymecycline

Cetaphil moisturiser
Protopic (tacrolimus) 0.03% and Soolantra cream on alternate days.

Hope this helps.

You need the meds on prescription.

Obvs good hygiene standards. Try Ketoconazole shampoo on scalp.

 

[Rach88]

I have had had seb derm for years and can recommend a new regime of treatment that seems to work for me.

I went to a dermatologist ( NHS) :

3 months of Lymecycline

Cetaphil moisturiser
Protopic (tacrolimus) 0.03% and Soolantra cream on alternate days.

Hope this helps.

You need the meds on prescription.

Obvs good hygiene standards. Try Ketoconazole shampoo on scalp.

Ive got seb derm and my usual alphosyl shampoo has a manafacting problem apparently and the polytar isn't as great but think ive got a mild case as twice a week with shampoo does the trick usually but it is getting bad again with the sudden change so will take this on board thank you

 

[Gymhoned]

I would like to add that my seb derm morphed into peri oral dermatitis that is why the gp referred me to a derm. I think the regime is the same for bad cases of seb derm too.

 

[Rach88]

Forgot to add i have it on my scalp mostly

 

[Begborrowsteal]

I am finally booked in with a dermatologist and can't wait to have my skin concerns checked!

 

[Codiaeum]

I have seborrhoeic scalp eczema - the only thing that works for me is washing my hair daily and blow-drying it minimally at the roots, but better everywhere until mostly dry. I still get some flare-ups, but it's nowhere near as bad as it was years ago, when I actually had no idea that it's a proper skin condition with a name and not just an itchy scalp that I scratched to bleed every day and flakes

Products I like:
Ketozolin shampoo - the best, and doesn't smell horrible
Selsun shampoo - also is great and really helps immediately with the itch, but the smell of sulfur is strong. I'm only using Ketozolin these days
Wofacutan shampoo - very gentle shampoo with a tiny bit of sulfur, doesn't smell at all and doesn't dry out. They also do a lovely shower gel also for skin conditions designed to be very gentle and help with itching.


Generally, I need to use a shampoo with SLS at least weekly, more often is better, I can't just rely on SLS-free shampoos as that guarantees an eczema outbreak. I also make sure to always put a bit of the foam behind my ears, as that is where it threatens to spread. I really focus on washing my scalp, not my hair.
With these "tricks" my scalp is mostly okay and I only get a handful of flares during the year. My scalp is also naturally very oily, so I probably would wash everyday anyway even if I didn't have this, I look just too greasy for my liking. But it's okay for me, I like the feeling of freshly washed hair and it's a quite cheap way to deal with eczema, it doesn't need much more than a regular blast of shampoo these days.

 

[Scorpihoe]

Thank you for making this thread! I have atopic dermatitis and seb derm. My atopic is controlled by Dupixent shots (been on them 6 months and they have changed my life), but I sometimes get flares of my seb derm.

I’ve been given ketoconazole and clobetasol in a shampoo, as well as hydrocortisone (don’t use steroids on my face), and protopic (amazing stuff). It’s mostly controlled and I only use this stuff if I get a flare, otherwise it’s mostly okay.

do you guys go private or through nhs? I’ve been an outpatient with dermatology for a year and a half because of my atopic dermatitis, but I mostly see nurses now that my skin is back to normal and the wait is incredibly long, my next review is in 4 months. I had to go private to get the protopic etc for my seb derm.

 

[Gymhoned]

Thank you for making this thread! I have atopic dermatitis and seb derm. My atopic is controlled by Dupixent shots (been on them 6 months and they have changed my life), but I sometimes get flares of my seb derm.

I’ve been given ketoconazole and clobetasol in a shampoo, as well as hydrocortisone (don’t use steroids on my face), and protopic (amazing stuff). It’s mostly controlled and I only use this stuff if I get a flare, otherwise it’s mostly okay.

do you guys go private or through nhs? I’ve been an outpatient with dermatology for a year and a half because of my atopic dermatitis, but I mostly see nurses now that my skin is back to normal and the wait is incredibly long, my next review is in 4 months. I had to go private to get the protopic etc for my seb derm.

I was referred by my gp to an NHS derm as 3 months of antibiotics didnt help and every gp was telling me i had something different. This routine seems to work so far. Yourr lucky youre in the system ive had this issue for 10 years and just got referred last year

 

[Scorpihoe]

I was referred by my gp to an NHS derm as 3 months of antibiotics didnt help and every gp was telling me i had something different. This routine seems to work so far. Yourr lucky youre in the system ive had this issue for 10 years and just got referred last year

I got referred because I had a skin infection due to breakages, I’ve had eczema all my life. I’m glad to be in the system but if I hadn’t been referred I would have gone private anyway, my skin was taking over my life

sorry you’ve had this for so long sounds so weird I know but I find waxing my face helps with my seb derm because the oils aren’t clinging to the baby hairs on my face and irritating it

 

[Gymhoned]

I got referred because I had a skin infection due to breakages, I’ve had eczema all my life. I’m glad to be in the system but if I hadn’t been referred I would have gone private anyway, my skin was taking over my life

sorry you’ve had this for so long sounds so weird I know but I find waxing my face helps with my seb derm because the oils aren’t clinging to the baby hairs on my face and irritating it

Honestly im so pleased you are able to manage your skin. Thats why i started this thread as i know how troubling and distressing it can be. Protopic is a game changer.

 

[Scorpihoe]

Honestly im so pleased you are able to manage your skin. Thats why i started this thread as i know how troubling and distressing it can be. Protopic is a game changer.

Thank you oh yes, I was constantly afraid to go out in case people looked at me, would cancel outings if I had a flare… I’ll never forget how lonely I felt then

do you mostly have it on your scalp or face too?

 

[MinnieMaus]

I'm being treated currently for Psoriasis, done the sunbeds, done the topical creams and now on methotrexate.

Everywhere has cleared up except my scalp - it's not sore but very flaky. A part of me is wondering if what I have on my scalp isn't psoriasis and might be more of what you guys are describing. Are they different?

(Interestingly my 'psoriasis' was in typical seb. dermatitis places after having a quick google...)

 

[Codiaeum]

@MinnieMaus, the eczema I have on my scalp isn't so much thicker flakes like you get from psoriasis, but more like a really horrible itching "coating" - it flakes a lot when you start scratching it, but it's not that silvery colour. Sorry, I know this is disgusting. And many derms don't seem to know about it or treat it like regular flakes that come from dry scalp, when this actually basically needs the different side of things.
If you haven't tried it, I would give Ketozolin shampoo a shot, the active is Ketoconazole. At least here you can buy it without a prescription.

 

[Scorpihoe]

I like the ketoconazole shampoo but I feel like it takes quite a few washes to start working? Like it doesn’t do anything for 2-3 washes and then it starts working? Does anyone else find the same?

 

[Gymhoned]

Thank you oh yes, I was constantly afraid to go out in case people looked at me, would cancel outings if I had a flare… I’ll never forget how lonely I felt then

do you mostly have it on your scalp or face too?

So growing up i always had a bit if dandruff..thought nothing of it...never troubled me. Then around 33 i got this horrible rash out of nowhere. This was about 12 years ago.GP was great and it cleared up with steriods(!!!!!) and antifungal. Then off and on for years until it developed onto my chin...GPs were like oh its peri oral derm..its acne rosacia...oh its seb derm...i actually think theyre quite interchangable tbh. Anyway 3 months of antibiotics didnt work so gp referred me to a derm. Now i have protopic and soolantra on alternate days and mild moisturiser and antibiotics. I know protopic is a bit scary but its 0.03% dose and tapering it off a bit to 2 days a week

My scalp is ok still still get dandruff. Sometimes i use ketoconzole and rub it onto my face too.

I'm being treated currently for Psoriasis, done the sunbeds, done the topical creams and now on methotrexate.

Everywhere has cleared up except my scalp - it's not sore but very flaky. A part of me is wondering if what I have on my scalp isn't psoriasis and might be more of what you guys are describing. Are they different?

(Interestingly my 'psoriasis' was in typical seb. dermatitis places after having a quick google...)

I read somewhere this guy helped his psoriasis with cutting out wheat and carbs and dairy. Could do some research into that?

 

[Codiaeum]

I like the ketoconazole shampoo but I feel like it takes quite a few washes to start working? Like it doesn’t do anything for 2-3 washes and then it starts working? Does anyone else find the same?

Yes, it takes a few washes and I always let it sit a good few minutes on my scalp. On my bottle it says to initially wash every wash with it and then only once a week or less. If not flaring up, I can get away with every other week, sometimes less.
Selsun shampoo works quicker, but it really smells like sulfur and other people will notice it....

 

[Scorpihoe]

So growing up i always had a bit if dandruff..thought nothing of it...never troubled me. Then around 33 i got this horrible rash out of nowhere. This was about 12 years ago.GP was great and it cleared up with steriods(!!!!!) and antifungal. Then off and on for years until it developed onto my chin...GPs were like oh its peri oral derm..its acne rosacia...oh its seb derm...i actually think theyre quite interchangable tbh. Anyway 3 months of antibiotics didnt work so gp referred me to a derm. Now i have protopic and soolantra on alternate days and mild moisturiser and antibiotics. I know protopic is a bit scary but its 0.03% dose and tapering it off a bit to 2 days a week

My scalp is ok still still get dandruff. Sometimes i use ketoconzole and rub it onto my face too.


I read somewhere this guy helped his psoriasis with cutting out wheat and carbs and dairy. Could do some research into that?

I rub it on my face as well…I will say it gets worse the longer I don’t wash my hair. But I’m just too lazy to wash it so often, so I try to aim for every 3-4 days

3 months sounds like a very long time to be on antibiotics I love protopic and it really helps me, I use the 0.01% dose but I’m trying to limit myself to when I really need it, which is like once every 2 weeks ish

 

[Gymhoned]

@MinnieMaus, the eczema I have on my scalp isn't so much thicker flakes like you get from psoriasis, but more like a really horrible itching "coating" - it flakes a lot when you start scratching it, but it's not that silvery colour. Sorry, I know this is disgusting. And many derms don't seem to know about it or treat it like regular flakes that come from dry scalp, when this actually basically needs the different side of things.
If you haven't tried it, I would give Ketozolin shampoo a shot, the active is Ketoconazole. At least here you can buy it without a prescription.

Its not disgusting!! You cant help it. Hahah i love the smell of all that tar stuff!!!

 

[Scorpihoe]

@MinnieMaus how do you find methotrexate? I was given the option of methotrexate or ciclosporin before I was put on Dupixent. I chose ciclosporin but it made me so weak and tired all the time, plus it wasn’t really working that great anyway, I did stay on it for about 6 months though

 

[MinnieMaus]

@MinnieMaus, the eczema I have on my scalp isn't so much thicker flakes like you get from psoriasis, but more like a really horrible itching "coating" - it flakes a lot when you start scratching it, but it's not that silvery colour. Sorry, I know this is disgusting. And many derms don't seem to know about it or treat it like regular flakes that come from dry scalp, when this actually basically needs the different side of things.
If you haven't tried it, I would give Ketozolin shampoo a shot, the active is Ketoconazole. At least here you can buy it without a prescription.

Yes! It's not thick at all and much more 'dandruffy'... I have my next derm appointment at the end of the month so might ask a few questions...

@Gymhoned - I've stopped smoking and drinking for over 2 years now trying to help with the skin condition - bread and chocolate might be a step too far but worth looking into for sure! I did the 20 blueberries a day thing and unsurprisingly that didn't work haha!

@Scorpihoe - I really didn't want to go on Methotrexate because I'd heard horror stories, but my personal experience has been absolutely fine - just make sure I take it after a decent meal - nothing to report at all. The blood tests were a bit of a pain but I think you get them on any systemic?