RE: Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Guest guest]

Hi Hazel:

Thank you so much for your comments. I will say this, I used the Head and

Shoulders over the weekend and I am worse. The doctors aren't really sure

if I have seb. derm or not. It definitely is some sort of derm. The

itching drives me nuts.

The only way I seem to be able to calm down any of the itching is

practically doing nothing with any chemicals......just rinsing with water.

The only problem is I work and need to wear makeup to look half-way decent

and it doesn't rinse off with water. The shampoo I usually use is

's Shampoo One. Even the use of antibiotics and the metrocream

irritate the condition so I have to use them periodically. As you can see I

have a very delicate condition.

I would love to hear any suggestions you may have.

Thank you.

Sue

> Seborrhoeic Dermatitis

>

> Sue

>

> You asked how I knew I had seb derm. Firstly, because it was diagnosed;

> secondly, because I have all the symptoms: itchiness, a pinkish rash that

> can feel like a graininess on top of the skin; and, thirdly, because it

> definitely responds to ketoconazole (Nizoral). I just wish I could find a

> compounding chemist in Britain where they would be willing to mix the

> ketoconazole into a base cream that would not irritate me. I feel that,

> this way, I would get much more control over the seb derm which would then

> have a domino effect of calming down the rosacea. I am going to ask my

> dermatologist about this when I see him at the end of August. It's all

> very

> well using the shampoo but, when you consider it's only on your face for

> five minutes then you rinse it off, it has got to be more advantageous to

> use a cream vehicle for the ketoconazole. Also the shampoo can be quite

> drying to the skin.

>

> You said you tried Head and Shoulders which you found more gentle than

> Nizoral. You could also try Selsun which is another option for seb derm.

> I

> don't know whether these are as potentially drying to the skin as Nizoral

> appears to be but the relief it gives me is worth the dryness and I make

> sure I use plenty of moisturiser to try to offset this effect as much as

> possible.

>

> I don't get the chills followed by tingling and itching that you talk

> about.

> I hope things get better for you. What I have learned in the relatively

> short time that I have had this ghastly disease is that we all need to be

> proactive in trying to find things that suit us individually and this

> group

> is excellent in helping us to do this, isn't it?

>

> Take care

>

> Best wishes

>

> Hazel

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Sue

If the doctors don't know whether you have seb derm or not and the shampoos

don't help, this must be very difficult for you. I assume you have tried

different antihistamines? You say your skin is very thin. I wonder if this

thinness is causing the nerve endings to be more easily irritated and

causing the itching? Just a thought. Apparently, there is a drug being

developed which is a substance P inhibitor which will inhibit the

transmission of pain signals. As itching is a mild (if really irritating)

sort of pain, I wonder if this drug, when it is available, would help with

itching that does not respond to other medications? Does anyone know?

Hazel