Help - Any Advice for Seb Derm & cea Combined ?

February 28, 2002

Hello, I hope you can help ?

Do you ever get the feeling that there is an answer to your specific

problem, but you have not been luckily enough to find it ?.

I am a 37 yo male and have (diagnosed) seborrheic dermatitis and

rosacea which first appeared when I was 13. This affects the front of

my face (front cheeks), nose, neck, and to a lesser extent the upper

trunk of my body and scalp. The appearance is of a flushed face (&

greasy in same location)with some flaking, which varies in its

severity on a day-to-day basis. Naturally enough, its only the facial

area which really concerns me.

I saw a dermatologist many years ago, and have tried alternatives

such as Chinese medicine, hypnotherapy etc, to no avail. I have been

prescribed many different creams, pills, shampoos, but they all have

similar patterns of effect. I would classify them as [1] keeping

things at bay but no improvement [2] adverse reaction immediately or

within a few days [3] apparent 'miracle' within an hour or two but

then cause a return to the previous state followed by worsening of

it. At present I simply use Hydrocortizone cream with clotrimazole

(keeps things sort of at bay), Alphaderm cream (hydrocortizone &

urea) which has a similar effect, but shampoos such as

Polytar/Nizoral etc cause an after-reaction. SO WHY AM I WRITING ?.

The reason is that for some time I have suspected that the advice I

have been given is NOT appropriate for the SD/rosacea COMBINATION, or

that the preparations I have been given are incorrect for the same

reason. I may even have been mis-diagnosed, but on balance I think

not. I also have a vain hope that someone else out there may be in a

similar position to me and has a miraculous answer/advice based on

their personal experience ?.

I have tried to read some of the thousands of messages that are on

this Board, the information is excellent and there are some answers

which are very specific to the problem I have. If anyone has some

constructive advice about possible 'diagnosis', or appropriate

treatment/products, I would be most grateful for their help. I have

seen recent press on Zinc Pyrithione, is that any good ?. Please note

that I am UK based so if you are quoting products please assist with

the UK equivalent or chemical content of the drugs. Yours hopefully.

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