Re: A poll for those with Seborrheic Dermatitis: Let's get to the bottom of this!

I've had SD for many years. I don't think it's ever been brought on by Antibiotics . Though that's possible I'm sure I had taken abx at some time around when it began for a chest infection or something. Having said this, I've never been on particularly broad spectrum abx and never for a particularly long period.

I recently took a z-pack for a chest infection and didn't notice any difference in the SD.

If SD could be caused by an Antibiotic upsetting the floral balance favoring fungae I wonder if anyone has had success with systemic antifungals? Just a thought.

I've never been immunosuppressed.

I've never had any chronic illness other than mild depression.

No digestive problems.

My personal regemin:
For years I just used a moisturizer and frequent washing to keep myself from looking like a disgusting flaky red mess. I've always found that excersize helps (though pool chlorine doesn't help much.)

However....I recently changed to a much more successful regimen.

My wife uses Jojoba oil on her skin (just general skin care - no disease or condition) so I decided to try it.

When I'm at home I keep the areas affected by SD well oiled with the stuff. When I'm going out I put less on. It's gets absormed pretty well and isn't particularly noticable.

I keep the skin oiled with this stuff at all times. Every few days I gently exfoliate with aface towel and always apply the oil immediatly after drying my face gently with a towel be for it can get even slightly flakey.

I stopped using a blade and switched to and electric razor. A panasonic wet/dry model works well. (got the recommendation from an electric shaving forum - yes there's a forum for absolutely everything now)

I wash and re-oil my face a few times a day and bring some of the stuff with my to work.

I try to work out every day or as close to that as possible. This definately helps.

Also I take quite a lot of omega 3-6. This stuff definately works.

The result. As long as keep this up my skin looks very close to totally normal. I slip sometimes due to a very demanding work schedule and that causes setbacks.

Having read about jojoba oil, it seems that it's good for a variet of skin conditions. Aparently it's very close in composition to sebum. One theory is that it causes a feedback inhibition of sebum production. Who knows?

I'm going to experiment next month my keeping this regimen except for switching jojoba oil for olive oil (which has been considered a skin panacea for thousands of years). I'll let you know.

Though I'm controlling this pretty well, I definately haven't cured it. Maybe I never will but I won't ever stop trying. I'm acutally very encouraged by these results and am facing the problem more than ever (hence my being here).

Some say SD is a dermatitis is an autoimmune disease and likely there isn't a cause or cure for these entities. Just bad luck. They tend to be familial. But I'm hedging my bets on this being curable and am eager to learn from people here.

BTW it's great to hear from others with this affliction. I have never met anyone else with SD and am not sure I've even seen anyone else who has it. Thanks. Tweet