In a message dated 8/6/99 6:23:49 AM Pacific Daylight Time, LFARKAS@scana.com
writes:
<< Here I am again! I just looked up seborrheic dermatitis and I don't have
any of the symptoms I saw listed there as far as flakey skin etc. Did you
have those brownish patches too? >>
Hi Carol,
I'm sending my answer to the whole group, as it may help others, also.
The seb/derm thing can be very confusing.
Seb/derm seems to manifest itself in more forms than they sometimes
describe in the websites. I think, at it's worst, it's oily patches with
dried flakes of oil that look "dry" but are actually over-activity by the oil
glands. However, there are other appearances of it, too, because there is a
fungus involved here, as well as the oil glands. I almost think there should
be two different classifications of seb/derm - those with the oily
involvement, and those with the fungal cause where there are hardly even any
oil glands in those locations.
In my case, they were just patches, brown to red in color. Almost looked
like the remanants of an old sunburn that needed to be scrubbed away, if you
know what I mean. I had them on the sides of my neck (and then behind the
ears it was a more solid red, where the seb/derm had a stronger hold - that
responded also to the Clotrimazole, just took longer). I also had those
patches along my jawline, under my chin, and at the sides of my cheeks, and
again at my temples. They've all responded to the Clotrimazole (lately I've
switched to Lamisil, as it's a once a day application). The sides of my
cheeks may not clear 100%, as I believe part of that is due to the Rosacea.
The other areas have cleared quite nicely. However, the stuff comes back
after a while, and so you need to still use the anti-fungal cream now and
then, and more consistently if you see the area reappear. I think once or
twice a week after the area clears as a maintenance program is a good idea.
Have patience at first. It could be a couple of weeks before you see
results, and some areas could take months of treatment before you have actual
clearing. The Lamisil and Clotrimazole are quite safe. However, I am
cautious and watchful about using them in an area that is already inflammed
from Rosacea. For the most part, the seb/derm and Rosacea are not covering
the same areas of my face. The Rosacea is at the front of my forehead and
cheeks, the seb/derm has been along the sides of my face and neck.
Hope this helps.
Wanda