49-year old fair-skinned male. Lifelong rapid, deep blusher. Mild facial redness steadily more permanent starting in mid-30s, worsens with many typical rosacea tripwires (e.g. heat, cold, stress). On face, there have never been any pustules or papules, though perhaps up close a few fine lines. Tx Metrogel bid to try to limit the progression of rosacea.
Have always had seb derm in nasal folds, behind ears, itchy area at breastbone, sometimes groin. And, scalp.
The issue is the scalp. Am entirely bald on the top of head. Scalp was always oily, and became severely so as the baldness progressed. Scalp manifests two conditions:
1) nearly always, a fine flakiness, completely impervious to any anti-sebderm shampoo (tried them all). "Looks like" dry flaky skin. No falling dandruff, no oozing, and the shampoo makers might consider the treatments a complete success; if I had hair, the condition would be 100% invisible. But a bald scalp readily shows even a single flake and the condition is quite obvious, especially right after a shower. Have tried different steroid creams; tends not to help the flakiness at all.
2) occasional breakouts on the scalp. Sometimes little red spots, which have been treated UNsuccessfully with benzoyl peroxide washes & lotions of various potency. What tends to help these is 1% cortisone cream. But there are also sometimes MASSIVE pimples on the scalp that are incredibly huge and embarrassing, even freakish - never saw them on anyone else! - and take 1-2 weeks to recede, leaving a discoloration for months, and I have no idea how to successfully prevent or treat these.
To reduce the oilness of my scalp to try to prevent the giant zits, I use OTC topical salicylic acid acne pads or lotions with cotton balls. This however may make the flakiness/dryness worse and may be an irritant if the problem is rosacea!
The issues for me:
1. Are the scalp breakouts acne or rosacea? Both?
2. What is best for the scalp? Metrogel? Metrocream? BP washes? Salicylic acid? Cortisone? Some combo? Will cortisone make rosacea worse over time?
3. Nothing entirely eliminates the flakiness; I can hide it with a light moisturizer like Complex 15 or a sunscreen but run the risk of increasing breakouts. ("Non-comedogenic" seems to refer to the face, not tested on a VERY oily scalp!)
4. Sunscreens: I need to protect the scalp (have already had a few AKs up there), but EVERY sunscreen lotion causes breakouts on scalp, and every sunscreen gel increases flakiness (alcohol-based).
No dermatologist has been able to give a definitive Dx of my scalp breakouts. When treated as acne, treatment was 100% unsuccessful. One dermatologist said maybe it was a "type" of rosacea but didn't get more specific.
I live in San Francisco and have seen many dermatologists here. I would go see ANYONE who could authoritatively answer these questions. (Otherwise, I may need a referral for a skullectomy.)
Hoping you have some answers!
Thanks much.