Extremely Dry Skin Help please

[pepciwi]

Hello All, for many years (about 6) I have had a sever problem with dry skin. At first I thought it was dandruff, but as the years progress it has started to affect other areas. The main areas that have dry, flaky skin are: Hair (especially at the hair line), on the sides of my nose, in the ear in between eye brow, in eye brow, and recently I have noticed behind  the ear. I have tried everything to help relieve the dry skin, including: lotion (a lot, especially around my nose, because it is the most noticeable) I use anti dandruff shampoo) This has been a never ending problem, and I am going to college in a few months and would really prefer not having it, especially with a room mate and having to slap on lotion every 10 minutes. If anyone could help me it would be much appreciated. (I don't have money to see a dermetologist but if you could tell me, or at least give me an idea of what it could be, I can try to get money to go.) I have seen some threads where they give steroids etc can anyone give me a price range on a visit to a dermetologist (around Charlotte, NC) Please and Thank you

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
What you seem to be having is called seborrheic dermatitis. Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin condition that causes flaky,dry, white to yellowish scales to form on oily areas esp under the nose or anywhere on face. You can treat flaking and dryness with over-the-counter dandruff or medicated shampoos. Shampoo the hair vigorously and frequently (preferably daily). Active ingredients in these shampoos include salicylic acid, coal tar, zinc, resorcin, ketoconazole, or selenium.

If the symptoms persist,then it would be best to get it confirmed from a dermatologist

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are  doing or if you have any additional doubts.Kind regards.

[pepciwi]

Thank you. I have tried the Shampoos currently I am using Head and shoulder intensive treatment with selenium 1% and I have also tried the coal tar, none of them help at all. I just took a shower about 40 minutes ago, and there is already flaking on my head and especially around my nose. It honestly will not go away, I have to constantly put lotion on it about 1 or 2 every hour. I currently am leaving the shampoo on my hair for 10 minutes and it helps it not be so bad, but is still pretty horrible. I cut my hair completely off so that I can keep lotion on it. one thing i did forget was that when I sweat it sends me through the roof from the itching. It itches really bad around the nose. Its unfortunately very very noticeable. Do you have any idea of how much on average it cost to see a dermatologist?