Redness, scaly peeling skin on outer side of eyebrow.

[etxy059a]

For about two weeks I've had an area of skin between my eyebrow and eye, out towards the side of my my face closer to my ear/sideburns, that has been red, scaly, and peeling skin.  The skin there seems to have a very leathery/rubbery smooth texture to it.  I had something similar a few months ago behind my ear, and it went away after I had been treating it simply with salt water.  For this current one, salt water didn't seem to be working, so I also tried some antifungal cream and that almost seemed to make the redness worse.  Any ideas? Should I try dermatitis shampoo?

Here is the URL of an image I took of what I'm talking about: http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/4679/mg0285ji8.jpg

Thanks for your help.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Seborrheic dermatitis.  Try 1% hydrocortisone.  If that doesn't clear up in a week, see a dermatologist for a prescription-strength product.  The condition comes and goes, and usually affects the skin next to the nose, the eyebrows, and behind the ears, as well as the scalp, not all these places in everybody.

This is not a fungus and is not contagious.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[worried in toronto]

EA,

i have a mild case too. I found antifungals to exacerbate the symptoms and made the skin weeping. I also find it goes on its own for me.

The summer is the worst when the humidity is bad. I find zinc cream for babies works for me as i get steroid rosacea from too much cortisone.

hope this helps you
rob

[1patrice]

A related discussion, peeling skin between my eyes was started.