I used to be treated for seborrheic dermatitis, for about 10 years.
I had the exact same symptoms that u have.
I had thought that any kind of perfumes and sun protection had irritated my skin in the past, so I didn't use any for several years.
I put a filter in my shower to filter the water. For sometime I didn't wash my face thinking that I was allergic, most of the time I didn't use shampoos except the medicated ones I was given, and I didn't use perfumes thinking that I was allergic.
I tried shampoos, went to different dermatologists. Anytime I visited a country I tried a dermatologist there.
the answer was always the same: seborrheic dermatitis. different types of shamposs and perhaps ketoconazole was prescribed.
I used ketoconazole for several years.
My skin ( only on my face and my neck ) was very red, irritated, the skin looked thick, scaly, very scaly sometimes.
Someone asking me if I had gone to the beach was a daily experience.
One day that my skin was not as red as usual, I decided to put on sunscreen, after many years not using anything but ketoconazole and medical shampoos.
It was like a miracle, my face was very clear that day, and next day I did the same, thinking the symptoms were going to recur, I was clear again....and it has been about 2 years now, and my face has been excellent. Now I use sunscreen all the time and I'm able to use all kind of shampoos and perfumes.
I really can't believe that for almost 10 years no dermatologist thought of sunscreen, people that I see now tell me that they knew me through the years with my red, irritated face and had gotten used to it.
I have been using sunblock every day since then, SPF 30, since I now use exfoliators, acne that I had has also gone away, and i'm sure the sunscreen has a lot to do with it as well.
I wished you could see the difference between before and after, it is just amazing, i had thought i would be like that the rest of my life.
I use a sunscreen that it's for oily skin since my skin is oily , there are many good ones like neutrogena, the one I use is hawaiian faces 30, one that has a little mirror.
So for many people outthere who might have this, use sunscreen. I've been researching now and I really don't know what I have, if it is sun allergy or sun sensitivity, but when I reasearch on those 2 online the symptoms are different like pain and ithc which I did not have.
Well I hope my life story will be usefull to someone.
You can email me if u want ***@****
JG
It could be mild seborrhea. or perhaps you're just over-interpreting normal skin. Seborrhea is very common in people who have nothing wrong with them---either way, there's no reason for you to fear HIV, Parkinson's, etc. Please see a skin doctor. One visit should set you straight.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff