Seborrheic dermatitis?

[Jodeci23]

Dear Dr. Rockoff,

I'm really sorry to bother you again, Doctor.  I wrote to you a couple of weeks ago in reference to a mark on my face that was taking long in going away.  This isn't related to that but it is located in the same vicinity.  I mentioned to you last time that I went to the dermatologist because my cheeks were getting a little red and dry....not that noticeable.  By the time I went to the dermatologist, there was seemingly no redness and very little dryness.  She said I was a little dry and gave me Klaron lotion.  I tried the Klaron lotion and it seemed to aggravate the condition and make it much worse.  My face became red down my cheeks and very dry.  I called her and she told me to stop everything for a week so the redness can go away and start Ketoconazole cream.  The redness pretty much went away so I decided to not put anything on my face because I hate putting stuff on my face.  I had been doing pretty well since then, except for a little dryness, until yesterday.  I decided to run last night (I've been running 3 times a week for year, so it's not something out of the ordinary).  It was a little chilly, not that cold because I live in Miami but I did notice the change in temperature.  Well when I got home I waited about 10-15 minutes before taking a shower.  Then I felt like the skin on my cheeks was getting kind of dry.  I looked in the mirror and my cheeks were really red.  Not the entire cheeks but patches of redness.  I took a shower and went to bed without using anything on my face because I hadn't been using anything.  This morning, I woke up and my face was still red and the affected areas were really dry.  I don't have big flakes coming off but when you look closer, you can see like the dead skin and it looks like dry red patches.  I decided to use the Ketoconazole cream this morning and this afternoon but I don't think it relieved it any.  I have a few questions for you, Doctor.  In your opinion, is this Seborrheic dermatitis?  Should I start using the Ketoconazole cream with consistancy?  Will these red, dry marks eventually go away completely?  Is this something that I'm going have to continue to deal with (I've never had any problems with dry skin before)?.........In a nutshell, what is going on with my skin?  Will I ever have my normal complexion back?

Sorry for the length of the post but I want you to have as much information as possible.  
Thank you in advance for your help, Dr. Rockoff.  Have a Merry Christmas and God Bless You.

Rob

[jodiemoer]

Hi there

I suffered from severe itchy flacky scalp and Seborrheic Dermatitis for over 3 years. I had SD on my sclap , face, cheeks chest and armpits, I hated it so much.

After surfing the web on day I came across this site www.refreshedskin.com , seemingly this site is created by people who suffered from SD and Ezcema.

I downloaded the program that they offered and 2 days after starting it my skin was really improved. I am now totally clear thankfully.  I hope this site helps you as it has helped me and I wish you best.

Jodie

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Don't worry about the intensified redness after running.  Anything that increases blood flow to the skin will heighten redness, and running will certainly do that.  

I think you do indeed have seborrheic dermatitis, which will, certainly go away, though you may have to treat it from time to time.  Try the ketoconazole cream for a couple of weeks regularly.  If that doesn't help enough, ask your doctor to consider a mild but prescription-strength topical steroid for intermittent use.  Another option would be the non-steroids Protopic or Elidel.

You should be able to get your complexion back where you were, and need only to use topical treatment once in a while at most.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff