Problems with skin
August 25, 2011 | 15,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Ralf Berg
Dear expert,
I have been having problems with my skin for 3 weeks now - what is it and what can be done? My entire skin itches and red patches are forming. I have already been to 2 dermatologists and have received 2 different diagnoses: one is Atopic Eczema, the other is Seborrheic Eczema. No cream helps, not even with cortisone and antibiotics. The worst part is that deep holes are forming on my face - as shown in the photo. The holes are deep, not very visible in the photo - they form a large square, starting under the eyes and on the forehead. Everyone says something different and the holes remain, disfiguring my face. What do you suspect and what can be done, even privately - thank you.
Dear seeker of advice,
Unfortunately, the quality of the image is not very good, but one can still see that your skin is seborrheic, i.e. secreting a lot of sebum. The deep holes that concern you are probably the ducts of these sebaceous glands, which appear as "holes" because the surrounding skin is swollen. The diagnoses from the specialists are not so different, which I would like to explain to you. They agree that it is eczema = a rash of the skin, without an external cause. One describes the appearance of the eczema as seborrheic (more oily/sebaceous skin), the other describes it as atopic, more the cause of the eczema. Atopic = due to genetic disposition from an endogenous cause.
What can be done: 1. Degrease and cleanse the skin. Take appropriate skin cleansing creams from a cosmetic series and cleanse your facial skin 2-3 times with them. 2. Treat with ointment only according to a schedule; I have the impression that many creams with very different contents were applied in a very short time in just 3 weeks. This can overwhelm the skin's self-regulation system. Since the cause of skin changes in eczema is not known, but it is suspected that the immune system and food are partly responsible for triggering it, you could start a food allergen avoidance diet immediately. Either gradually eliminate food components that are suspected to trigger eczema: (chocolate, sweets, cocoa, mushrooms, citrus fruits) or take the more sensible path of a rebuild. For about 4-5 days, only eat cooked rice and drink tea, observe if the skin improves. If it does, gradually reintroduce a food item. Very time-consuming, but this can be done privately without any problem.
Otherwise, I must advise you, if no therapy is effective, to present yourself with the previous findings and therapy attempts at the dermatological outpatient clinic of a hospital.
Best regards, Dr. R. Berg
