I believe I have it on my scalp and behind my ears. Flaky skin, red splotches, etc. so from what I gather there's no cure only treatment. What's worked for you if you have it?

  • WideningGyro [any]
    hexbear
    3
    5 months ago

    I have it on scalp and behind the ears as well. Only thing that has really worked for me so far has been a steroid solution (liquid hydrocortisone) that my partner applies (it's not easy to apply it effectively yourself IMO). I try to only use it when the outbreaks are the worst becase A) corticosteroids are actually really shit for you in the long run and B) you build a tolerance to it really fast. One time I had a bad outbreak on my scalp, and we dutifully applied the solution every day for like a week, completely clearing it. Aaaaand the next day, it started growing back. Fuck that shit.

    I truly believe that stuff like diet and and lifestyle makes a difference (although as my very no-bullshit dermatologist said "feel free to try, but there's no evidence"), I haven't been able to connect my rashes to any food, drink, sleep patterns etc.

    Next level treatments are just stronger ways of suppressing the immune system, like biologics and metothrexate (a literal chemotherapy drug, but at much lower doses of course). I'm too scared of the side effects of those drugs, even when I have a bad outbreak so I try to do the "safe" stuff like moisturizing, using a salt water solution before showers (literally just salt water on the skin for 10-20 minutes), getting sunlight when available, taking vitamin D and trying to eat healthy (kind of). Sometimes I feel like maybe those things make a slight difference, and at others I feel like its a complete waste of time.

    To give a bit of hope, my father in law had it all throughout his youth and then one day his rash cleared up and just never came back. He is now 70. He has no idea why it happened. Fucking autoimmune diseases..