Beauty Talk ~ Coconut Oil and Perioral Dermatitis

With summer just around the corner let's talk about our skin.  The good, the bad and the ugly!

I prefer to be an all-natural gal.  I don't like my foods or my beauty products to have a long list of ingredients that I can't pronounce.  Recently I have come across one of the best beauty secrets - coconut oil.  Guess what's in coconut oil?  Coconut oil.  Yep, that's it.  ONE ingredient!

Coconut oil

Let's look at the benefits of coconut oil:

Coconut oil works wonders for the body.  Not only internally but externally as well.  Here are some tips on how to include coconut oil in your daily beauty routine.

Six great beauty tips for coconut oil.

1. Cleanse away the day’s build-up of dirt and pollution by massaging coconut oil into your skin and gently removing the oil that has lifted the dirt away with a splash of warm water.  Coconut is anti-bacterial and anti-microbial, so it is perfect for protecting and enhancing the skin’s natural flora.
2. Take an 30 minutes and pamper yourself.  Run a warm bath with a tablespoon of coconut oil in the bath water.  Massage coconut oil into damp hair to help strengthen your locks and add luster. Wrap a warm wet towel around it.  Leave for twenty minutes and shampoo as normal.
3. Pop your feet into a warm footbath laced with three tablespoons of coconut oil.  Add some mixed spice and coconut milk to enrich this rejuvenating foot soak. The lauric acid in coconut oil may assist with fighting fungal infections, and bring balance to your hard working feet.
4. My personal favorite:  Rich in moisturizing fatty acids, coconut oil makes a superb moisturizer, plus you’ll smell delicious too. Massage it into your whole body and don’t forget your décolletage for a balmy evening out – to add a gorgeous glisten to your skin.  To enhance the glow add some sparkling mica to your oil mix.
5. Babies love to be massaged with coconut oil. Highly moisturizing with both anti-bacterial and protective properties, take some precious time out with your little one and coat them in this nourishing oil.
6. Is your skin feeling a little parched and flaky?  Add some sea salt or sugar to your coconut oil and use it as a scrub for the body.  Your skin will feel rejuvenated, soft and glowing within minutes.

I read an article online recently that stated Miranda Kerr, the supermodel for Victoria's Secret, uses this stuff on a daily basis.  I don't look like her yet.  Time will tell...  All in all, this stuff smells fantastic!  I feel like an island girl.  I use it on my lips, my face, my body, my hair, my underarms.  Yep, I have stopped using deodorant.  My skin is clearing up and it's bringing all of my deep acne and Perioral Dermatitis bumps out.  You see, coconut oil draws all of the impurities out of your body.  So, be prepared.  The first week your face will look worse as it draws all of the deep oils and toxins out of your skin but after that you're good to go!

I was diagnosed last year with Perioral Dermatitis (P.O.).   

Here's how I found out what in the hell was going on with my ugly, bumpy ass, 30-something year old skin:

My skin was breaking out around my mouth and nose and I was cursing the Gods for giving me adult acne.  However, I noticed there were other symptoms that weren't acne related.  The breakouts were very itchy and it would burn.  At the risk of sounding shallow, they were also very ugly.  As in, red, pustule, yellow bumps.  There were days I wouldn't even leave the house because it was so bad.  In public I would hold my hand up around my mouth area in an effort to cover it up so it wasn't so obvious.  It was depressing.  I was depressed.  In a large part I was depressed because I felt very shallow.  I wasn't going to die.  I didn't have a serious life debilitating disease.  I'm sure that whatever it was was completely treatable.  

My dear mama suggested I put cortisone cream on it.  My mom swears by this stuff.  Growing up if we had a scratch, wound, bug bite, itches, you name it she had the cortisone cream at the ready.   Even today, there's a tube of it in her car, in her bathroom drawer, her kitchen drawer, on her nightstand, her end-table by her chair.  I'll bet she has a tube of it in her pocket right now.  Why not. Let's give it a shot and see what happens.  A few days later... My skin is clearing up!  Hallelujah!  This stuff is the miracle cream.  A few days later.... Uh oh!  It's breaking out again and it's worse!  Time to call the dermatologist.


The dermatologist immediately knew what it was that I was suffering from and prescribed a topical and antibiotic.  That was it.  She diagnosed me, gave me my prescription and sent me out the door.  No hello, goodbye.  In and out and that was that.


Hmmm, what in the hell is P.O.?  Guess I will have to research this on my own.

Prime Health Channel States:

What is Perioral Dermatitis?

The word ‘Perioral’ means ‘around the mouth’ while Dermatitis stands for ‘inflammation of the skin’. It is actually an inflammation of the facial skin due to the development of small eruptions around the mouth. It is commonly seen in young women. But it sometimes also affects men. In this condition, you can see papules or tiny red bumps around the lips. There is a burning sensation in the reddened area. The rashes may appear on the cheeks, the skin beside the nose and lips, the chin or the region just below the nose. Rashes may also appear around the forehead and eyes.

Who gets Perioral Dermatitis?

90% of Perioral Dermatitis sufferers are found to be women. Women between 20 to 45 years are susceptible to the condition. 1% of women population is thought to have suffered from the disease sometime or other in their life.

Perioral Dermatitis Symptoms

Perioral Dermatitis comes with a number of symptoms. Most of these are visible to the naked eye. These include:

Redness of the Skin

The skin of the affected facial area becomes red or often pink.

Rashes

The patient seems to have rashes in the affected facial region. These rashes are often lumpy and cause pain. Some people also have painless rashes.

Itchiness

Some patients complain of an itchy feeling or mild burning sensation in the region.

Dry Skin

The skin around the mouth becomes dry. It also looks flaky in some people.

Tautness

In some people, there is a tense feeling in the affected skin area.

Peeling

In a few cases, the outer skin of the region comes out like scales.

Perioral Dermatitis Causes

Doctors are not too sure about what exactly causes Perioral Dermatitis. However, dermatologists and medical experts have pinpointed several factors that may cause this ailment. These are

Face Creams

Face ointments and creams containing steroids are believed to be a trigger for this disease.

Cosmetic Products

Some ingredients in cosmetic products are supposed to be harmful for the skin. These are held responsible for Perioral Dermatitis. Steroid in face creams are thought to cause this disease.

UV Rays

UV (ultraviolet) rays are also thought to give rise to this problem.

Fluorinated Toothpaste

Fluorinated toothpaste is also considered a factor behind the sickness.

Changes in hormone

Hormonal changes can also trigger this condition.

Oral Pills

Many experts also consider oral contraceptive pills to be a reason behind this illness.

Perioral Dermatitis Diagnosis

The diagnosis of Perioral Dermatitis depends on the appearance of the skin. Doctors observe the skin carefully. A bacterial test is conducted on the skin to make sure there is no scope for infection. No other medical examination is usually carried out.

Perioral Dermatitis Treatment

The treatment for Perioral Dermatitis is similar to the method applied in curing Acne Vulgaris. The only difference lies in the non-use of topical steroids. Only those skin creams are used that do not contain steroids. These include ointments like erythromycin, metronidazole, tacrolimus and pimecrolimus. These provide fast relief to the skin and are applied regularly for many months to prevent recurrence of the disorder.
If patients are found to use steroidal creams and lotions, they are discontinued.
In very serious cases, oral antibiotics like minocycline, tetracycline and erythromycin are used. These are used for 1 ½ to 3 months to reduce inflammation

Perioral Dermatitis Natural Treatment

The rashes can be controlled and even cured by practicing some natural remedies at home :

• Wash the affected skin area with warm water. Apply a soap substitute over this.
• Minimize the use of cosmetics and moisturizers. If possible, you should stop using these creams till your symptoms reduce.
• Stop using toothpastes that contain anti-tartar ingredients and fluoride until the rashes disappear. To prevent Perioral Dermatitis toothpaste change can work well along with medications.

Perioral Dermatitis in Children

Children are often seen to suffer from Perioral Dermatitis. In children, the disease is caused by a number of factors like cosmetics, drugs and many other physical factors. Doctors normally use anti-inflammatory agents to cure the disease. In severe cases, this is treated by anti-acne medicines.

Perioral Dermatitis Pictures

It is often a problem to understand this disorder. Here are some pictures that will help you know this disease more clearly. Go through them and have a visual realization of the disorder.

Picture 1 : Perioral Dermatitis
Source : udl.es

Picture 2 : Perioral Dermatitis
Source : md126.com

Picture 3 : Perioral Dermatitis
Source : typesofdermatitis.com

Picture 4 : Perioral Dermatitis
Source : patient.co.uk

Perioral Dermatitis is not a very serious disease. It does not pose any risk to your life. However, it can be very painful in some cases. In worse cases, the condition may disfigure your face and surgical or laser treatment may be required. Such treatments can be expensive also painful in some cases. It is better to treat the condition in its initial stages before it can complicate your life and leave a scar on your face.

So, note to self.  Use antibiotics and the topical cream until they are gone, rinse face with warm water - no soap, stay away from makeup and especially stay away from cortisone cream.  Within about a month or two it was pretty well cleared up and I felt normal again.

I went to Whole Foods and bought some all natural cleansers for my face and I assumed that was the end of that and I could go about my normal routine.  Spring 2012 arrived and my all-natural cleansers were all used up and I decided to go ahead and be frugal and use up my old cleansers rather than tossing them in the trash.  Also, being as I am 37, I thought it was time I start using a moisturizer on a daily basis.  As you have probably guessed my skin didn't quite agree with me and here we go with round two of another breakout of P.O..  Oh joy! 

Let's do some more research. 

I found information about Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) being the culprit for P.O. outbreaks.  Let's take a look at my shampoo bottle.  Oh look, SLS.  My conditioner - SLS.  My body soap - SLS.  My toothpaste - SLS and fluoride.  My facial soap - SLS.  

Time to hit my local Nutrition Stop up and stock up on my all-natural beauty products that do not contain the awful SLS.

What is SLS? 
Here are what tests show about Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: 

(1) SLS PENETRATES EYES AND TISSUES. Tests show that SLS can penetrate into the eyes as well as systemic tissues (brain, heart, liver, etc.) and shows long-term retention in those tissues. Especially when used in soaps and shampoos, there is an immediate concern relating to the penetration of SLS into the eyes and other tissues. This is especially important in infants, where considerable growth is occuring, because a much greater uptake occurs by tissues of younger eyes, and SLS changes the amounts of some proteins in cells from eye tissues. Tissues of young eyes may be more susceptible to alterations by SLS.^[1]
(2) SLS FORMS NITRATES. When SLS is used in shampoos and cleansers containing nitrogen-based ingredients, it can form carcinogenic nitrates that can enter the blood stream in large numbers. They can cause eye irritations, skin rashes, hair loss, scalp scurf similar to dandruff, and allergic reactions. ^[2]
(3) SLS PRODUCES NITROSAMINES. (potent carcinogens that cause the body to absorb nitrates at higher levels than eating nitrate-contaminated food like hot dogs or lunch meat): Dr. David H. Fine, the chemist who uncovered NDELA contamination in cosmetics, estimates that a person would be applying 50 to 100 micrograms of nitrosamine to the skin each time he or she used a nitrosamine-contaminated cosmetic. By comparison, a person consuming sodium nitrate-preserved bacon is exposed to less than one microgram of nitrosamine. ^[3]
(4) SLS STRIPS MOISTURE AND OIL FROM THE SKIN. According to the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, SLS produced skin and hair damage, including cracking and severe inflammation of the derma-epidermal tissue. Skin layers may separate and inflame due to its protein-denaturing properties. ^[4]
(5) SLS IRRITATES SCALP AND MAY PROMOTE HAIR LOSS ^[5]
(6) SLS CAN DAMAGE DNA IN CELLS - according to Japanese studies. ^[6]

CONCLUSION:
SLS and all its cousins are very harsh detergents that strip the skin's moisture barrior (which is linked to immunity and skin health) and causes serious health problems during testing on animals. It is linked to harming children's eyes, denaturing protein (thereby possibly contributing to hair loss or thinning), and combines with DEA, MEA and TEA (often found in the same shampoo) to form nitrosamines, a potent carcinogen. Since it is only included in products because of its potent foaming action, the question you must consider is:
 
What's more important: the foam or your health?
You CAN choose healthful alternatives:
Dare to Care What Touches Your Skin and Hair! 

References for the above information:
[1] Green, Dr. Keith. Detergent Penetration into Young and Adult Eyes. Department of Ophthalmology Medical Coggege of GA, Augusta GA
[2] Hampton, Aubrey. Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients. Organica Press Metarasso, or Hampton, Aubrey. Natural Organic Hair and Skin Care. Organica Press, Tampa FL
[3] ibid
[4] Journal of Invest. Dermatology, 32-581, 1959 "Denaturation of Epidermal Keratin by Surface Active Agents"
[5] Wright, Camille S. Shampoo Report, Images International, Inc. 1989
[6] Vance, Judi. Beauty to Die For. Promotion Publishing, San Diego, CA 1998. Page 23

What are some natural treatments for P.O.?

Unrefined Extra Virgin Organic Coconut Oil for treatment of P.O. and bonus, acne.  Coconut Oil is the source of two of the most powerful anti microbial agents found in any food substances. These are Capric Acid and Lauric Acid. They are the same acids that are found in mother’s milk and keep the baby protected from infections. When these are applied on skin, some microbes (good ones) present on skin convert these acids into Monocaprin and Monolaurin respectively, thereby replacing the protective acid layer on the skin. So, no microbial infection and no Acne! Not only external application, but internal consumption of coconut oil will give you the same protection, this time internally.  Finally, Coconut Oil is soothing on skin and highly penetrating. So, when applied on skin, it is absorbed readily and cuts down inflammation due to Acne to a great extent. It also helps heal any sort of wound on skin due to aggravated cases of Acne. And above all, Coconut Oil improves the rate of metabolism. This also indirectly affects proper secretion and balance of hormones and thus curbs out chances of Acne.

Looks like mom's cortisone cream has some competition!!