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Seborrheic dermatitis
I am 50 years old and have seborrheic dermatitis on my face and eyes. I have been offered long-term antibiotics - but as I have candida, this is out of the question. I know my immune system is already weak and have been taking blue green algae, vitamin B complex and evening primrose oil. I also have an underactive thyroid and take 175mcg of thyroxin daily. What other alternative remedies do you advise?
The candida infection, as you probably know, is causing the dermatitis so you will not get rid of one without tackling the other. Antibiotics, as you rightly point out, are not the long-term solution but the blue-green algae you are already taking is a rich source of iodine and will help support your thyroid while you eradicate the yeast infection.
Jane Waters, an holistic skin specialist, says you need to take zinc (50mg a day) for further immune support and that you must make sure your vitamin B capsules, which will help rebalance the bacteria in the gut, are yeast-free. To repopulate the intestinal tract with the so-called friendly bacteria, which have been depleted by the candida, take a probiotic called Lactobacillus acidophilus. This will also boost your weakened immune system.
To flush the candida bacteria through your system, you need to take a combination of cranberry tablets (you must take tablets not capsules) and citricidal, which is a tincture of antibacterial grapefruit seed extract. You can mail order the latter from Higher Nature (01435-882880) 50ml costs £7.30. For cranberry tablets, call The Nutricentre on 0800-587 2290.
You need to avoid yeast and fermented foods in your diet and eliminate fungus foods such as mushrooms and peanuts, which can carry fungal infections. You will also need to use a detergent-free shampoo. I recommend the Hydrapharm Skin and Scalp formulas from The Alternative Centre (0171-381 2298). It costs £34.85 for the three formulations, which you use together on your scalp and face.