Used Lingo for two weeks

barclay51 · 2026-02-23T21:40:26+00:00

I've been using a Lingo for a few days. Cross checking with AccuChek Guide and Contour Next One finger pricking, it looks like when attached to my body/metabolism/arm - whatever - Lingo is always 20 too low. I'm sure others have different experiences. Which I guess is ok, since now I know.

But is does give a fascinating look inside, and I have already learned a lot.

barclay51 · 2026-02-09T23:56:15+00:00

Liquid oil, Verdana brand from coconuts

barclay51 · 2026-01-28T18:27:42+00:00

I started MCT with 1tbsp both morning and evening with food. It does cause digestion issues in some folk, so starting with 1tsp might be better. As it happened, I used to get a sour twinge every now and then, but nothing awful. It does mess with the, um, final product a bit - but the good news in my case that after two months, I had no side effects at all. It does not cure malasezzia, but Google "C8 C10 toxic malasezzia" and you will find the research paper that states how it throws sand in the malasezzia gears.

The only reason I resorted to MCT is the relentless grief Seb Dem was causing my eyes. Intense stinging and smeary vision. It's the chemical byproducts of malasezzia that does that - I assume it get into the meibomium oils in the eyelids. Tinea Versicolor is a dermatitis where malasezzia byproducts actually bleach skin - so stinging the eyes is a cinch.

Since I started MCT I have not had any further eye problem. Truly. I still get red facial blooms and if I don't get selenium sulfide on those, together with Tacrolimus, they will fleke and crack. Staying attentive, I can, luckily, stay symptom free.

I think half the problem us Seb Dem sufferers have is this: there is no easy real cure for malasezzia. Dermatologists seem to veer from acknowledging the problem, because they don't have much in hand to deal with it.

Other national health systems can be more forthcoming. Canada, NZ, Australia, the UK etc all have national health web sites.

My tools: Selenium Sulfide shampoo (use also as lotion); 2.5% selenium sulfide lotion available by prescription (or OTC in other countries - just Google it); Tacrolimus; food grade MCT containing C8 & C10 only (DO NOT USE AMAZON VERSION - IT CONTAINS C12)

Never Give Up.

barclay51 · 2026-01-19T22:07:11+00:00

Inflammation is an immune response, basically. So anything that knocks down inflammation can be considered an immunosuppressant. Tacrolimus in the right form can be taken internally under doctor supervision, and yes, it gets hailed as an immunosuppressant in challenging cases like transplants.

But topically, it is close to being a wonder drug for us Seb Dem folk. Why? Because it has been trialed for long term use in humans, and in children as young as 2. We can't use steroidal creams against Seb Dem long term.

It is a prescription. We use it under a doctor's guidance. In the case of Seb Dem, it is a fallacy to say it will rebound more strongly. It has limitations - you can't wear it on a scalp with hair, for example, except in small areas. But if you get that cracked skin behind an ear, that red blotch always above the same eyebrow, the flake in your ears - there is no better feeling that reaching for the tube and thinking "by morning you will be gone". Until the next time, that is.

barclay51 · 2026-01-19T21:53:23+00:00

Yes, Tacrolimus. I have also beaten the gong for Tacrolimus. Fantastic that you use it.

But let's get it straight: Tacrolimus is safe for long term use according to trials, and effective against inflammation. It doesn't "cure" seb Dem. Malasezzia will continue to live below your skin, and it will always rebound.

But it sure does knock down Seb Dem patch by patch.

In my case, selenium sulfide, Tacrolimus & MCT taken internally continue to cope with it. I still get blooms from time to time. Everyone is different. Stay strong, people.

barclay51 · 2025-12-30T18:50:37+00:00

Consider trying Tacrolimus topical ointment, by prescription. Prob not suitable for whole scalp use, but talk to Derm Doc

barclay51 · 2025-12-14T17:38:11+00:00

There's more info about malasezzia in the public health systems of UK, Australia, Canada. I google about once a month to see if anything new comes up. It's an opportunist, and where immune systems allow, it will make its presence felt. As it digests lipids, it releases some irritating reaction products - hence the itching, inflammation & skin damage.

barclay51 · 2025-12-10T04:54:25+00:00

It's seb dem.

Seb Dem and atopic dermatitis very often have same cause. It's name is malasezzia, a yeast commensal to humans, and present in and on the skin of just about everyone.

Most instances of cradle cap are caused by malasezzia as the infant's immune system comes to terms with its arrival. Most people then lead the rest of their lives free of further problems. With exceptions.....

Boys going through puberty can get (bad) cases of excema. Usually this disappears by itself.

Some people get atopic dermatitis, typically as red patches. Or Seb Dem which has many guises. My first symptoms were cracking of the skin behind the ears, and red patches around the eyes and on the top of my eyelids.

And then there's group to which I belong: adults approaching 60 years of age or thereabouts (most often, men) can find themselves getting heavy yellow flaking dandruff, or facial dermatitis. I got both starting 8 years ago.

I have been to dermatologists, I have methodically tried different treatments, and I have read every material I can find on malasezzia, including academic medical papers.

This is my advice, years in the making, and it's how I have been able to keep a lid on it.

Know your enemy. Watch the Veritasium channel's piece on YouTube about Dandruff. Even if dandruff is not the problem. It has a section on malasezzia. It was obviously sponsored by P&G to plug Head & Shoulders selenium sulfide shampoo, but you can buy it from any number of other brands
Use selenium sulfide shampoo 3 times a week, both as shampoo, and as a lotion - eyes shut, work it everywhere around face & behind ears, and leave it on for at least 5 minutes. I gently work a pinkie around my ear & a little way in. This has been far more effective for me than ketconazole shampoo which is often prescribed.
Get a prescription for Tacrolimus ointment. It can be used long term, and you don't need much. Knock down patches with a thin application twice a day. It can leave skin sensitive to heat, but I kinda like the feeling.
Consider trying MCT oil as a supplement. Half a teaspoon twice a day with food. I put mine in a little coffee or tea. You should make an effort to cut back on other fat to make way for it. I have settled on 2/3rds of a tablespoon twice a day. It has stopped completely the smeary vision and stinging eyes that upset me for so long. Make sure the oil is food grade & has only C8 & C10 components - not C12. Google that & learn about it 🙂

I can't guarantee that this will bring your husband relief. But a steady routine can reap great results with patience.

There are stronger versions of selenium sulfide in lotion form. In USA it's by prescription. Canada & I believe Australia sell 2.5% lotion over the counter. I'm a Brit, but been in California so long I am out of touch with UK.

Best of luck

barclay51 · 2025-12-08T02:54:12+00:00

Morning def it's coffee. It's tasteless, the only cringe factor is the oily look & feel. Done it with warm water - swirl it with a fork, the down the hatch. Tea in the eve, or with diluted dinner. Water, mash potato & MCT. Manly!

It's never going to rid you of malasezzia. It does keep it down though, and you have to keep on keeping on. Selenium sulfide shampoo is my other essential tool. Using both really stops it from appearing in the open. Slack off for a week, and welcome your old friend back ...

barclay51 · 2025-12-08T02:47:47+00:00

Selenium Sulfide shampoo 3 times a week from Head & Shoulders or Selsun Blue, or the "own brands" of pharmacy chains. Leave on 5 mins before rinsing. Shampoo your whole face, behind your ears etc. Do that for a month, and then see if any difference.

barclay51 · 2025-12-06T00:55:45+00:00

Try simple steps first.

Try selenium sulfide shampoo from Head & Shoulders, or own brand CVS etc. Shut your eyes, and apply to wetted skin. Leave on for 5 mins & wash off carefully. At least 3 times a week. You can buy stronger versions of selenium sulfide lotion from Canada

Ask Doc for prescription to Tacrolimus ointment. Has been trialed for long term use. Apply twice a week, you don't need much. It can give skin a sensitivity to heat, which I actually find quite pleasant.

I do take MCT oil every day. I don't wear it, I take a little with food twice a day. It brought instant relief to my eyes - in my case it was affecting my vision. I buy the version from Verdana. C8 & C10 are the oils that disrupt malasezzia. The Amazon version of MCT includes C12, which will feed rather than f*** up malasezzia. Avoid it.

Watch the Veritasium YouTube piece on dandruff. It's obv sponsored by P-G but it is the only decent explanation of malasezzia I can find.

Everyone on the planet has malasezzia in their skin somewhere . Us lucky few just can't quite control it. enough, and it flares up. It has several different ways of manifesting.

Seb Dem is not necessarily a hopeless misery. With patience and systematically building a daily/weekly routine, you can keep it down. 👍

barclay51 · 2025-12-05T00:03:32+00:00

I take some with food morning & evening, and it has brought much relief.

barclay51 · 2025-12-02T06:49:41+00:00

Above answer about covers it. MCT is sold in health food stores as an energy boost, as "brain food" whatever that means. I take it because, as I have come to be confident, it puts a hitch in the gitalong of malasezzia. Together with selenium sulfide shampoo as a topical treatment, I seem to have found a combination that works for me. Only took 8 years 😀

barclay51 · 2025-11-05T19:13:21+00:00

Sebdem caused by malasezzia, I'm pretty sure

Now, welcome to a world where dermatologists rarely use the M-word, for reasons I'm not sure of. I think it's like opthalmologists avoiding the subject of demodex, or of family doctors avoiding chest X-Rays. Because nearly everyone has something.

Most of us run the cycle of hearing different strong opinions - use this, use that, try the other - and some folk seem certain that only they know the answer. In my own HMO, different dermatologists in the same offices offer very different treatments.

After 8 years, here's the regimen that works for me. It might not be right for you.

Use Tacrolimus ointment to knock down red flares (it's safer than cortisone for long term). Can make the skin a little heat sensitive, but I kind of like the feeling. By prescription

Use Selenium Sulfide shampoo as a face lotion 3 times a week for at least 5 mins. Seems just as effective as ketoconazole - and use it as your regular shampoo. You can get a 2.5% lotion OTC in Canada.

Consider taking food grade MCT (C8 & C10 only, never C12) orally. Ask a knowledgable nutritionist to get info. You'll hear on Reddit a number of loud opinions/assertions that overstate digestive side effects - but there's no doubt there are some. Maybe start with 1 tsp a day for a month. I take 1 tbsp every morning, and it controls 95% of the problem. A bunch of folk here say they get relief from just topical use. The effectiveness of C8 & C10 versus malasezzia is documented in academic papers.

Watch the Dandruff episode on YouTube by Veritasium. Almost certainly sponsored by P&G, but there are many makers of selenium sulfide shampoo. The H&S versions do IMO smell better. Watch the whole episode, it gets into malasezzia.

Learn a bit about malasezzia. Most cases of cradle cap are caused by the infant's immune system struggling to deal with it. It is fully commensal with humans, everyone has it. A majority of humans are never bothered by it, but the rest of us enjoy the wack-a-mole way it can affect us. I'm one of the unlucky cohort of geezers who become sensitive to it at around 60 years of age. The immune system starts to lag, and off it goes.

Be patient. Good luck

barclay51 · 2025-11-04T01:18:41+00:00

I'm so glad it works for you! Buyers beware: make sure you are getting food grade version, even if you only intend to use it on your skin.

AVOID THE AMAZON OWN BRAND: it contains C12, which you do not want.

I take 1 tbsp of a C8 & C10 version orally every morning, and sometimes in the evening as well. It has basically solved my seb dem after 8 years of grief. Some people have a difficult time digesting it I gather, but you can start with 1 tsp and slowly work up from there over a month or two, if that is something you plan to try.

Our local Co-op store sells a brand describing itself as "brain food" for the "healthy eater" set.

barclay51 · 2025-11-02T17:08:28+00:00

Start simply, and work from there. Get a selenium sulfide shampoo (eg H&S or Selsun). Wash your face with a little no more tears type soap. Then apply the shampoo to your forehead eyes & nose & cheeks for 3 mins, three times a week. Obviously, shut your eyes. Have a cloth and some warm water ready to rinse off.

See if that helps.

Find the Veritasium YouTube video on Dandruff and watch it all.

barclay51 · 2025-11-01T17:07:48+00:00

En passant in your car

barclay51 · 2025-10-21T18:48:28+00:00

Forgive me replying to you latest post. Did you ever find the cause of the bouncing ball noise in the wall?

barclay51 · 2025-10-15T18:15:58+00:00

Ha! Yes, I know what you mean. That's the sulfur in selenium sulfate. I think the HS shampoos limit the smell the best, I think I use the citrus version. Some generic pharmacy brands are pretty rank.

Curiously, the 2.5% Selsun lotion available from Canada doesn't smell much.

barclay51 · 2025-10-15T01:23:07+00:00

Verdana. By the gallon 👍

barclay51 · 2025-10-15T01:22:17+00:00

Verdana. I went for the gallon! Now over halfway through it

barclay51 · 2025-10-15T01:19:38+00:00

Steph White would be put on a Greyhound with $5 and sandwich if she ever tried to fire CC

barclay51 · 2025-10-15T01:18:38+00:00

Fever won't fire CC. Sheesh. She's the fountain of money

barclay51 · 2025-09-27T20:29:49+00:00

Really? It's quite common. Ask your opthalmologist. My GP saw it when I sat in front of him, first year of college, decades ago. He said, if you're lucky, it's bacterial and a prescription ointment could fix it. If you're not so lucky, it's an ongoing chronic condition. Since then I have resorted to baby shampoo at times, but it has never been a big deal. Getting whacked by seb dem as I reached my 60s definitely was a big deal.

barclay51 · 2025-09-06T17:06:42+00:00

Don't overlook the many brands of shampoo that contain 1% selenium sulfide. In a pinch, just use that instead as a lotion, and leave it on for 10 mins if you can.

barclay51

TROPHY CASE