question about skin reactions
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free skin care · Tue Feb 06, 2007 3:56 am

Hi Cherisse,

I did indeed get a strong allergy pill on the second day of my reaction, and it helped with the itching, but that is about it! Your lip allergy sounds horrible--I hope you successfully control it in the future!

and hi hk:
re: shower filters, I've emailed a few places about filters and calcium carbonate, and everyone seems to concur that there is no filter that works for that--you need a water softening or water conditioning system in order to fix that problem. so it looks like I'm stuck, although, hk, if you happen to come across something that looks promising, I'd certainly be interested! The best thing about shower filters is the fact that they are portable, so you can bring them with you when you travel to a place you know has water issues. I live in a 1-br apartment in a building, so I have my own tea kettle, but it is a cheap electric one. I use only brita filtered water for drinking/coffee/etc., but I'm going to be a bit more cognizant of my tap water uses now.

On another note, it looks like my shoulder reaction is actually a collection of nasty spider bites--I got another one on my butt this morning! huge, raised, white bump surrounded by a red ring = spider, definitely. I'm going to get an analgesic ointment from the pharmacy, no hydrocortisone, and wash all of my bedclothes in hot hot water!
I recently went plant shopping and bought about 20 plants, so I'm thinking that whatever is biting me came from the plant store.

Gives me the creeps!!!!!

--avalange

free skin care · Tue Feb 06, 2007 8:27 am

hi avalange, maybe I used the wrong word I didn't mean kettle from the waterkettle for the tea, I quess I mean the waterboiler. We have a waterboiler and had a filter placed in there that took care of the calcium. Is that a possibility?

free skin care · Tue Feb 06, 2007 8:28 am

ohhhh!!!!

i understand now. i have an individual water heater in my closet, is that what you mean? Laughing

--avalange

free skin care · Tue Feb 06, 2007 9:32 am

Hi avalange, yes thats what I mean (sometimes I don't know the right word in English). I thought there is a way of putting a filter in there or on there that will filter out calcium and therefor will soften your water. You still then can put your showerheadfilter on, which will filter out the rest.

free skin care · Tue Feb 06, 2007 10:21 am

i tried a magnetized contraption that was supposed to change the charge of the calcium ions so that they do not bond with magnesium to make calcium carbonate, but after i went to buy another one (one near my front door, one near the hot water), the salesman told me that they do NOT work. The filters for the hot water heater unfortunately cost around 1000 euros, and since I'm renting, I can't do it. Water softeners are even more costly!

I don't actually take many showers (2/week max!) and I am going to start adding acv to my baths, and I wash my face with avene, like I said, and use acv rinses on my hair, so I think I'm doing as much as I can right now without shelling out tons of cash that I don't have on an actual solution... Sad

I have a shower filter already from sonaki, and it was expensive and it is crap! but i might get another one with a carbon filter, since my brita filter seems to work just fine and it is the same technology.

thank you so much for your continuing interest and help with my issues! if you come across a better filter for the shower or a reasonably-priced one for the hot water heater, please let me know!

--avalange

free skin care · Tue Feb 06, 2007 10:49 am

avalange wrote:

i tried a magnetized contraption that was supposed to change the charge of the calcium ions so that they do not bond with magnesium to make calcium carbonate, but after i went to buy another one (one near my front door, one near the hot water), the salesman told me that they do NOT work. The filters for the hot water heater unfortunately cost around 1000 euros, and since I'm renting, I can't do it. Water softeners are even more costly!

I don't actually take many showers (2/week max!) and I am going to start adding acv to my baths, and I wash my face with avene, like I said, and use acv rinses on my hair, so I think I'm doing as much as I can right now without shelling out tons of cash that I don't have on an actual solution... Sad

I have a shower filter already from sonaki, and it was expensive and it is crap! but i might get another one with a carbon filter, since my brita filter seems to work just fine and it is the same technology.

thank you so much for your continuing interest and help with my issues! if you come across a better filter for the shower or a reasonably-priced one for the hot water heater, please let me know!

--avalange

Avalange, do you think your problem comes from the water? I thought it sounded more like you were allergic to the Rose Hip Oil.

free skin care · Tue Feb 06, 2007 10:54 am

cherisse,

it is definitely the water. i've laid off the rosehip seed oil too--i think it is a combination of things that caused it. but it was all over my cheeks, and not where i was putting the rosehip seed oil, so i can't attribute it solely to that...

--avalange

free skin care · Tue Feb 06, 2007 11:00 am

Cherisse wrote:

Avalange, do you think your problem comes from the water? I thought it sounded more like you were allergic to the Rose Hip Oil.

trust her -- it's the water!!! (and an arachnid or two)

free skin care · Tue Feb 06, 2007 11:16 am

yep, and that is what the derm said, too...

which arrondissement do you live in, la vie?

this derm claims that the 3rd is the worst. that's where i live. but there is major payoff in cuteness factor and nice cafes...!

--avalange

free skin care · Tue Feb 06, 2007 11:32 am

15th. beaugrenelle (between 10 charles michel [closest] and 9 dupleix). cuteness level, non. very small townish though. fabulous flirtation developed with the monoprix butchers and fishmongers (the main fruit weigher is a gal -- we have traded scar stories though). tourists may end up here but it's by mistake only. we do get the stews and captains though (they seem to stay at the nearby mercure). i'm only a bridge away from the statue of liberty which is a hoot. a dear friend of mine from new york said it reminded him a little of the bronx Bad Grin

ETA: my water is hard enough, merci! i'd hate to think of anything worse....

free skin care · Wed Feb 07, 2007 9:41 am

O yes it is definitely the water, my husband used to have reactions in our appartement in Amsterdam as well, not anymore. The funny thing is that I orginially had reactions from the water here in the States, I got red bumps allover my arm and also my skin couldn't handle the airconditioning. But now I think my skin just got used to it all Smile

I will do some more researching, next month I'll be back in Amsterdam and I'll ask what they use there.

Paris is such a nice city......

free skin care · Wed Feb 07, 2007 11:56 am

avalange wrote:

cherisse,

it is definitely the water. i've laid off the rosehip seed oil too--i think it is a combination of things that caused it. but it was all over my cheeks, and not where i was putting the rosehip seed oil, so i can't attribute it solely to that...

--avalange

Avalange, why are you still living in France again? :-P Geezzz the water sucks. It makes your hair really bad and now your skin. What's next? I hope you don't stay long enough to find out. Move back to the states!

free skin care · Wed Feb 07, 2007 12:26 pm

oh oh cherisse Very Happy

... how can you say so, Paris is beautiful, the french really know about food and wine and enjoying it and life, the bread is DELICIOUS, the coffee is yummie:) the French ladies are so well dressed .... Paris: the city for lovers:) .... walking through Ile Saint-Louis Smile

Ha I think I'm a little homesick for Europe.... Very Happy

Wed Feb 07, 2007 1:00 pm

avalange,
to me it sounds as if you have a case of contact dermatitis. you probably put something on your face that caused a chain reaction of reactions. did that make sense????

I had c.d about 3 years ago from using too many different products on my face and ended up going to a dermat. to get cortison shots IN my face. Brutal. My suggestion is to only use ONE product that will build your skin back up, might take 3 weeks or so., and then you can start slowly with other products.
Unfortunately ever since I had my mishap my skin has become quite sensitive and i can only blame myself for it. Hopefully this wont happen to you!

free skin care · Wed Feb 07, 2007 1:24 pm

Cherisse wrote:

Avalange, why are you still living in France again? :-P Geezzz the water sucks. It makes your hair really bad and now your skin. What's next? I hope you don't stay long enough to find out. Move back to the states!

move back to the states for the water??? i so don't think so!

free skin care · Wed Feb 07, 2007 2:51 pm

It could be spider bites or since it sounds like there are so many, could it be bedbugs? I hope your skin gets better soon. I am also extremely sensitive at the moment after my allergic reaction...

free skin care · Wed Feb 07, 2007 5:07 pm

Hi, I can definitely sympathize with this problem as the water here is terrible and full of everything nasty including calcium. To get rid of calcium you need an "Ion Exchange" water treatment system. The other ones are not going to work, they filter out nasty things but do not grab the calcium.

http://www.howitworks.net/how-water-filters-work.html

I have a treatment system on my whole house that includes ion exchange and an additional RO system in the kitchen (i'm serious, the water is nasty here!). My system is made by a company called RainSoft, they do small and large filters. I'm not sure any of the portable filters will offer ion exchange but if you are going to be in the same place for awhile it may be worth it to you to have a small ion exchange one installed.

Otherwise the Avene water is your friend as you have found - when I have to shower at the gym in the bad water a) I do not wash my hair there and b) I dry off, mist the hell out of my face and upper body with Avene, blot it off with my towel (hopefully getting any lingering bad water off), and mist again. This works for me to help keep any nasty spots away.

free skin care · Wed Feb 07, 2007 6:02 pm

oh my godddddd!!!!!!

I have SHINGLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who would have thunk it? I feel like I've literally been shot in the shoulder. When they started multiplying on my shoulder, when I began to feel like razors were cutting my skin, the entire area was almost numbed with pain, my heart started beating fast and I got chills, I ran to the 24 hour pharmacist and he confirmed what my med school friends thought--that it is indeed shingles!

At least it all makes sense now... Crying or Very sad

--avalange

Wed Feb 07, 2007 6:44 pm

avalange wrote:

oh my godddddd!!!!!!

I have SHINGLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who would have thunk it? I feel like I've literally been shot in the shoulder. When they started multiplying on my shoulder, when I began to feel like razors were cutting my skin, the entire area was almost numbed with pain, my heart started beating fast and I got chills, I ran to the 24 hour pharmacist and he confirmed what my med school friends thought--that it is indeed shingles!

At least it all makes sense now... Crying or Very sad

--avalange

oh noooo, Avalange! Shock

That's rotten. I had shingles a few years ago--they ran up my neck behind my ear and over my head to the other side. I could not comb my hair for days as they were painful and everything throbbed. I remember the chills well. I totally feel for you, girl! Was the pharmacist able to give you anything for them? or is it too late? I know there is a narrow window of time where medication can be helpful. Sad

free skin care · Wed Feb 07, 2007 6:50 pm

Avalange,

I didn't read all the responses here, but one possibility to consider is the detergent used to wash your pillow cases and sheets. A lot of people have and/or develop sensitivities to them. Or is it possible you've become sensitive to nuts, soy or milk? Many people have trouble with them.

free skin care · Wed Feb 07, 2007 6:53 pm

havana8 wrote:

avalange wrote:

oh my godddddd!!!!!!

I have SHINGLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who would have thunk it? I feel like I've literally been shot in the shoulder. When they started multiplying on my shoulder, when I began to feel like razors were cutting my skin, the entire area was almost numbed with pain, my heart started beating fast and I got chills, I ran to the 24 hour pharmacist and he confirmed what my med school friends thought--that it is indeed shingles!

At least it all makes sense now... Crying or Very sad

--avalange

oh noooo, Avalange! Shock

That's rotten. I had shingles a few years ago--they ran up my neck behind my ear and over my head to the other side. I could not comb my hair for days as they were painful and everything throbbed. I remember the chills well. I totally feel for you, girl! Was the pharmacist able to give you anything for them? or is it too late? I know there is a narrow window of time where medication can be helpful. Sad

thank you, havana8, actually, i've had these particular bumps on my shoulder for about a week now, so unfortunately, there might be nothing i can do. but i am taking a strong anti-viral all the same, so it does not spread... they are actually a recurrence of the chicken pox virus, and they look just like chicken pox, it all makes sense now!

i don't wish it on my worst enemy!

--avalange

free skin care · Wed Feb 07, 2007 6:57 pm

Ouch! That must be awful and painful for you. How long will it last?

free skin care · Wed Feb 07, 2007 6:58 pm

Also, Avalange, what do you have to take for it to reduce the itchiness? I'm assuming it itches like the chickenpox? Calamyde Lotion?

free skin care · Wed Feb 07, 2007 7:02 pm

hi, it is more painful than itchy, in fact! it itches a little during the day, but in little pulses. and if so much as a stray hair grazes one of the bumps, it literally feels like someone is digging around in them with a dull needle! i have taken acyclovir and lots of ibuprofen and valerian root and hopefully i will go to sleep soon!!!!

--avalange

Wed Feb 07, 2007 7:05 pm

That's how it was for me, not so much as itchy as actually *quite* painful. I could barely move my head. They say it typically takes between 3 and 5 weeks for it to completely run its course. POOR AVALANGE!!!!!!

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