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Wed Aug 01, 2012 12:01 pm |
Hi everybody!
I'm a 19 near old Caucasian male living in the UK that has problems with skin in general. I'll keep this short and sweet.
Ever since till about age 17, my skin has changed for the worse. I used to have oily skin that looked very nice and was easy to maintain with cleansing the skin twice a day. Even doing so did not require a moisturizer at all. Here lies the dilemma.
About one year ago my skin turned from oily to dry in a month, i guess. It refused the regime i was on, which was a cleanser that uses gentle cleansing agents (no sls) and the acne.org moisturizer (which is the old version). Ever since that year, my skin looks awful in general. It never moisturizes, looks really pale and as if somebody has sucked the life out of it. It has the appearance of being dry and also looks dehydrated because it looks like every bit of moisture has been sucked out. The acne isn't too bad since I've used Erythromycin this 3 or so months to topically to treat it. I cannot wash my facial skin every day because it will, in a couple of hours or so, become dehydrated, dry, pale and horrid,. During the day, it will look dry and dehydrated skin with a layer of oil in some areas and others will be oil free. This is entirely combination as some areas of my skin are somewhat oily (nose and areas around the nose) but all other areas are without oil but still look dehydrated and dry.
To make it tolerant, it would require about 4 days of moisturizing before it has a layer of oil that makes the skin look good.
I've tried things to combat this.
.I've tried the oil cleanse method to no avail. I've tried using only hydrating products (cleansers, toners and moisturizers) which haven't worked. I've recently tried to use a glycolic acid toner @ 5% strength, which can make my skin look good, but can sometimes cause rashes in the areas that are oily (nose areas). If i washed my skin, it would go back to this dreaded pale, dehydrated look quickly.
Tried these things :
-Jojoba oil with moisturizer and on its own.
-Safflower oil piled on
-Olive oil (gave me acne >.<)
-Emollient creams (ones without detergents)like cetraben and diprobase.
-Moisturizing lotions and creams that are non-comedogenic. Like cetaphil, DML lotion/Cream, lac Hydrin,Acne.org moisturizer. I've tried quite a few with similar results.
-Vitamin e pills
Fish oil pills
Evening primrose oil pills
Vitamin C pills
Zinc
Vitamin A
(none really improve the skin condition so that it is moisturized, except the oil pills made the skin somewhat more oily, but just continued to have dry, dehydrated skin with oil sitting on top)
-Aloe Vera gel (organic and others loaded with vitamins)
-Glycolic acid in a toner base of 5% and 10% (tried both strengths)
-Various other oils topically.
-Avoided SLS and strong alcohol ingredients and general skin drying/irritants
I drink 2 liters of water every day and have a balanced diet.
[u]
Things i cannot do:
Wash my face everyday. if i was my face and pat dry, after an hour it looks terribly dehydrated and somewhat dry.
Putting on moisturizer after i wash. OK i can do this at night but if i wash in the morning and apply moisturizer, my skin absorbs the moisturizer and sustains a layer of grease or oil on top, depending on what word you want to use, but underneath it looks dehydrated. Imagine having dehydrated skin and then putting moisturizer on it that didn't do anything. That's what it looks like for me. And it does this for all moisturizers I've used. It just looks dehydrated with a sheen to it. Not attractive nor beneficial.
like I've said, It takes about 4-5 days for it to moisturize and look OK if i constantly apply moisturizer every a day with no washing in between. Why is this? If i do wash my face, it goes back to its dry and dehydrated look and would take 4-5 days again to look OK again. This is certainly not good for acne as you well already know. My acne doesn't get much worse if i do this, thankfully. I think this is partly because i am using a glycolic toner and DML lotion at night.
I have a feeling my skin has been damaged for product use. i used to use Benzoyl peroxide to combat acne. It worked but i had the side affect of dry skin and peeling. Putting moisturizer on top of that did work when i was around 16-17. My skin started getting these problems when i started using Sebamed anti-bacterial cleansing foam. I don't think it is responsible for skin damage because it's quite safe. I think my skin just changed at the same time regardless.
What I'm really desperate to know is whether there is anything i can do to fix this at all. Is this a symptom to a deficiency? I've had bloods done before and they have shown to be fine. I'm just desperate to know what can be done. I don't want to look horrible as this does have a huge knock on effect to my esteem and my personality in general.
Thank you and i hope you can help x |
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Wed Aug 01, 2012 5:29 pm |
It does sound to me like its all been in reaction to the harsher products you've applied, or are applying.
If your skin starts to look good after days of not washing, it must mean that the way you cleanse, or the products you cleanse with are irritating, and that perhaps you've stripped or are stripping the protective barrier of your skin.
Which oils did you use for the ocm? People respond differently to different kinds of oils. Are you aware that castor oil, which is normally considered the operative ingredient in ocm, can be incredibly drying? I have oily skin and can only use 15% in my formula.. or mayhem!
What a lot of us are doing now instead of using cleansers/cloths/toners to clean off the ocm oils, is to mix in an emusifier (such as polysorbate 20 or 80), so that it can simply be rinsed off with water, which is much gentler. That way your skin will be cleansed, but not stripped.
Unfortunately a lot of products they say are safe and non-comedogenic, aren't.
Its tough when you need to control acne, but try to eliminate as many products as you can, especially if you're not completely sure that they're pure and gentle.
Another thing I'd suggest is making sure that you're not manipulating your skin too harshly when you're cleansing or applying product. Just doing that, nevermind along with strong acne treatments and acids, can damage your skin making it more vulnerable.
And if your skin is really in trouble, soaps and shampoos that you use on the rest of your body which might just be coming in contact with your face while rinsing, could also be causing problems.
I'd try those to start, and if things go well, you may even be able to do away with the acne treatments, since your skin will no longer be erupting in response to irritation.
A lot of people here have recovered completely from similar conditions, and given that you're only 19, there's every chance that you will too! Good luck. |
_________________ Olive, normal/oily skin. Using rinse-off ocm, Vit C, Tretinoin since Nov/10, GHK since Feb/12, Niacinamide & glucosamine, alternating, & now skipping nights! Concerns include oiliness, hyperpigmentation from occasional zits, 11's & nasolabial folds. |
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Thu Aug 02, 2012 12:49 am |
Thanks for the reply!
For the OCM I've tried a couple of different oils. I have used Sunflower oil and Olive oil with castor oil. I would use either one of those, massage it around the face and wipe with a warm washcloth. The skin didn't react when i used the oils, but my skin didn't really change much when i did use sunflower. Olive oil kinda stayed on the surface longer than the sunflower, giving the skin a slightly glowing look. Problem is that my skin breaks out when i use olive oil.
All I'm doing at the moment is washing with water a couple time a week or sometimes once. All i want is to be able to wash my face and get it into good condition straight after, instead of waiting 4 days of continuously applying moisturizer to it :/
You are right when you said that washing is stripping. If i had a day where my skin was OK and if i simply washed my face with water to remove any surface oils, my skin would look dryer and dehydrated. My skin finds it very hard to retain and moisture at all. It also only seems to produce oil in and around the nose area. Everywhere else doesn't get oily, even if i wait a few days. the only way, like I've said,is to apply moisturizer lotion to it for a few days. Then it looks all moisturized. |
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paprika
New Member
Joined: 02 Aug 2012
Posts: 1
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Thu Aug 02, 2012 6:57 am |
Judging by the backstory of your skin - your skin used to be oily which you tried to adjust to by only cleansing. Oily skin does need moisture however that's not really your current skin type.
There's a few things I think are going on here. Firstly I think that you may have damaged the acid mantle of your skin, which means your skin might be finding it difficult to protect itself and is not only prone to break outs but is not sealed off and protected from the environment. Although I do believe the medication you are taking is helping prevent these breakouts but may also contribute to drying your skin out.
A moisturiser is not only there to hydrate/to keep oil at bay etc. In fact its primary role (according to some International associations anyway) is to protect your skin from the harsh environment. It is meant to be a sealant. Without a moisturiser, your skin is highly susceptible to drying out and becoming more dehydrated and that could also be contributing to the dullness you describe. The medication you are on may also be contributing to the dryness. Not to mention skin can change at anytime can do with many different things, including genetics.
I know it's age-old advice, but I would highly recommend that you do seek a professional consultation (a dermatologist) but I think your skin is combination-type.
I think using a cleanser to try and remove those excess oils that sit on the surface of your skin is still important. A toner is essential to remove excess cleanser and to return your acid mantle/protective barrier that is gentle enough not to dehydrate your skin and a hydrating moisturiser suited to combination skin.
I think you hit the nail on the head in introducing a moisturiser into your skincare routine, I think you need to cleanse, tone prepare the skin to firstly let it absorb better and also make sure it suited to combination skin types not just oily or dry/dehydrated.
If you are finding you do need extra moisture, a night cream with an oil/water emulsion would also be highly recommended but I would introduce that after finding a daytime moisturiser that suits you. |
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Thu Aug 02, 2012 10:48 am |
Mattiscool,
Have you tried products containing urea? Have you tried pure Aloe Vera (without any alcohol/additives)? Lactic acid? Do you eat a lot of fruit and get enough fish oils? What do you use as far as shaving products?
I hope you know that "trying" oils or products just once or twice isn't long enough to know whether they'd really work for you. There's rarely an instant fix for these types of problems.
I agree that cleansing and perhaps toning may be helpful in preparing the skin to accept beneficial products. The problem is that if the ingredients in your products aren't benign, they can introduce a whole host of problems, throwing your skin even more out of wack. I use pure oils so that my skin's ph isn't thrown off, and so that I don't need to use a toner to "bring it back". Its the same thing with moisturizers - if the ingredients aren't ideal, or if they're laced with too many other problematic fillers, they could hinder rather than help.
You said the sunflower oil didn't change your skin much - maybe that'll be enough to just help cleanse your skin (remove dirt/impurities) for now until you find more helpful products? If your ph is getting thrown off by the acne products, perhaps try a diy apple cider vinegar & water toner for now. A lot of people swear by it! Again, you might just use it temporarily until you can research some other safe products which may be more curative for your condition.
Here are some threads which might be helpful:
http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=46368&highlight=
http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=46259&highlight=dry+dehydrated
http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=45776&highlight=dry+dehydrated
They may not refer to your exact problem, but there's discussion about what is going on with dry/dehydrated skin and what specific ingredients and products may work. Look for the posts by Firefox 7275, she gets in depth and has suffered from dry skin herself, and you can generally trust her recommendations. |
_________________ Olive, normal/oily skin. Using rinse-off ocm, Vit C, Tretinoin since Nov/10, GHK since Feb/12, Niacinamide & glucosamine, alternating, & now skipping nights! Concerns include oiliness, hyperpigmentation from occasional zits, 11's & nasolabial folds. |
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Thu Aug 02, 2012 2:16 pm |
I have indeed tried urea products such as Eucerin. Urea products funnily enough don't make a difference and can sometimes make my skin itch and go red. Normally there wont be as much of a difference compared to AHAs I've used. Lactic acid is good, though it doesn't last as long as I'd like. I use Lac Hydrin 5 and that smooths out my skin and makes it look slightly better. Though it only looks better because my skin still feels dry and tight in areas.
I've bought pure aloe vera from a grower. It's more runnier than the stuff you can buy in shops. Still with aloe vera it tends to ball up around the skin and it makes my dry skin look flaky . Wish it would work but it doesn't make much difference again .
I do like eating fruit and vegetables. I have a balanced diet and i am at a healthy weight. Fish oils tend to break me out whatever the brand or EPA/DPA strength. I've tried too many and they're very expensive in some cases and offer the same difference where it does some good to the dry skin, except breakouts were inevitable.
I used to never breakout from sunflower oil. It doesn't do much to my skin even though i applied it to dry or damp skin (tried both) and massaged and left it overnight. In the morning, the skin had absorbed all the oil and just looked dry and dehydrated. Really strange.
probably going to have to see a specialist in the end if things continue. |
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Sun Aug 05, 2012 1:02 pm |
Hi, check out the Jane Scrivner website she is based in the UK her products are absolutely excellent. The cleanser used at night will really help to normalise your skin! Her other products also give amazing results! I have also found that Rosehip oil used at night is fab. It sounds as though you really need to get the cleansing right and then the rest will fall into place. |
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Sun Aug 05, 2012 1:06 pm |
Maybe this sounds weird, but your story is very extreme. Have you considered having your thyroid checked? Sometimes thyroid problems can lead to extremely dry skin, maybe it's a good idea to rule this out. |
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Sun Aug 05, 2012 2:30 pm |
Hello. It sounds like your skin is in shock. Too many propducs, back to back, may have made your skin unable to catch up to the rate of change, turning it irritated and dehydrated. Have you tried not using anything but a non-medicated cleanser and moisturizer, trying to return to your skins normal balance?
You may break out but your skin sounds like it needs a serious break. If you continue trying acids or medicated products I'm afriad you could be in for a world of hurt down the line. I don't want that for you.
I'd suggest looking into LRP Toleriane Cleanser/Moisturizer or look at Pevonia products. Pevonia makes a great line for sensitive skin, reactive skin, and aggrivated skin. Before you do anything give your skin a break. Get your skin hydrated and calmed, then you have a fresh start waiting. Less is more. This can happen to anyone so stay strong! |
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Mon Aug 06, 2012 4:16 pm |
My skin was never oily but I got extremely dry a couple of months ago. My face became really red, hyper sensitive and so dry that it hurt.
I use natural skin lines. Make sure that you are not using harsh products in your skin. I added in an organic chamomile hydrosol before my Osmosis Quench moisturizer. After Quench, I added in a variety of oils: Emu, Rosehip and Tamanu. It made a tremendous difference in my skin very quickly. I use Rosehip in the morning and Emu at night. I use the Tamanu as more of a spot treatment. |
_________________ 46yrs, very dry skin that can be sensitive with Redness (not Rosacea). Purple Emu, NCN skincare, Emu Oil and La Mer Cream have made a tremendous difference. |
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Mon Aug 06, 2012 6:04 pm |
I'd get a physical and blood work taken.
As for hydration water is great of course - I suggest trying coconut water for increased hydration potential and green drinks or green smoothies - Drinking your water is more effective as a hydrater than plain H20. This reflects in your skin as you know.
Your changes sound extreme - I'd see a dermatologist - get some perspective there and go gentle.
Good luck. I hope
PS: I second the use of oils - you want to find the right one for yous skin of course. I love Potenshaa oil. It's a blend of lovely oils and the best I've ever used. |
_________________ Enjoying dermalogica with my ASG and Pico toner ** Disclosure: I was a participant without remuneration in promotional videos for Ageless Secret Gold and the Neurotris Pico Emmy event. |
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Mon Aug 06, 2012 6:33 pm |
Potenshaa oil is very nice. I have used it as well. I like it for morning use because it soaks in so quickly.
I should have also said that I added oil supplements to the vitamins I was already taking. Salmon Oil, Flax seed oil and Evening Primrose oil were added and helped to make a difference. |
_________________ 46yrs, very dry skin that can be sensitive with Redness (not Rosacea). Purple Emu, NCN skincare, Emu Oil and La Mer Cream have made a tremendous difference. |
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Tue Aug 07, 2012 10:31 am |
Yeah, Mattiscool, I didn't ask whether you liked fruit & vegs, but if you eat a lot of them. Everyone's idea of a balanced diet is different, but Firefox is always talking about the number of recommended servings. Normally I get eat really well, but still probably don't meet the number of r. servings (like 10 or so?). When I do, POW!
Re "doesn't last as long as I'd like", rarely if ever is there a quick fix, but rather ongoing maintenance when it comes to skincare.
A lot of people have that issue with pure aloe vera so instead mix it with other products.
Again, I agree with what Lightsbox said about your skin possibly being in shock. I think its either the products you're using (you never said what you used for shaving), or all the additives in the products you've been trying.
I'd really recommend your reading the threads I'd posted earlier, but if you're not interested in looking that in depth, and you've already had recent bloodwork done, definitely go to a derm if you have access. |
_________________ Olive, normal/oily skin. Using rinse-off ocm, Vit C, Tretinoin since Nov/10, GHK since Feb/12, Niacinamide & glucosamine, alternating, & now skipping nights! Concerns include oiliness, hyperpigmentation from occasional zits, 11's & nasolabial folds. |
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Wed Aug 08, 2012 12:04 pm |
Thank you all for your kind and helpful replies. At the moment i am purely washing with water after i shave (every 3 days or so). For shaving, i use a electric shaver from Philips. If i don't use that, i use King of Shaves Sensitive shaving gel with a Gillette Sensor Excel, which has two blades. I will use water to was my ace in until i can find a cleanser that works for me. I will take any considerations into account.
After shaving i will use, quite recently, DML forte with Panthenol. It's quite good and can take less time to make my skin looking more healthier, but I'm having trouble maintaining the look during the day. For instance when i wake up, my skin looks very good, but during the day, say 3-4 hours, it looks drier but shiny on the surface, whilst when i wake up it looked very healthy and shiny on the surface. Something happens in those few hours that makes the skin look that way. I've tried putting on more DML forte in the morning, but it still has that bad look in a few hours, even with added jojoba oil
Recent update: I've started to take a hair, skin and nails supplement from Holland and Barret. It contains 27 (i think) ingredients that are useful for the above. I've been taking it for about a week or two. I've noticed that the skin on my body has been looking healthier. My face is somewhat looking better from taking it, but will quite easily go back to a bad condition after i wash it.
Here are the ingredients in the supplement:
Three caplets contain:
Vitamin A 1500ug RE (5,000 I.U.) 188%
Vitamin D 2.5ug (100 I.U.) 50%
Vitamin E 10.07mg a-TE (15 I.U.) 83%
Vitamin C 60mg 75%
Thiamin (Vitamin B1) 5mg 455%
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 5mg 357%
Niacin 25mg NE 156%
Pantothenic Acid 15mg 250%
Vitamin B6 5.0mg 357%
Vitamin B12 8.0ug 320%
Folic Acid 200ug 100%
Biotin 200ug 400%
Calcium 834mg 104%
Iodine 112.5ug 75%
Iron 3.0mg 21%
Magnesium 100mg 27%
Manganese 5.0mg 250%
Phosphorus 330mg 47%
Selenium 12ug 22%
Zinc 7.5mg 75%
Betaine Hydrochloride 25mg
Choline Bitartrate 75mg
Citrus Bioflavonoids 25mg
Inositol 30mg
PABA 25mg
RNA 30mg
Rutin 12.5mg
Lotusesther- I've had my thyroid checked and everything came back normal. It was checked in May this year (my skin was the same then as it is now)
sister sweets - I've had blood done and everything is normal. Coconut water sounds like a great idea. I'll include it in some smoothies i will start to make. I'll look more into facial oils.
LoriA - I do understand where you're coming from. I personally enjoy having 3 or so servings of fruit and about 4 servings of vegetables daily. This might understandably be not enough, so i might consider increasing my intakes of fruits and vegetables in a smoothie base. I think this will be easier to achieve because you can mix multiple ingredients together in a smoothie. I will look at the threads you mentioned and see if i can make any sense of it .
Thank you all for your help |
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Wed Aug 08, 2012 12:39 pm |
Hey Matt,
Your shaving gel ingredients look to be:
Aqua (Water), Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe vera) leaf juice, Sodium laureth sulfate, Glycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) seed oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea tree) leaf oil, Eucalyptus Globulus leaf oil, Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) leaf oil, Tocopheryl acetate, Camphor, Agar, Benzophenone-4, Mica, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Polyquaternium-11, Polyacrylamide, Limonene, Propylene glycol, Sodium chloride, Citric acid, Triethanolamine, Magnesium nitrate, Magnesium chloride, Benzyl alcohol, Potassium sorbate, Sodium benzoate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, CI 77891 (Titanium dioxide), CI 60730 (Ext Violet 2), CI 42090 (Blue 1).
I'm not sure what they all are, but I would think twice about putting any amount of eucalyptus, spearmint and camphor.. maybe limonene(?) on my healthy skin, nevermind compromised/sensitive skin. I read that it smells rather strongly of them (or pine?) too, which would be of concern to me. Not sure what all that other stuff is, but you should be able to find a more benign product to shave with.
Your DML Forte with Penthenol contains:
Purified Water, Petrolatum, Propylene Glycol Dioctanoate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, DEA-Cetyl Phosphate, Dex Panthenol, PVP/Eicosene Copolymer, Benzyl Alcohol, Simethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Silica, Disodium EDTA, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate.
As I said, I don't know what a lot of these are, but I wanted to post them so you're aware of just how many ingredients you're really using and how any one of them, or blended together & with other products, could be the cause of your problems.
So just be careful, and try to pay some attention to those ingredients lists. |
_________________ Olive, normal/oily skin. Using rinse-off ocm, Vit C, Tretinoin since Nov/10, GHK since Feb/12, Niacinamide & glucosamine, alternating, & now skipping nights! Concerns include oiliness, hyperpigmentation from occasional zits, 11's & nasolabial folds. |
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Wed Aug 08, 2012 2:51 pm |
Hi Matt, I can only use natural products or oils really on my face. I too suffered from extreme dryness and dehydrated skin in the past which really depressed me and made me look awful quite frankly. Using lots of different products (and I have used all the mainstream products and spent a fortune along the way) just made things worse! I have also used some well known organic brands which did not help either. A friend recommended Jane Scrivner cleanser to me and it finally turned things around for me. It is so nourishing and really balances the skin (I only use it at night, my skin does not need it in the morning.) Her products are award winning in the UK which you can see on her website. Whenever I try to use other cleansers at night my skin does not look or feel the same it starts to flake and become dull and dehydrated again. The organic pharmacy's carrot cleanser is another very good product, which I have used, however, I prefer Jane Scrivner. I hope you manage to find the right solution, it sounds like you are on top of the health and wellbeing side of things anyway. All the best. |
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Sun Aug 19, 2012 3:48 am |
Hi guys (Sorry its been so long)
I've had a look at all the cosmetics (cleansers, moisturizers) i was using over these years and I've come to a discovery. All of them contained chemicals. Some chemicals are fine but i am having a totally different story, as you can understand from my posts.
I've decided to go all natural and was thinking about making my own products to heal and deeply, deeply moisturize. So i looked about and a really easy cream to make is Shea butter and jojoba oil. So I'm going to make a whipped Shea butter and jojoba oil facial cream (scary, i know), but was interested in knowing if there is anything you guys recommend adding that, in your opinion, is essential to get things back to being normal again. I was thinking along the lines of stuff that would be very beneficial.
Bare in mind that my skin can get cosmetic acne still and can get dry quickly.
Thanks everyone! |
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Mon May 06, 2013 10:05 am |
Well none of the natural methods worked. I tried Coconut oil, Aloe Vera gel/juice, Shea Butter, Grapeseed oil, and jojoba oil.
Annoyingly, none of these changed my skin for the better. I've now been on CeraVe Hydrating cleanser and Moisturizing lotion PM w/ Niacinamide and Ceramides for a week, but i don't want to start praising it just as yet. As far as i know, Niacinamide and Ceramides are the only way of repairing the barrier of very bad dehydrated skin, so I'm going to keep using them for a few months and track my progress.
Furthermore, i have developed more prominent laugh lines and I've now started using a 0.5mm Dermaroller that i am going to increase to 1.0mm, which i will be using every 2 weeks based on the guidelines on OwnDoc. I think it is fair to use on the entire face as I think my skin has some collagen damage from harsh treatments long ago, which i think my skin has lost some elasticity and is slightly more thinner. I will use a Vitamin C serum alongside this to increase results. I think nightly application would suit.
I am pretty let down by having this. I am only 20 years old and i cannot fathom anyone else experiencing this at a young age as mine.
If I fix this I will post back with results for those interested or having similar situations. |
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Mon May 06, 2013 6:52 pm |
I use NIA24 to help repair my skin's barrier- the Intense Recovery Complex has a great blend of Niacinamide, squalane oil, and ceramides. If my main objective was to hydrate my skin I would apply this to damp skin and then apply a cold-pressed macadamia nut oil. You could add jojoba oil to this too which as a wax seals everything in.
Also, I would go easy on the dermaroller- you are very young. Focus on hydrating the skin, and then look at some antioxidant serums (such as vit c which you already mentioned) and a vitamin A product for the night (such as Avene Eulage). Used together they will help plump up your collagen.
Finally, without fail you should use a great sunscreen every day, all day. Burnout and Invisible Zinc are great physical sunscreens (I use the latter myself). If you want to use a day cream with chemical sunscreens I would recommend Loreal UV Perfect spf 50 (amazing sunscreen with both of the Mexoryl filters and Tinosorb S). One of the best attributes of this ss is that it doesn't contain avobenzone nor octocrylene (which seem ubiquitous in most formulations). |
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Mon May 06, 2013 7:27 pm |
Hey Matt
As the earlier posts are saying, it really sounds like your skin is quite damaged and sensitized. If the acid mantle has been destroyed then no matter what products you try on the surface they will irritate it.
Without the acid mantle even water is too much for skin, it's recommended for overly sensitized skin to not use water at all to wash your face - it doesn't make a lot of sense because water is so gentle and natural..... but without the protective layer of oil on your skin it will delay any healing every time you wash.
You need to build up your skin from the deeper layers again, and take your time doing this. You've tried a lot of stuff, your skin needs time to repair itself.
Look at using a galvanic/ultrasound machine which can stimulate the lower layers of skin. This is where good skin starts from - it will balance out oil production and rebuild the acid mantle.
This really is so important, without it any moisture in your skin cells will evaporate, your pores will over-compensate by producing more oil (which is why you're having a problem with this), and any products will irritate the cells that are exposed to them as there's no natural barrier in between.
Look into galvanic treatment. This can be expensive as a spa treatment and you will need quite a few to see benefit. You can get one to use at home - look up the Fyola machine.
Just concentrate on being patient and treating your skin from deep down. Galvanic uses a current to deliver nutrients past the surface of skin, and is one of the best ways to reach this layer.
Also, with shaving I would try using a sharp, clean razor instead of electric. And use a shaving oil which creates a barrier between skin and the blade. It also softens the hair which makes it easier to remove.
Again, don't use water when you shave, just an oil is good enough by itself. I know we all think it's best to lather up and an oil doesn't seem like enough, but it really is.
I used to work at a male skin salon and this is what we always suggested to men with sensitized skin. An electric razor may seem less irritating but you'll be surprised.
Stop using the dermaroller until you've sorted out the balance of your skin and it's been strengthened. Again, look at treating it with galvanic, and once this helps, you could try the dermaroller as well for added benefit.
I'm not sure your diet has anything to do with it at this stage, as it does really sound like it's from all coming from the surface. Keep trying to eat as healthy as you can and take your supplements, as these will contribute to overall skin health in the long run.
And you do need to protect your skin from the sun, but be careful with what sunscreen you use. High Spf contain a lot of chemicals which can be irritating. Try a baby formula, or the best thing would be to rely on shade/sun hat for a while until your skin has healed.
Be consistent, remember skin takes a good 28days to change, and if it's severely damaged will take a couple of months.
Hope this helps! |
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Tue May 07, 2013 4:10 am |
Interesting replies thanks!
I think what i am going to do is:
Use Cerave hydrating cleanser at night
Apply 10% Vitamin C & Ferulic serum after
wait 20+ mins (for the PH to normalize)
Apply Cerave PM
I think these topicals should help me over time.
I will stick with using a dermaroller as it hasn't worsened my condition. It's said that the dermaroller does not damage the epidermis like peels or lasers can do, so i think using it can only help improve my condition over an extensive amount of time. I apply a vitamin A ointment afterwards also. My skin seems to be able to handle it.
I would use an ultrasound machine but it looks really sketchy and quite expensive for me at the moment.
I think using these will, if the claims are true, help me to fix my issue. My only gripe is that it probably wont return to its previous undamaged condition. I guess some improvements are better than nothing. |
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sabrinatang
New Member
Joined: 26 Apr 2013
Posts: 2
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Wed May 08, 2013 7:18 pm |
I also have same problem with you after using proactive for only half year, it didn't work on me anymore. I get also really oily on my forehead and nose. I get some white heads and bumps on my forehead because it's oily all the time after I put on my mositrizer. My derm recommended me to use retinol(different) which I think it's drying my skin too. But without this treatment my breakout won't healed.
Can any body help us?? |
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Fri May 10, 2013 11:42 am |
hi matt
just thought i would also put in my 2 cents worth...i've not experienced oily skin that has become very dry / dehydrated, but generally have balanced skin that becomes very dry / dehydrated and a bit sensitive at the drop of a hat (stress, change in diet, change in climate, travel, winter...)
i came across a japanese woman called Chizu Saeki and she does something called a lotion mask. it's basically a cotton mask (using cotton pads) soaked in a liquid (i use rosewater or spray mineral water) that is placed on your face & left for a few minutes. basically this method is placing liquid on your face so your skin can soak it up, rather than the air drying it. i've found that if i do this consistently after cleansing & before moisturizing, my skin is so much happier. there is a how-to on youtube. it is worth checking out! |
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Sun May 12, 2013 11:34 am |
OK I'm just going to put some observations through for those who may understand my condition further.
1. From what i gather, when I am in a heated room from computers etc, my skin will loose moisture quickly.
2. My skin will always look its best in the morning. It seems it's at its peak when i wake up and then downhill after.
3. For some reason, if I wash my face and then not apply anything at night, my skin in the morning looks good. If i don't wash in the morning, it will stay that way longer throughout the day if I don't expose myself to heat or air conditioning. It genuinely looks quite OK-ish if i do this. Would this have something to do with products drawing moisture from the skin? Like glycerin for example.
As I've looked around on this forum, a member has had success from using Niacinamide and Glucosamine in a water base using a spray bottle. I am going to attempt to mimic their regimen with the use of CeraVe Cleanser and PM moisturizer.
Paula Begoun has mentioned how good Vitamin C is for the skin, and has a part where she says it can help strengthen the skin barrier response. I will attempt to make my own Vitamin C serum. I will apply the Vitamin C first (I have all the necessary tools) and then the rest 30+ minutes after the PH normalizes. I can't see a downside to adding this really.
Sorry for this to drag on. This really does seem to be a difficult nut to crack. |
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Thu Mar 28, 2024 3:09 am |
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