help with damaged skin / dehydrated oily skin
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free skin care · Wed Mar 21, 2012 10:21 pm

As a teenager i battled and suffered from acne. I used everything to try to ward off the acne. I have tried proactiv when i was 18 and it had made my skin so bad. Same experience you had. My skin was dehydrated from all the alcohol in the product. The top layer was totally dry. My skin was dehydrated, yet still breaking out. I am now 27. I have congested skin that breaks out and is dehydrated. What i would highly suggest for you is a very mild and gentle cleanser. Dermalogica ultra calming cleanser is perfect. It's so gentle it won't even sting your eyes. I would also invest in a good exfoliating system. The real cause of congested skin is a buildup of dead skin cells and the solution is regular, gentle exfoliation. The clarisonic is something i can not live without. I use it twice a day with a sensitive head (brush) on the sentitive/gentle cycle. During the day a good moisturizer is important to hydrate the skin.
At night use "Clyndoxil gel" which is an acne medication (the best in my opinion).

free skin care · Thu Mar 22, 2012 5:31 am

A year and a half of Retin A has almost normalized my skin: much less surface oil, but deeper hydration because RA stimulates hyaluronic acid production in the dermis. I use RA Micro .04% every other night, and love it. Less shine, more glow!

free skin care · Fri Mar 23, 2012 9:06 pm

Hi, i have the same situation as you, whereby if i accidently use a moisturiser/product for dry skin, i'll break out because then my skin turns oily, but yet its dehydrated (i suppose comes with age)..

Can i suggest you try this product called Priori Perfection Facial gel? EDS carries it as well. It was suggested to me by my facial to combat my skin situation, and it works very well.
Skin is soft, not dehydrated, no more tight feeling, and controls the breakouts.

Mon Mar 26, 2012 7:59 am

The Retin-A micro would probably be a good option for me. I'm pretty sure my skin is just overly damaged, so I need something that can help rebuild collagen. I'm having very few breakouts, and my skin is actually pretty soft. It's just so oily, I can barely keep my makeup on all day. And it has a slight redness at night when I wash it, even though I'm using Olay's sensitive skin face wash.

free skin care · Tue Mar 27, 2012 11:27 am

Retin-A is totally unsuitable for many people with dry, dehydrated, sensitive or reactive skin - it is an acid and has irritant properties. If you have a problem with a damaged skin barrier and underlying inflammation work on resolving that, not attacking your poor skin.

Tue Mar 27, 2012 12:46 pm

Yeah, now that I've been doing more research, I think you're right, Firefox. I've actually been looking up information on the skin's natural pH (which is slightly acidic). Most cleansers and soaps are alkaline, which strips the skin of its natural moisture and barrier. I was using a tea tree oil bar soap all winter (along with the Clarisonic - yikes), so I think the combination was just way too harsh. Apple cider vinegar, which is acidic, is supposed to help balance your skin. I've been using it as a toner (majorly watered down, of course, because it's so strong) for just two days now, and it already seemed to be helping. I think it will take a long time for the problem to be solved, but I'm hoping this will bring my skin back to its normal moisture level. Has anyone else had success with ACV?

free skin care · Tue Mar 27, 2012 5:36 pm

I went through this. First things first, repair your skin barrier. Eliminate harsh cleansers, for me I alternate between a homemade DrHCC and Dermalogica pre cleanse. Gentle, no sulfates. I also used the Dermalogica Barrier Repair, which is likely unpopular because of silicones. Once the barrier is back, start over with real solutions, enter Retin A which has balanced the oil out. The project took about a year. NOw my daily products are more enhancing than aimed at repair.

Wed Mar 28, 2012 7:10 am

Thanks for your reply, Ava with wings. I had been thinking about buying the Dermologica Barrier Repair, but I didn't want to spend any more money on products that don't work. But I think I should give it a try. I also set up an appointment with the dermatologist, so I hope she can help me (without making matters worse, which I'm worried about). This has been so stressful! Sad

free skin care · Wed Mar 28, 2012 7:39 am

^ I think that is a good step to see a dermatologist.

free skin care · Wed Mar 28, 2012 7:45 am

this may be a good link:

http://www.skin-beauty.com/dehydratedskin.html

free skin care · Wed Mar 28, 2012 7:48 am

Katehume: vinegar contains acetic acid which is very drying. IMO consider purchasing or DIYing a toner based on lactic acid. Lactic acid is naturally found in our skin barrier, where it acts as both a humectant (hydrator) and a gentle keratolytic (exfoliator) depending on the concentration. But really you should be using a pH neutral or mildly acidic cleanser, thus negating the need to 'reset' the acid mantle.

You would be surprised how quickly the skin barrier regenerates once you overhaul your routine; the body will prioritise this because it keeps pathogenic bacteria out. The Olay sensitive wash contains sulphate surfactants: known irritants which are as quick to dissolve the lipids holding the skin barrier together as dissolve unwanted oils on the surface. It is likely you also need to revisit your diet as this plays a strong role in a healthy skin barrier and in the inflammation that coexists with sensitivity and ageing. I found quitting sulphate surfactants made my scalp and T-zone less greasy virtually overnight.

Wed Mar 28, 2012 11:47 am

Thanks for all the helpful info everybody! I'm determined to turn my skin around. Is there a particular facial cleanser or brand of cleansers you would recommend, Firefox?

free skin care · Fri Oct 30, 2015 12:35 pm

It's so depressing...

I spent the last week researching on how to fix dehydrated oily skin and all I've come up with is the fact that there are a lot of us out there but no one can help.

The OP described me PERFECTLY. From the texture of the skin, to the fact nothing absorbs, to how doing nothing and 'leaving my skin alone' (not using anything, even cleanser) did jack sh*t.

The only recommendations are CeraVe and Hada Labo HA toner (which I have, but is iffy; it's either sticky, makes my skin a bit red or doesn't hydrate my skin; but sometimes it works well --it could be something else that I'm using that interacts with it.)

I'm torn about using my clairsonic because I freaking bought it and it was expensive and I want to remove the dead skin from my skin (guess how amazing makeup looks on me?...). I don't have AHAs/ BHAs because it was part of the problem. I try using the sonic without any cleansers but it does nothing... I'm not sure how to exfoliate now.

I'm really surprised at the recommendations to use ACV and OCM... The ACV is the reason my skin is the way it is now Mad

and AVC clogged my pores so bad I have milia 5 years later that won't go away...

Anyway, still searching for something that will work, especially a pH balanced cleanser that is gentle and crap free... Smile

I'm using DHC oil and then Hada Labo acid cleanser foam (pH 5.5). They don't necessarily dry my skin but I'm worried the foaming action is not improving things.

I was trying desperately to find a barrier repair cream that actually works. Nia24 is so expensive but people swear by it. (I wonder if there's a good dupe...) I'll try CeraVe or LRP Toleraine Fluid and get back to you guys.

Orange pruned people (how I describe my skin) UNITE! Bad Grin

Fri Oct 30, 2015 4:02 pm

ACV = Apple Cider Vinegar on the forum.

Is Apple Cider Vinegar what you mean when you write that "I'm really surprised at the recommendations to use ACV and OCM... The AVC clogged my pores so bad I have milia 5 years later that won't go away"?

free skin care · Sat Oct 31, 2015 11:53 am

Oops, I mean the OCM clogged my pores. Was writing it when I was super tired, sorry -_-

But the ACV burnt my skin. Granted I could be very sensitive but using an ACV toner is one of the reasons I signed up to the forum and started looking into dehydrated skin.

Thu Nov 05, 2015 2:15 am

@katehume,

The best facial cleanser is Dermpura. It is an all-in-one skin balancing and repairing cleanser infused with natural botanical oils and nourishing vitamins. It helps a lot my skin to prevent skin damage and numerous signs of skin aging, remove oil, dirt, makeup, and other impurities that why I recommend it all the time.

Sat Dec 19, 2015 10:04 pm

Wow, I am having the same problem after using glycolic acid 10% a year ago. My skin is oily yet flaky and dry, I have tiny clogged pores/bumps on my chin and cheeks, big pores and horrible texture where my skin was once smooth. I just bought CeraVe pm today, and I recently got a humidifier for my bedroom. I only used the CeraVe once but I like that it didn't make my face burn at all when I applied it (the am version with spf does) Right now it feels a lot less flaky, so I am hoping this stuff will at least improve my skin a bit. I have tried so many things that haven't helped me and even made things worse. I have been kind of losing hope lately. My skin just looks sickly. It is hideous compared to what it was before. I have been depressed over this for the past year and there seems as if there is no end in sight.

free skin care · Mon Dec 21, 2015 10:59 am

Hey Kittee!

Sorry that you're in the same position as I am...
I'm glad CeraVe is helping you.
It's no wonder CeraVe is the first brand that comes up in regards to dehydrated/ sensitive skin. It really does work!

I'm so impressed with this brand. I've spent so much money on expensive brands from the U.S. and overseas and I fear it's one of the reasons my skin has been so bad for so long. Most of them have fragrance, alcohol and few helpful ingredients. I guess it's fine if your skin is perfect and can handle it, but mine probably never could.

CeraVe is a cheap, no-frills brand and I hope it never goes out of business. I'm shocked at how much better my skin is with just using a creamy cleanser, Eucerin's Clarifying Toner and a CeraVe lotion. I've stopped using everything else. It feels like there's no point.

That said, I've started to dislike the CeraVe AM lotion I was using. I have to use makeup to cover the hideousness that is my skin and it tends to ball up for some reason.

I've recently had the novel idea of using the CeraVe baby diaper rash cream on my face. I AM FREAKING IN LOVE. I use it every day because no moisturiser compares. Tons of niacinamide, "invisible" zinc oxide (1% spf, yay!) and other CeraVe staples like HA and dimethicone (1%).

Note that I am very fair skinned so if you're tan or darker you might feel that it leaves a white cast.
I personally love it. It moisturises well and even though it's thick (and I have sensitive, oily blemish prone skin) it absorbs perfectly. It has a beautifying affect when my skin gets red because it evens it out. Maybe this will help you?

Tue Dec 22, 2015 8:01 am

I went through the same issue after a glycolic chemical peel at a beauty salon: damaged skin, full of lines and indented pores, even some sagging on my cheeks (I became hysterical since I was only 23 at the time!). The surface was oily and dehydrated at the same time. I tried virtually every cream on the market to no avail, until some 6 months ago a dermatologist diagnosed me with tinea versicolor. He prescribed a special antifungal shampoo that I still have to use as a cleanser. My skin started to get better little by little. Apparently, the fungus fed on my skin sebum and impeded its regeneration after the peel (hence the super oily surface: my skin was trying to compensate the damage). So I started the new regime. Firstly, the oiliness decreased, which made a huge difference in the size of my pores. Then the sagging disappeared as my cheeks sort of tightened back to their normal shape. The overall texture has been slowly improving. I've recently started using adapalene + clindamycin and it has done WONDERS to my skin, which is now almost the way it was before the damage.

Surely this may not be everyone's case, but I'm sharing my experience in the hope it might help. I've been there and was just as desperate as you guys!

Wed Jan 13, 2016 10:13 pm

Camouflage wrote:

I went through the same issue after a glycolic chemical peel at a beauty salon: damaged skin, full of lines and indented pores, even some sagging on my cheeks (I became hysterical since I was only 23 at the time!). The surface was oily and dehydrated at the same time. I tried virtually every cream on the market to no avail, until some 6 months ago a dermatologist diagnosed me with tinea versicolor. He prescribed a special antifungal shampoo that I still have to use as a cleanser. My skin started to get better little by little. Apparently, the fungus fed on my skin sebum and impeded its regeneration after the peel (hence the super oily surface: my skin was trying to compensate the damage). So I started the new regime. Firstly, the oiliness decreased, which made a huge difference in the size of my pores. Then the sagging disappeared as my cheeks sort of tightened back to their normal shape. The overall texture has been slowly improving. I've recently started using adapalene + clindamycin and it has done WONDERS to my skin, which is now almost the way it was before the damage.

Surely this may not be everyone's case, but I'm sharing my experience in the hope it might help. I've been there and was just as desperate as you guys!

Hi Camouflage,

How much longer do you think it'll take for your skin to go back to how it was? I am thinking of trying adapalene but I'm scared at the same time as I do not want more damage.

Best regards,
Ashley

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