help with damaged skin / dehydrated oily skin
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Mon Jun 28, 2010 8:59 pm

hello
long story short, about 2 1/2 years ago i tried proactive to get rid of acne which i had terribly back then and it was also the first time i used a cleanser for my face. my skin was always good so never thought about needing one until acne came. apparently i dehydrated and damaged my skin with proactive pretty badly, leaving my skin with really dehydrated skin and really oily at the same time. my skin looks terrible(clogged pores, fine lines, oil, you name them) and what sucks is i'm 18 today and i've used almost everything and nothing worked. i've wasted hundreds of dollars looking for a remedy to no avail. thank god i cured my acne and to those of u with acne, try stop all gluten and grain intake, stop consuming anything that raises blood sugar level, i was amazed. i'm not saying that's going to work for everyone, just putting that out there. but still now i got this to deal with. tbh this seems worst because i feel like it's never gonna go away.

anyways, enough whining, can anyone recommend me anything? please DO NOT direct me to lotions or creams that treat DRY skin because i've used all of them and they're all garbage. or expensive stuff. i can't really take any risk anymore since my parents don't care at all and the only thing they do give a damn about is me asking for money to buy those things and i have little to no budget. i would appreciate any help, especially from those who have actually experienced this and know how to treat it. i'm currently using emu oil 3 times a day for a week now after i read about it. i don't know if it's any good for this condition. it seems to help a lil bit but after trying so many things i'm not sure anymore. i have college coming up in october so i have exactly 3 months and i'm planning to look normal *sigh* for the first time since sophomore year. can emu oil be the end to my problem? if yes, how long does it take? if not, well what CAN i do next?

free skin care · Thu Jul 01, 2010 12:48 am

You should be doing the oil cleansing method.

Here is the thread about it: http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=7077

I am mixing castor oil with jojoba oil and some people like mixing tea tree with the oil who have acne. It's pretty cheap stuff and definitely worth giving it a try!

andreas4874 wrote:

hello
long story short, about 2 1/2 years ago i tried proactive to get rid of acne which i had terribly back then and it was also the first time i used a cleanser for my face. my skin was always good so never thought about needing one until acne came. apparently i dehydrated and damaged my skin with proactive pretty badly, leaving my skin with really dehydrated skin and really oily at the same time. my skin looks terrible(clogged pores, fine lines, oil, you name them) and what sucks is i'm 18 today and i've used almost everything and nothing worked. i've wasted hundreds of dollars looking for a remedy to no avail. thank god i cured my acne and to those of u with acne, try stop all gluten and grain intake, stop consuming anything that raises blood sugar level, i was amazed. i'm not saying that's going to work for everyone, just putting that out there. but still now i got this to deal with. tbh this seems worst because i feel like it's never gonna go away.

anyways, enough whining, can anyone recommend me anything? please DO NOT direct me to lotions or creams that treat DRY skin because i've used all of them and they're all garbage. or expensive stuff. i can't really take any risk anymore since my parents don't care at all and the only thing they do give a damn about is me asking for money to buy those things and i have little to no budget. i would appreciate any help, especially from those who have actually experienced this and know how to treat it. i'm currently using emu oil 3 times a day for a week now after i read about it. i don't know if it's any good for this condition. it seems to help a lil bit but after trying so many things i'm not sure anymore. i have college coming up in october so i have exactly 3 months and i'm planning to look normal *sigh* for the first time since sophomore year. can emu oil be the end to my problem? if yes, how long does it take? if not, well what CAN i do next?

free skin care · Thu Jul 01, 2010 4:14 am

While I can't say I've had acne issues, I have struggled with having oily yet DEHYDRATED skin. Most people confuse dry vs oily as a measurement of hydration. Dry/oily is a measurement of the oil in your skin, while hydration/moisture is a measure of the water content.

I often experience dehydrated skin that is also oily, particularly in my t-zone. My nose is especially bad and I usually have a thick layer of dead, dehydrated skin underneath an oil slick. The apple of my cheeks and inward to my noise are usually crepey looking, and also shiny. Same with my forehead. Couple things work for me--drinking alot of water and using hydration masks. I have used the June Jacob's mandarin moisture mask before with success. It's a gel so not oily or greasy. I do have to say that it's not cheap, but perhaps you can find a similar and cheaper substitute. They have it at SkinStore, which is having a 20% off sale right now.

http://www.skinstore.com/p-2415-june-jacobs-mandarin-moisture-masque.aspx

free skin care · Thu Jul 01, 2010 8:53 am

I second cortigirl's recommendation for Oil Cleansing Method, OCM as it truly balances the oil/dry issue you are having with your skin! Also feels great, it's very inexpensive and gives your skin a healthy beautiful glow! Smile

Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:42 pm

its_kristy
that sounds similar to what i have. but i doubt if masks are really gonna work. the thing is my skin can't maintain any moisture.

cortigirl
i have tried OCM before with huge expectations and it made it worse just like all the other stuff have i've tried.

i've been doing a lot of research on this and it seems like i don't have dry skin or oily skin. correct me if i'm wrong, but it's more like i have overcleansed and irritated my skin with proactive and due to that, my skin barrier is damaged. now my skin can't retain any moisture AT ALL and is overproducing tons of oil to compensate that. simply put, oily skin and dry skin are skin types, while dehydrated skin with/without oil is a condition. in my case i think i have disrupted my skin barrier. my skin leaks moisture and overproduces oil.

some people thought they have oily skin but they might just have dehydrated skin/damaged skin barrier all along and have worsen the condition by using harsh products meant for "oily skin TYPE." now i wonder what can i use though to help heal the skin barrier. does copper peptides work? like i said i'm currently using emu oil while i think emu oil might work since some people on the internet have success with it, but u know, after trying so many products, u tend to get really skeptical on these things.

free skin care · Mon Jul 05, 2010 5:16 pm

Whatever you do should be gentle and you need to avoid irritating your skin more. You also can't expect anything to turn it all around overnight, it took time to get where you are and I understand you want a quick fix, it's normal, but I would go with the mildest cleanser and stay away from actives just long enough for your skin to normalize. Go easy on your skin and you! Smile

Mon Jul 05, 2010 5:48 pm

well, it's hard to be patient sometimes having to stuck with this for close to 3 years now. i remember last year i pretty much threw everything away and just "do nothing" for 3 months. my skin felt a little bit better, somewhat, but it was miserable because i literally looked like the most disgusting thing on the planet, worse than how i look now, and what was more miserable was the fact that i felt like i have to continue that for at least years for my skin to actually heal. i figured there must be something to use to help heal the skin that also can show visible improvement perhaps every week or even month so i'm motivated to hang on. i've been patient before, only to be rewarded with nothing. i hope there's really something i can do besides just nothing.

free skin care · Mon Jul 05, 2010 6:05 pm

I know it's frustrating and hard, I am not saying do nothing just find very gentle products that do act as a barrier repair cream a gentle cleanser and stick with them for enough time to allow your skin to heal the skin barrier. Smile

free skin care · Mon Jul 05, 2010 8:12 pm

Andreas, do a board search for barrier and repair. I know I started a thread on products that repaired the skin barrier. Ceravie is one that is supposed to repair the skin barrier. There is a product from skinactives called ELS (every lipid serum with ceramide), which is good. I can't remember others, but I know other products were mentioned. Hope that helps.

free skin care · Mon Jul 05, 2010 8:41 pm

I second the recommendation for Cerave PM (the version with niacinamide). The niacinamide and ceramides in it help to repair the skin barrier. And it is an inexpensive drugstore moisturiser. I heard that they will be coming up with an AM version (with sunblock to be used in the day time) sometime later this year.

Mon Jul 05, 2010 9:22 pm

hello
first of all thank everybody and all the inputs. unfortunately, i did used the cerave cream in the past. while i'll agree it might be a nice product for normal skin, but i guess my skin now is so damaged it doesn't really absorb anything nor does it maintains any moisture, hence the dehydrated oily skin and apparently the need for skin barrier repairing. i still have half the jar of cerave cream i bought a long time ago. upon application it feels good but dries out after a minute like other lotions. the cerave PM came out not long ago and i understand this version has a different formation and contains niacinamide. is it worth getting if the original cerave didn't work? perhaps there's something i can do to keep the moisture on my skin and in the mean time i'll search look for other stuff.

Tue Jul 06, 2010 12:29 am

Hi andrea

U could see my post named "Prepare your own moisturizers" in DIY skin care forum. There I have posted a Moisturizer recipe for oily skin, Which is easy to prepare and more effective.

Hope that helps You...

free skin care · Tue Jul 06, 2010 5:15 am

Hello, I'll suggest Karin Herzog products because the philosophy behind this skin care line is to balance the skin and to repair damaged skin, acne, oily and dehydrated skin etc. I'll post a link below to their official site and you can have a look to see if it would be something you could be interested in.

http://www.karinherzog.co.uk/

Tue Jul 06, 2010 2:15 pm

What you need is rebalance your skin, which is damaged by all the different treatments you have used.
I recommand you Juara's Rice Facial Cleanser, which removes dirt without stripping the skin. It makes your skin soft and supple.
You need to start a daily routine with natural, safe skin care products.

free skin care · Wed Jul 07, 2010 7:24 am

Hi Andreas,
That sounds awful. I understand what you mean that your skin is stripped, but I've never heard of that before so I don't know what to recommend.
I know its different, but I burnt the skin off my face with T-tree oil, trying to get rid of a spot, and was left with a massive patch of red irritated flaky, yet seepy skin. I used aloe vera on it and it went away in no time. Pure aloe vera is really soothing and healing, and although it may not cure you situation it won't do you any harm. If you buy a plant and peel the skin off the leaves (use jelly stuff inside), or purchase stuff that is 100% pure.
I hope you find a solution soon.

Wed Jul 06, 2011 2:03 am

i'm beyond shocked but i have the EXACT same condition. i've tried proactiv and all but i think i've killed my skin from the benzoyl peroxide. i'm 18 too, and i hate my skin sooo much. its, i dont know, damaged/dehydrated and oily and the same time? its so ugly--clogged pores, oiliness,you name it.

i've spent hundreds of dollars on expensive intense skincare (i've even done lasers) but nothing seems to work. my parents don't care and get angry when i spend money because i don't have my own income.

i'm also entering college in about 3 months and i don't want to be stuck with ugly skin.

i'm looking into emu oil AND copper peptides right now.....which is how i found this post.

free skin care · Thu Jul 07, 2011 12:54 pm

When my oily skin gets dehydrated, the thing that helps me most is a humidifier in the bedroom. (And a gentle cleanser like Olay gentle foaming sensitive, $4 at the drugstore; and sunscreen during the day.) Low-tech, I know, but it really works and doesn't clog pores!

free skin care · Thu Jul 07, 2011 2:31 pm

Do you still have acne though? And how long are you trying these products for? You say you've tried everything, but it can take a while to work. Cerave is a really good and basic moisturizer but I get the feeling you didn't try it for long enough? And do you rub in your moisturizer? You can't expect your skin to absorb it if it isn't rubbed in well enough. If you want something to seal in the moisturizer though, I'd go with the Cetaphil moisturizing cream. It's extremely thick, so I would recommend putting on a layer of emu oil and then seal it in with the Cetaphil cream. YOu can probably do replace emu oil with the Cerave cream too and then apply Cetaphil on top, but I fear that it might be a bit too congesting, which is why I asked if you still have acne.

free skin care · Thu Jul 07, 2011 2:32 pm

I also agree with the suggestion of getting a humidifier. Sometimes, the air just sucks moisture out of your skin because it's so dry. Try investing in one, especially if you live in a dry climate.

Thu Jul 07, 2011 3:51 pm

I'm also having damaged/tight/oily skin issues, with sun hypersensitivity thrown in for good measure. I triggered my problem with products, so I want to be very careful about anything I apply now so I don't trigger any additional irritation and slow down the healing. I approached Garden of Wisdom for help since so many EDS members raved about them. Emu oil is one of their suggestions.

I'm posting a link to my thread in their forums. It contains more product information. The two women responding to me are affiliated with GoW - one works in the shop and the other just handles questions.

Another thing to consider is something like Hydraplenish - a hyaluronic acid supplement that helps moisturize from the inside the out.

http://forums.delphiforums.com/gardenofwisdom/messages/?msg=11682.1

Fri Jul 08, 2011 9:21 pm

My skin is also prone to dehydration.

I have battled with acne since I was about 11. I used BP from about 13-15, when my skin couldn't take it anymore. I have tried BHAs etc. I then had a hormonal outbreak that could only be contained with antiobiotics. The antiobiotics stopped working. I had to live with continual outbreaks as I didn't like Retin A when I first tried it and didn't want to go on Roaccutane, although they have now decreased over the years. I only get them around that time of the month/if I am too aggressive with new products now. (Blackheads are a different story).

My recommendation is AVENE hydrance optimal rich hydrating cream for dry skin (it's on their website under products for 'dehydrated skin'). Slather that on day and night and DO NOT use anything harsh on your skin. Stick to gentle cleansers that do not leave your skin feeling stripped like Cetaphil (although this has lots of parabens I believe), etc. After a few days, your skin will be MUCH less dehydrated. My skin was so stripped last winter that it had that REALLY tight feeling all day...then it was shiny on the forehead...etc. This worked wonders. I probably would say that my skin gets dehydrated very easily; I have to be careful what to put on my skin.

Oh, and avoid all 'bad' alcohols in your skin products - google these.

free skin care · Fri Jul 08, 2011 10:33 pm

I have had acne for about 14 years now. I have also found, like you, that a diet low in gluten and low in simple sugars helped. This suggests to me that it is hormonally mediated. Your current problem is tough because anything you put on your skin needs to be non comedogenic and oil-free, otherwise your clogged pores will get worse. You cannot use rich oily things I don't think. Go with a moisturizer that is oil free and non comedogenic, only in the dry skin areas (i.e. the ones where you see the fine lines) and keep the pores clean with regular extractions. Retin A might work but you risk getting worse initially, and you have a timeline to work with.

Sat Jul 09, 2011 1:16 am

Hi Andreas4874, believe it or not a lot of people have your problem so you are not alone. We have acne so we use all types of products on the market, we get rid of the acne but other problems arise. Combination skin is also not unusual. Try using home made remedies. Do not put soap on your face it can be drying and irritating. Just rinse with warm water, pat dry, be sure to use white wash cloths only, and finish with a moisturizer. Here we go, this may sound like a cooking class, but it works. To moisturize use honey, its a humectant so it attracts and retains moisture. Use a damp warm(white)cloth and pat skin to open pores. Smear honey onto skin and leave on for 15 to 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water, then pat skin with a cloth dampened in cold water to close pores. Next try apple cider vinegar it has a tonic action that promotes blood circulation in the small capillaries that irrigate the skin. It acts as an antiseptic, preventing the proliferation of bacteria, viruses, or yeast that trigger infection. Dilute apple cider vinegar with two parts water and apply over face with a cotton ball as a toner after washing. Let me know if this helps.

Sat Jul 09, 2011 9:56 am

Ok wow
I have the same exact problem
I made a thread here but I think i'll just reply here

my skin is dehydrated and very oil as well, can anyone tell me if this is irritating my skin too much?

cleanser: african black soap
tone: 50/50 apple cider vinegar/green tea/tea tree oil
treat: BP 2.5%
hydration: arcona's hydrating serum
moisturize: bee yummy skin food & shea butter

i do get that squeaky clean feeling after i use african black soap and it foams which i understand is not a good thing? ah i'm 22 and when i smile i feel like i already see prominent expression lines

Wed Mar 21, 2012 5:51 pm

Did you ever find a product to solve the problem? I'm in the same situation - I used harsh products that have left me with tight,dry skin that still looks very oily throughout the day.

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