extremely dry, tight skin

RE: extremely dry, tight skin

hey, i too suffer from really dry skin and eczima. generally i get dry patches of skin around my eyes and nose and rashes on my cheeks, neck(from shaving.. but i've started to use nivia aftershave and that seems to be helping the irritation.), chest, and most recently, a small one developing on my forhead. But recently i've been using this "intensive care" vaseline with aloe and cucumber extract on my eyes and nose. At first it was just a temporary solution, i'd put it on in the morning, afternoon and night.. but then i'd scratch when asleep and i'd get the itchy dry patches back in the morning. Then a few days ago, i was going insane with the irritation, so i decided to load up on the stuff.. like a very thick thick layer of it and then just let it sit there for about an hour, adding water every now and then and it all pretty much absorbed into my skin (i should probably note that this method stings like crazy for the first fifteen minutes or so, especially if you scratch your dry spots). i woke up in the morning, and it was fine, i went through the whole day and it wasn't itchy and it was unoticable. i had to put some on today, because i started actually scratching above where i applied the stuff, but i got all the itchy spots today and it's getting better and better, it seems.
Hydrocortizone cream is.. okay for rashes, but doctors usually hand out the .5-1% stuff. But there's also a 5% cream that they give to some people with serious, reoccuring problems. I hear it works really well, and you only have to apply it about every day for one week or so and you've got some pretty vital skin for pretty much the entire year. The number one method to getting rid of a rash, though is to obviously stop scratching.. cut your hands off, if necessary (or sit on them). There is no cure.. but temporary relief is definately possible. Ask a doctor to refer you to a good dermatolagist. I've never done that... but it seems like it would make sense.

RE: extremely dry, tight skin

Hi

I suffer from dry skin too. I use Vaseline (official Vaseline NOT any old petroleum jelly). This seems to work for a couple of hours (other brands dry in about 10 minutes). Remember to rince your hands and the part of the body that has the dry skin problem to get rid of dirt (and then dry with towel as opposed to any other means eg hot air blowers). Any dirt when rubbed in with Vaseline seems to get itchy. If there are open bits from scratching I use Sudocrem as well.

I want to know if there's any supplements i can take to promote oil production... the above really shouldn't be necessary as it's not like everyone does this!

-D

RE: extremely dry, tight skin

Hi to all of you,

I have a few suggestions having worked in the past as a beauty therapist and specialising with skin problems, healing and food and nutrition and suffering from dry skin myself.

Firstly, I think diet is important to consider as is drinking a lot of water, although you need preperations to apply topically it is often helpful to look at helping yourself from the inside out.

I have found through experience personally and clients and it is accepted generally that for those with dry or iritable skin it is crucial to keep caffienated drinks to a minimum and avoid aother toxins. Cafiene is very drying and problematic in other areas as well, a cup of coffee is so dehydrating that to replace the fluids you have to drink four glasses of water for that one cups of coffee. Such drinks, as well as too much citrus can also be iritant and affect those with sensitive skin.

I thoroughly recomend aloe vera products, both to be used topically but also it is helpful to drink aloe juice to heal from inside, always the most effective way, Holland and barat do good aloe juice and is not too expensive. If you try it, give it at least a month before you expect radical differences as the life cycle of the skin is usually 21-28 days or so, though most people tend to find some rapid improvements.l

I would also recomend Dermalogia products for anyone, especially with sensitive skin, also products for showering or in the bath, many of us spend on facial gear and forget that the shower gel may be a problem. they may be more expensive than supermarket brands but are good value and you need a little so they last, well worth a try. I quite agree that Clinique etc wouldn't help in your case.

Also, perhaps some reiki to help your body be more blanced, good for well being and recovery in every possible way.

hal

RE: extremely dry, tight skin

hi to all, for your dry skin, have you tried gentle exfoliation,on the areas, this helps in renewing fresh skin cells, or try dove products, they are great for dry/sensitive skin. also sudocream someone mention. i personaly think its brill for many things, to much hydrocautazone cream (i cant spell it either) used over a long period of time can contribute to thinning your skin, there are many products on the market its finding what suits you. also check your whole facial routine check the ingredients in everything you use it could be that there is somthing in them thats not agreeing with your skin, i hope i was some help, happy new year to you xxxxxxxx

RE: extremely dry, tight skin

I too am a dry ssensitive, excema skin sufferer! I am really bad for scratching so my other half and I have come up with a deal. He tells me off for scratching and i tell him off for biting his nails!! (Awful habit!)
I never ever use soap on my skin and I'm a great fan of exfoliation. I moisturise every single day and try to drink lots of water. At the mo I am only drining tea in the morning and water in the afternoon.
The products I use are generally from Boots, No7 I find very good. I'd also suggest Aloe Vera, I've used the Vaseline Intensive care one and found it very good, especailly if its been put in the fridge for a while, its lovely and cooling.
By far the best thing I have found is exfoliating and then lashings of moisturiser.
Hope this helps 🙂
Flick

RE: extremely dry, tight skin

Hiya,
[sm=angel-smiley-027.gif]
First id like to say a big thank you all for your replies, they are so much appreciated!.

Well i went to the doctors yesterday and he said there is nothing he can do (surprise, surprise!). I told him what i told you all and he just told me to keep trying different creams to find which one suited me. At this point i felt like hitting him because i am fed up of spending to much time and money and feel i am the only one keeping Boots open!.

He then "i think he could see me getting angry by this point", started looking in a big book searching for new creams. I told him that i was at my wits end and didn’t know where to start. i also told him that my friends baby used Diprobase cream but i had tried that and i felt it hadn’t mad my skin less sore or tighter.
He then recommended Diprobase ointment, but told me only to get a 50g tube just in case it didn’t work.

Well i know it’s only been a day since i had the ointment but my skin is feeling a little better. I know it may take a few days to show, but my skin feels less tight and looks less red.

Although may i add its like using Vaseline jelly on your face " its really slimy and leaves the skin very greasy" so continuous rubbing in is needed!.

Thank you Monachus, DarrenFollowsThePath, and flick for telling me about Vaseline with aloe. I have tried this before but found it absorbed to quickly into my skin and had to keep re-applying it, although I am going to try the sudocream, even if I will look like a ghost.

Thank you also to Halimah your suggestions have been well taken in. I am going to look more into my diet and try and drink more water. I know what you mean with caffeine and citrus I also used to suffer from reoccurring cystitis and water infections so cut out all fizzy pop etc from my diet and now only drink – Cranberry juice, still water and coffee yes I know its bad but I need it at work!!!!, only about 3a day and about 2 all weekend. I also don’t eat a lot of meat, only sausage and chicken occasionally but do eat healthily by means of lots of veg etc, do you think this could be a problem?.

And last but not least thank you to princesspink I do exfoliate my body but thought it would be to much for my face, but I will try it, anything to make it feel better!. As for checking my whole facial routine, I am now going to check the ingredients in everything I use as I think you may be on to something here, its true there could be something in them that’s not agreeing with my skin.

Thank you all for your input, I will be back in touch soon to let you know how I’m getting on.

Lou xxx [sm=sandrine.gif]

RE: extremely dry, tight skin

I don't see meat as a problem, dry skin might be helped by increasing fats and oils in your diet and avocado and such like, my skin gets drier if I have ever tried to really reduce fats from my diet.

Coffe is not a problem for all of us to a great degree, but some of us are more sensitive than others, remember that for three cus of coffee, twelve cups of water in addition to the normal two litres is needed to replenish fluids and flush out toxins!

Hal

RE: extremely dry, tight skin

ORIGINAL: louisemark

Thank you Monachus, DarrenFollowsThePath, and flick for telling me about Vaseline with aloe. I have tried this before but found it absorbed to quickly into my skin and had to keep re-applying it, although I am going to try the sudocream, even if I will look like a ghost.

were you using proper Vaseline or any old petroleum jelly? I get the ultra quick absorption with anything other than Vaseline.

Sudocrem is supposed to be massaged in until it is transparent, but still damp.

RE: extremely dry, tight skin

Have you asked your doctor to refer you to a dermatologist? They may be a lot more sympathic and able to help (as skin in their specalist subject!).

Personally (and I am not a dermatologist, skin care expert just a dry skin sufferer) I would avoid anything 'artificial', I would not put vaseline on my face for a start, neither would I over exfoliate (it can make your skin look good for a day but just perpetuates the problem as your skin then overcompensates with a brand new scaly layer). I would highly recommend Living Nature, all natural ingredients, not tested on animals. They have a website . Find a seller in your area and ask them if they have any samples you could try (I have had samples before). Then if it helps you can buy the bottle! Neils Yard also do some very good facial oils too (macadamia nut and rosehip oil are very good as they are apparently close to skins natural moisturiser, sebum)

I have also found that things work for a while and then stop. It's worth finding a couple of things that work and then rotate them, say every month.

RE: extremely dry, tight skin

Hello I am a Beauty therapist and use Susan Molyneux products on my clients they are excellent for even the most sensitive of skins. They do a specific range of cleansers toner and moisturiser etc for sensitive, mature and dry skin then seperate ones for oily etc. I have had a client who was allergic like you to most other products she took some samples home and has found this to be the only product that she can use that also works for her skin!!! I have had great feed back on these products from all my clients. Their moisturiser is extremely beneficial and uses the highest quality natural ingredients no synthetic perfumes or colourings!!!! You should also be drinking at least 8 glasses/ aprox two litres of water a day. The dryness is worse in the winter due to central heating but also sun damage makes the skin dry and tight. You should visit a beauty salon and treat yourself to a sensitive skin care facial but perhaps if you are extremely allergic to alot of products you should ask for some samples first.

RE: extremely dry, tight skin

Hi there!
Wonderful advice from everyone!
Personally, I use aloe vera gel mixed in with a few drops of extra virgin olive oil.

The skin on my body feels like this so I use this mix when I first get out of the shower, on skin that feels damp. It absorbs it straight away as I rub it in and I'm left with moisture. A little goes a long way!

I buy my aloe vera gel from Holland and Barrett.