Medicinal alcohol

davholla

Does anyone know if you can buy this still? Boots don't sell it but apparently it is a very good cure for acne.

Bongedone

You mean rubbing alcohol. I bought some from Boots a few years back. I use it for cleaning CD's

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubbing_alcohol

nesssie1702

I think that's also the same as surgical spirits?

Watch if you're using it on the skin regularly, as it's got a tendency to thicken the skin. I believe that's why walkers will use it on their heels etc to help prevent blisters.

And here's me thinking that you were talking about a wee whisky or brandy in a hot toddy?! :rotfl: :rotfl:

Barneysmom

I wouldn't use that on my face. There are loads of really good products for spots and acne.
What's that stuff in a bottle now, it smells really strong? It's a brown bottle with a bluey green label?

But anyway if I get an odd breakout, you know that anti-bacterial hand cleaner that's about 99p, it has alc in it and I find it does clean your skin up a treat, kills germs see? Only use on the area and not too much else it dries your skin out.

Sorry for such a bonkers sounding post, think I'm tired!

bargainbetty

Seriously, don't use that on your face. You'll look like old boot leather in a week!

If it's that bad, see a doctor or ask for a referral to a dermatologist. Otherwise talk to the pharmacist about medicated creams/face washes.

greenbee

Doctors take acne very seriously nowadays, as they're much more aware of the links with depression. If the problem is bad, then see a doctor.

This is not medical advice, but there are some other sensible actions that can be taken (based on my own experience, and I used to go to the dermatology clinic regularly, but you wouldn't know now!)

• Keep the skin clean
• Use clean towels on the affected area(s) every time (sorry, lots of laundry) and don't share them.
• Don't touch the affected area, and if you do, wash your hands afterwards (keep your hands clean, so if you do touch it - difficult not to when its sore - you don't transmit germs onto it)
• Use oil-free toiletries, but don't let things get too dry, you'll still need to moisturize
• Exfoliate - this makes the skin thinner and means that the infected bits get opened up. There's a cheap over the counter scrub with aluminium particles in it that is very effective
• Keep hair away from the face if that's where it is, as it will have dirt on it, which can re-infect exposed/sensitive areas
• Try to avoid covering it up with makeup etc, this just clogs the poors and attracts dirt. If you must wear makeup in public, make sure it is light and oil free, and clean it off as soon as you can
• Keep telephone handsets clean, as infection on the jaw is often transferred via shared phones (not so much of an issue in the age of mobile phones)
• Shower, don't bath, and if you do bath, rinse well afterwards.
• If you condition your hair, rinse it out BEFORE washing the rest of you, so that you don't have a layer of conditioner on your skin clogging things up
• Saunas are good (opens the pores) as is swimming (chlorine dries things out, but do moisturise), and exercise that makes you sweat as long as you wash immediately afterwards
• Wait 10 minutes or so before moisturising to allow your skin to rebalance. You might not need as much as you think
• Fresh air, exercise, lots of fruit & veg, lots of water - give your body every opportunity to heal itself!

Doctors can give you all sorts of things - retinol creams, antibiotic tablets & creams, roaccutane (NOT fun...), but you can do a lot to help yourself. If its bad, it can be unbearable as it's painful and disfiguring, but it can be beaten. I now look as though I never had a single spot, and am constantly told that my skin looks 10 years younger than I really am (which doesn't go down well with friends of the same age!)

Good luck with it...

Edit... lavender water is soothing, and lavender oil can be used neat as its antiseptic (even if it will make you smell like an old lady and fall asleep!)

sb44

nesssie1702 wrote: »

I think that's also the same as surgical spirits?

Watch if you're using it on the skin regularly, as it's got a tendency to thicken the skin. I believe that's why walkers will use it on their heels etc to help prevent blisters.

And here's me thinking that you were talking about a wee whisky or brandy in a hot toddy?! :rotfl: :rotfl:

I have just got a guitar for my daughter off freecycle and I am sure this is what I was told to use to toughen her finger tips up so that the strings don't hurt as much.

oystercatcher

Nurses used to use surgical spirit to toughen their feet!

My son got some brilliant acne stuff from the GP. It took a few months but he's got a baby face now after they used to call him pizza face at school :mad:

Oystercatcher

ragz_2

My mum always gave my sisters and I rescue remedy to dad on spots, contains alcohol and also other helpful things.
Or tea-tree oil is good too but you have to be careful using neat.
HTH

blueberrypie

davholla wrote: »

Does anyone know if you can buy this still? Boots don't sell it but apparently it is a very good cure for acne.

There's alcohol in most facial toners, but it's really not very good for acne. It dries out the skin, which then causes the skin to make more oils, which leads to more spottiness...

A hydrogen peroxide solution, on the other hand, makes a very good toner and doesn't have the same problems. 3% or 6% solution will work fine, and is very cheap (small bottle from chemist will set you back maybe 60p). If you have spots, it will fizz a little on the tops (where the skin is broken) and turn white, but the whiteness will disappear within a minute. It may sting very slightly (very, very slightly) on a very bad spot, but again, that will disappear quickly.