Skin Query

Pinkdebster

Hi everyone

Hoping someone in a similar situation may be able to help me out with a query. I'm 52 and, until early this year, never had any issues with my skin. I would say I had combination skin although I was also told on several occasions it was dehydrated. I couldn't really correlate the two but rolled with it. Over the years, I've switched my skincare products but purely through personal choice, fun, age concern or just to try a new product. I'd never had any reaction to any products.

For the last eighteen months, I had been using Elemis products and was really happy with them. They seemed to really suit my skin and, as far as I was concerned, I'd found the Holy Grail!!

Anyway, in February, I started getting small raised spots around the crease of my mouth which were visibly annoying rather than anything physical. Of course I started switching my skincare around and sometimes it got better, other times it got worse. I saw a couple of pharmacists - one recommended a steroid cream (which worked but then I worried about its long-term use) and then a fungal cream (which didn't work). Gradually it got worse - it spread around my face and I had sore itchy patches under my eyes and even up my nose. I went to the GP and he diagnosed perioral dermatitis. He prescribed antibiotics and a very thick emulsion cream which I currently use day and night as both a cleanser and moisturiser (not pleasant but it works!)

My skin is all-but clear now, although I need to be on the antibiotics for another two months to ensure it's really cleared.

My question (finally!!!!) is what to use when I eventually go back to regular skincare products? Should I be looking at natural, organic products or will my (old) regular products work again? Has anyone experienced this and can offer any input? Any suggestions/advice would be most appreciated.

TIA

cashewnut

I heard calendula cream is excellent for perioral dermatitis. Maybe Google and see what you think? You can buy it at holland and barrett for about a fiver.

donnac2558

Just because something is natural does not mean it will not annoy your skin. I cannot use any facial product with rose in it as I break out. Just keep it very simple to start with.

ludhiyaparker

Rose water can help your skin to get soft and smooth.

jenniewb

OP I hope you manage to find something that works for you, however it may be a case where you are trying and testing things one by one to see if you react. I have a similar issue with skincare products- my skin loves everything to begin with and then starts complaining about 2 weeks later and with such irritating spots that they red marks they leave if I don't pick at them take a good few months to disappear and no amount of products speed that up.


I can't say anything other than try in small areas first, even try for half of your face first-but be aware that it may take weeks to notice anything bad happening. For me it's around 2 weeks before I notice anything like the deeply imbedded spots I end up with (normally appear one a day after 10-14 days) and these are really painful (as in they induce headaches and are too painful and deep to even pick at). I have not yet found a failsafe way to test new products and the stupidly tiny samples (lasting 3 days if you are lucky) are just not enough to trial anything really.


What you can do is try buying products from beauty counters. Explain your issue and any cosmetic counter/brand worth their salt will offer a replacement or even refund if there are bad results. I've only had to do this once but this is more because I'm too chicken to try much out! I've tried all the cheaper off-the-shelf if you like, brands and they all give me spots. Boots No.7 the same, so it's not about brands being reputable or expensive as much as what is in them.


So far I've given myself a blanket ban on man-made products as much as I possibly can. It's difficult to stick to because of things like preservatives and even then some natural products don't work for me (I can't use any of the Lush facial moisturisers), I can deal with Elemis but only the Maximim or Hydro moisturisers and not the top line cream. I can do the Body Shop Oils of Life but not the Aloe, Drops of life or Vitamin E ranges, so there really are no brand absolutes, just product ranges.


If it helps, I know that some products do cause me spots because I tried them in their non-mixed formula; things like Vaseline which is petroleum/mineral oil only for example. This is what made me think about banning man-made products as many (not all though) man-made products will derive from this. It's not the only thing that affects me, but it is a place to start if it helps?