Retin A, over exfoliation and sudden aging of skin?
EDS Skin Care Forums Forum Index » Skin Care and Makeup Forum

free skin care · Sun Feb 12, 2012 1:35 am

IMO dryness, irritation or reactivity are frequently partially a dietary issue. Deficiencies can build up and are resolved over a period of time, so it can seem like problems are random. This is further confounded by the fact that our nutritional needs change with stress, activity levels and with sleep patterns. You don't mention healthy fats in your list of what you eat, particularly long chain omega-3s from oily fish. Chocolate is fine providing you stick with the rich dark stuff, choose a low sugar brand (eg. for diabetics) and eat in moderation! Very Happy

Cocoa is actually a good source of antioxidants.

Live yoghurt is the stuff with the Lactobacillus bacteria that convert milk to yoghurt still present. In the UK it is sold as 'live natural yoghurt', no idea what in the US tho. In addition to the lactic acid for topical use, yoghurt is the easiest to digest dairy product and can help replenish the friendly bacteria in your gut. This can help keep you 'regular' and help absorb or even manufacture nutrients! Aspirin is a close cousin of salicylic acid, it will certainly unclog pores but can be drying. But if you know it works for you without consequences absolutely go ahead.

So did you pick up massage, exercise and LED all at the same time? Have you never had a period of weeks where you did just one or just two? Changing day by day you are not going to know which combination works and which is the problem. I don't mean for you to quit one as you obviously enjoy them and they can be highly effective. Simply to methodically identify whether the issue is overload or whether just one of the three needs a change of tactic. Even if your pre-routine is not organised or very short it would be helpful to know what it is. Do you just cleanse and crack straight on, do you apply anything, do you have a wait time?

Triggers can be the most unexpected thing; you may have seen me post before that shampoo bubbles running down my arm was my main eczema trigger. It took me years to work this out because shampoo didn't visibly irritate anywhere else ... Once I quit sulphates my face and scalp became less oily overnight, revealing a very mild and thus unrecognised 'symptom'. I often started itching at work which I put down the air con, not the shampoo I had used a couple of hours before! When I drink alcohol the next day my eczema is improved, and the day after that worsened. Blooming complicated.

So IMO do not assume anything about your cleansers or hair products, it would be helpful to know if they are the same pH as skin (~5.5) or pH balanced (~7) or something else. I am not critiquing the formulators, just trying to eliminate stuff bit by bit. It is impossible to formulate a product that works for everyone, they would go mad trying! All they can do is leave out nasties like parabens, common allergens and limit the percentage of, say, coconut oil. There are quite a few irritants/ pore blockers amongst the common ingredients for shampoos and conditioners.

In one sense CeraVe is more natural than most plant oils because it is formulated to contain the ratio of lipids that best replenish the stratus corneum - unfortunately that is in a base of an artificial base cream. Moisturisers do more than hydrate, they can calm, protect and help repair. Using hydrosols without a regular occlusive/ emollient *may* be leaching the skin's natural moisturising factors from the skin - this can make it behave strangely. I'd recommend sticking to just the CeraVe daily for a few days as a sort of test. If that resolves or improves the issues you have with massaging or doing exercises we are a step forward in understanding, then can find a suitable natural alternative. Hemp, sunflower and sea buckthorn are all high in polyunsaturates/ EFAs: if you have unsaturated oils in your cleansers, ideally your moisturiser would complement that by supplying saturates and cholesterol. Are you wearing a zinc sunscreen?

Automatic Message

If this is your first visit to the EDS Forums please take the time to register. Registration is required for you to post on the forums. Registration will also give you the ability to track messages of interest, send private messages to other users, participate in Gift Certificates draws and enjoy automatic discounts for shopping at our online store. Registration is free and takes just a few seconds to complete.

Click Here to join our community.

If you are already a registered member on the forums, please login to gain full access to the site.