combination/dry dehydrated flakey skin any suggestions?
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Fri May 11, 2012 2:25 am

Hi im early forties, and my skin is not happy! Sad

. I have oiler t-zone with much dryer cheeks.

For months now Ive been trying to rebalance my skin. Its very flakey feels rough to the touch.

I exfoiliate at least twice per week using clarins gentle peel. I also use clarins extra comfort cream cleanser morning and evening. And use Liz Earles superskin moisturiser morning and evening. I also use Liz earle tinted moisturiser during the day.

I have tried load of other cleansers - Liz earle cleanse and polish made my skin dryer. E45 cleanser mad my skin dryer!! Origins cleanser - same. Clinique MUCH WORSE. Simple cleanser - dry itchy.

My skin is dull and looks horrible with any kind of foundation on. Despite the fact i drink loads of water and have a good balanced diet,with five a day and all that.

I have tried coconut oil, vitamin e oil to cleanse but this left my skin irritated and more dehydrated Confused

. My scalp is also very dry and flakey at times??

Can anyone offer some advice before my face turns into a prune

free skin care · Fri May 11, 2012 2:31 am

Welcome!

Sorry loads of questions! What cleanser are you using at present? Which specific cleansers from each range made your skin worse, can you link to the ingredients list of each please? Is the flakiness all over or specific areas, and what happens if you simply stop exfoliating? Are you using sunscreen? Have you checked with your family doctor or dermatologist that you don't have eczema or another form of dermatitis?

Are you in the UK?

Fri May 11, 2012 2:53 am

Firefox7275 wrote:

Welcome!

Sorry loads of questions! What cleanser are you using at present? Which specific cleansers from each range made your skin worse, can you link to the ingredients list of each please? Is the flakiness all over or specific areas, and what happens if you simply stop exfoliating? Are you using sunscreen? Have you checked with your family doctor or dermatologist that you don't have eczema or another form of dermatitis?

Are you in the UK?

Hi thanks for your speedy reply Smile

Yes im in the uk.

Currently im using the clarins cleanser i mentioned.

Just about all cleansers leave my skin a bit tight after use. The moisturisers ive tried dont seem to address the dryness or flakeyness.
I mentioned a list in my question to what cleansers I have used. I try to go for gentle organic type ranges, no clue as to which ingriedient is causing my issues- which is frustrating and costly!!

If I dont exfoiliate regularly my skin feels like im wearing a mask. The dead skin builds up, and my face becomes rougher and very tight and uncomfortable.

I dont have this issue anywhere else on my body, except my scalp at times with some highly perfumed shampoo.

I dont know about eczema/dermatitis my skin doenst break down as such, more flakes and drys.

And no I dont wear a sunscreen that often - forget cause theres not often sun here Cool

I know I should really - but just another product to add to my already annoyed skin!!!

free skin care · Fri May 11, 2012 4:13 am

I am in the UK too. Very Happy

Firstly please make an appointment to see your GP, this may be simple xerosis (dry skin) but the scalp says possible seborrhoeic dermatitis (most common cause of dandruff). You can also get this on your face or it can co-exist with atopic eczema or contact dermatitis. Once you have a diagnosis solutions become much easier.

More questions .... Briefly on nutrition (tis what I do for a living) - the five a day is the bare minimum, the research actually supports nine portions of fruit and veggies a day. Are you getting plenty of oily fish and other essential fatty acids (nuts, seeds, avocados, olives, coconut)? Also protein little and often from breakfast? Do you consume any sugar or white refined carbs?

Most brands have a couple of cleansers - usually a foaming and a lotion - often more than two so would be good to have the names of each. I like to go for natural myself but a lot of organic ranges justify the price by including loads of unnecessary plant extracts and oils that only confuse matters when you try to identify culprits. It is normal for the face to freak when other parts of the body are fine, firstly the skin is thinner, secondly it gets more abuse with sun and make up and suchlike, thirdly we have more sebaceous glands there than elsewhere (you can react to your own sebum!).

Moisturiser: look for ingredients that help replenish the skin barrier, a mixture of humectants (water attracting) and emollients (softeners) or occlusives (barrier). Humectants: urea, lactic acid or aloe vera. Emollients/ occlusives: cholesterol, saturated fatty acids (stearic/ palmitic) and ceramides. If you are into natural oils and butters: medical grade lanolin, lecithin, West African shea butter, or to a lesser extent borage oil. Avoid or limit any oil that is rich in oleic acid (olive, avocado, emu).
Natural option: 50/50 mix of Aloe Pura aloe vera gel and Weleda baby calendula face cream
Pharmacy option: Eucerin replenishing night cream (or any other with both urea and ceramides) OR Balneum Cream (NOT Balaneum Plus).

Best way to deal with UV protection is a combined moisturiser-sunscreen, but make sure this is a physical sunscreen (micronised zinc/ titanium dioxide) as this is gentler and healthier for skin than a chemical sunscreen. But don't worry about this until you have a diagnosis sorted. Scalp & body: get sulphate surfactants out of your life - these have names like sodium lauryl sulphate, ammonium laureth sulphate. They are in most commercial shampoos, shower gels, foaming face washes, exfoliants, hand wash, permanent hair dye, toothpaste ...

free skin care · Fri May 11, 2012 8:08 am

Just want to let you know that way down the road, when you are looking for a sunscreen, Kimberly Sayer of London has an excellent one. It is moisturizing, gentle and contains zinc/titanium dioxide.

I have extremely dry/sensitive skin. Most sunscreen irritate my skin. However, the K.S. is one that I always go back to.

free skin care · Fri May 11, 2012 12:26 pm

Hi Elizabeth Kate and welcome to ESD!
I have the same kind of skintype. I've used a bunch of cleansers and exfoliaters in the past that just dried out my skin even more...
What i didn't know before is that tons of cleansers and exfoliators have alcohol in them...this is a big no-no. Alcohol is a very drying ingrediant. I found that very mild and gentle cleansers are best like Dermalogica ultra-calming cleanser or Skinceuticals gentle cleanser are great. Cleansers that make your skin feel tight in anyway should be tossed. Instead of exfoliators, i would invest in the clarisonic with a gentle brush head. I use my clarisonic day and night and is gentle enough to be used twice a day. Drink plenty of water and eat your fruits and vegetables and your skin should improve significantly.

free skin care · Fri May 11, 2012 12:57 pm

Hi Elizabeth,

Foaming cleansers make my skin feel tight and dry too. I recommend using a cleansing milk, like Decleor Aroma Cleanse cleansing milk which smells amazing and leaves your skin soft and hydrated. I remove it with cosmetic pads soaked in thermal water (less irritating than tap water). I find this is even more gentle for my skin than micellar solution.

Hope this helps !

Fri May 11, 2012 11:38 pm

Firefox7275 wrote:

I am in the UK too. Very Happy

Firstly please make an appointment to see your GP, this may be simple xerosis (dry skin) but the scalp says possible seborrhoeic dermatitis (most common cause of dandruff). You can also get this on your face or it can co-exist with atopic eczema or contact dermatitis. Once you have a diagnosis solutions become much easier.

More questions .... Briefly on nutrition (tis what I do for a living) - the five a day is the bare minimum, the research actually supports nine portions of fruit and veggies a day. Are you getting plenty of oily fish and other essential fatty acids (nuts, seeds, avocados, olives, coconut)? Also protein little and often from breakfast? Do you consume any sugar or white refined carbs?

Most brands have a couple of cleansers - usually a foaming and a lotion - often more than two so would be good to have the names of each. I like to go for natural myself but a lot of organic ranges justify the price by including loads of unnecessary plant extracts and oils that only confuse matters when you try to identify culprits. It is normal for the face to freak when other parts of the body are fine, firstly the skin is thinner, secondly it gets more abuse with sun and make up and suchlike, thirdly we have more sebaceous glands there than elsewhere (you can react to your own sebum!).

Moisturiser: look for ingredients that help replenish the skin barrier, a mixture of humectants (water attracting) and emollients (softeners) or occlusives (barrier). Humectants: urea, lactic acid or aloe vera. Emollients/ occlusives: cholesterol, saturated fatty acids (stearic/ palmitic) and ceramides. If you are into natural oils and butters: medical grade lanolin, lecithin, West African shea butter, or to a lesser extent borage oil. Avoid or limit any oil that is rich in oleic acid (olive, avocado, emu).
Natural option: 50/50 mix of Aloe Pura aloe vera gel and Weleda baby calendula face cream
Pharmacy option: Eucerin replenishing night cream (or any other with both urea and ceramides) OR Balneum Cream (NOT Balaneum Plus).

Best way to deal with UV protection is a combined moisturiser-sunscreen, but make sure this is a physical sunscreen (micronised zinc/ titanium dioxide) as this is gentler and healthier for skin than a chemical sunscreen. But don't worry about this until you have a diagnosis sorted. Scalp & body: get sulphate surfactants out of your life - these have names like sodium lauryl sulphate, ammonium laureth sulphate. They are in most commercial shampoos, shower gels, foaming face washes, exfoliants, hand wash, permanent hair dye, toothpaste ...

hi THANKYOU for taking the time out to impart all that advice. So much of what you have said is making perfect sense as to the condition of my skin.

I did mention a few of the cleansers and moisturising products I have used. But my list is pretty extensive!! I did always opt for wash off cleansers ie foaming type ive tried Almay, Dermalogica, Estee Lauder, Simple. I always got no matter what the expense or sophistication of the product dry flakey skin on my t-zone area, together with over oil production, making my pores clogged. The oil has subsided a bit now, but my skin feels more fragile easily irrated in those areas. The sebhorreic dermatitis you mentioned maybe the culprit??? never occured to me before. Did a bit of investigating on the internet. And yes the symptoms ive being experincing to a degree does seems like this. Especially my scalp, I wash my hair every other day (need clean hair Smile

) but I always get dryness and large flakes, clumps of white skin flakes, sounds completely gross sorry, near my hair line above my forehead, the hairline beside my ears and the nape of my neck. My scalp gets intensly itchy.

Can I ask you what shampoo and conditioner would you recommend? (I colour my hair also) suppose common sense tells me the hair products im using just now may also be drying out and irrating the skin on my face as im washing my hair.

You mentioned many products in your reply which I will hunt down Smile

and try. What would you recommend I start with first?? Also which product does the gentlest cleanser, and can you recommend a good non irritatging foundation.
And yes I will make an appointment with my gp.
Thanks again for your kindness in replying to my dilemma Very Happy

Fri May 11, 2012 11:47 pm

Marjorie wrote:

Hi Elizabeth,

Foaming cleansers make my skin feel tight and dry too. I recommend using a cleansing milk, like Decleor Aroma Cleanse cleansing milk which smells amazing and leaves your skin soft and hydrated. I remove it with cosmetic pads soaked in thermal water (less irritating than tap water). I find this is even more gentle for my skin than micellar solution.

Hope this helps !

Hi thanks for that Marjorie, Ive never heard of thermal water?? is it pre boiled water? Its a good tip. Im not familiar with micellar solution either - maybe you could let me know. I have unfortunatley tried decleor products way in the past found they made my face itchy on my cheeks Rolling Eyes

I think I will have to comission someone to develop my own line of skincare just for me!!

Fri May 11, 2012 11:48 pm

leeleedeedee wrote:

Just want to let you know that way down the road, when you are looking for a sunscreen, Kimberly Sayer of London has an excellent one. It is moisturizing, gentle and contains zinc/titanium dioxide.

I have extremely dry/sensitive skin. Most sunscreen irritate my skin. However, the K.S. is one that I always go back to.

Thanks for that, will look into this also. Very Happy

Sat May 12, 2012 12:07 am

Firefox7275 wrote:

I am in the UK too. Very Happy

Firstly please make an appointment to see your GP, this may be simple xerosis (dry skin) but the scalp says possible seborrhoeic dermatitis (most common cause of dandruff). You can also get this on your face or it can co-exist with atopic eczema or contact dermatitis. Once you have a diagnosis solutions become much easier.

More questions .... Briefly on nutrition (tis what I do for a living) - the five a day is the bare minimum, the research actually supports nine portions of fruit and veggies a day. Are you getting plenty of oily fish and other essential fatty acids (nuts, seeds, avocados, olives, coconut)? Also protein little and often from breakfast? Do you consume any sugar or white refined carbs?

Most brands have a couple of cleansers - usually a foaming and a lotion - often more than two so would be good to have the names of each. I like to go for natural myself but a lot of organic ranges justify the price by including loads of unnecessary plant extracts and oils that only confuse matters when you try to identify culprits. It is normal for the face to freak when other parts of the body are fine, firstly the skin is thinner, secondly it gets more abuse with sun and make up and suchlike, thirdly we have more sebaceous glands there than elsewhere (you can react to your own sebum!).

Moisturiser: look for ingredients that help replenish the skin barrier, a mixture of humectants (water attracting) and emollients (softeners) or occlusives (barrier). Humectants: urea, lactic acid or aloe vera. Emollients/ occlusives: cholesterol, saturated fatty acids (stearic/ palmitic) and ceramides. If you are into natural oils and butters: medical grade lanolin, lecithin, West African shea butter, or to a lesser extent borage oil. Avoid or limit any oil that is rich in oleic acid (olive, avocado, emu).
Natural option: 50/50 mix of Aloe Pura aloe vera gel and Weleda baby calendula face cream
Pharmacy option: Eucerin replenishing night cream (or any other with both urea and ceramides) OR Balneum Cream (NOT Balaneum Plus).

Best way to deal with UV protection is a combined moisturiser-sunscreen, but make sure this is a physical sunscreen (micronised zinc/ titanium dioxide) as this is gentler and healthier for skin than a chemical sunscreen. But don't worry about this until you have a diagnosis sorted. Scalp & body: get sulphate surfactants out of your life - these have names like sodium lauryl sulphate, ammonium laureth sulphate. They are in most commercial shampoos, shower gels, foaming face washes, exfoliants, hand wash, permanent hair dye, toothpaste ...

Sorry forgot to ask - oleic acid - is this a problem for my skin type? Can I ask why not olive oil or avacdo oil? Also can I ask how do I clean my skin with oil, have been reading through some of the posts. To take my makeup off forinstence would I apply say the argan oil straight to my face, how do I use the aloe vera gel do I mix it with the argan oil then apply? Embarassed

You mentioned the west african shea butter - this sounds gorgeous. How do I use it? also you mention lanolin (medical grade) not familiar with this were can I buy it/use it. finally leicithan not sure were to purchase/use it? Rolling Eyes

free skin care · Sat May 12, 2012 6:47 am

Hello Elizabeth.....I can't answer your question about the oil cleansing method, because I don't use it, however I can offer this piece of information about cleansing. As one who suffers from dry/dehydrated skin I found that not only cleansers were drying but that water itself was very irritating. I now use a cleanser from Luzern called Hydra-Micellar Fluid (hydrating make-up remover) that is tissued off without the use of water for removal. It is very lightweight and soothing. The primary ingredient is aloe vera. I found that my skin is far less dry without the use of water.

Hope this helps you.

free skin care · Sun May 20, 2012 9:37 am

elizabeth kate wrote:

Marjorie wrote:

Hi Elizabeth,

Foaming cleansers make my skin feel tight and dry too. I recommend using a cleansing milk, like Decleor Aroma Cleanse cleansing milk which smells amazing and leaves your skin soft and hydrated. I remove it with cosmetic pads soaked in thermal water (less irritating than tap water). I find this is even more gentle for my skin than micellar solution.

Hope this helps !

Hi thanks for that Marjorie, Ive never heard of thermal water?? is it pre boiled water? Its a good tip. Im not familiar with micellar solution either - maybe you could let me know. I have unfortunatley tried decleor products way in the past found they made my face itchy on my cheeks Rolling Eyes

I think I will have to comission someone to develop my own line of skincare just for me!!

Sorry for this late reply ! I just wanted to add a few words about thermal water and micellar solutions. They are actually produced by the same companies since micellar solutions contain thermal water: Evian, Vichy, LaRoche-Posay, Avene... Thermal water is natural spring water contained in a spray can. It has soothing and antioxidant properties, and is recommended for highly intolerant skins. I spray it on a cosmetic pad and use it to remove face cleanser instead of tap water, but you can use it anytime during the day to refresh your skin. A micellar solution removes face/eye make-up while it soothes your skin. I wear contact lenses and my eyes are easily irritated. I use Vichy Calming Cleansing Micellar Solution to remove eye make-up and it's the best I've tried so far (eye make-up removers usually make my eyes burn...)

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