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mountainboy
New Member
 
Joined: 05 Dec 2009
Posts: 8
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Wed Feb 10, 2010 2:54 am  |
Greetings! I'm a 30yr old male who is (relatively) new to eczema and DIY skincare. My cheekbones and eyelids are red and itchy, and if I don't apply moisturizer every ten minutes, my skin flakes right off. Not very becoming, comfortable or convenient. I've tried many over the counter products, and eventually discovered that the only thing my face can tolerate are simple concoctions with limited, purposeful and natural ingredients. Here is my treatment:
After I wash and shave my face, I've been spritzing with a toner made of Witch Hazel hydrosol and 2 drops of lavender. It seems soothing, though it just might be drying my skin out. What's a shave and eczema friendly alternative?
After I tone with the above hydrosol, I apply an inflamed skin oil of my own creation.
1oz Jojoba carrier base
2 capsules Evening Primrose Oil
2 drops lavender
1 drop blue chamomile
10 drops jojoba/calendula emulsion
This recipe is soothing, but if I use it throughout the day, I have to apply it very often, and my face and hands remain oily due to constant application. Could I tweak my recipe to make it thinner, less shiny and to absorb and protect better? In it's current state, it is soothing after I wash, or before I shower to prevent my skin from drying out.
After the oil is applied, and throughout the day, I've been alternating between two different moisturizers.
One is a commercial product called Calendula Cream by California Baby which is very soothing, though with a mild burning sensation. It does help the redness, and keep the flakes at bay, though there must be a diy alternative that is less burning feeling, and lasts longer.
In an attempt to create something that I don't have to apply as often, I've been experimenting with a shea butter balm.
1oz shea butter
2 drops lavender
1 drop blue chamomile
10 drops jojoba/calendula emulsion
This recipe seems to soothe, and keep my face moist longer, however it takes a while to absorb, and I'm noticing that I have a lot of buildup in my pores. Not sure if it's this or not. Do you recommend an alternative recipe?
Lastly, the man in me would love to have a soothing balm in stick form that I can keep in my pocket and apply to my cheeks whenever necessary. It shouldn't clog my pores, and it probably shouldn't be applied all the time, but it would be nice to have a concoction that I can apply a few times a day instead of 50 times a day. Also, I have no idea how I'd mold this into a stick. Maybe a balm tin would suffice.
I appreciate any help, advice or recipes you can share.
Here's to recovery! |
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Wed Feb 10, 2010 4:09 am |
Hi there,
I would definitely skip the lavender as it can irritate. I would try skipping the witch hazel for a while and see if there is any improvement. Some people are sensitive to it. Use a chamomile hydrosol and kukui instead. Kukui oil is awesome for eczema. You can get both these from gardenofwisdom.com.
Also, you could try Paula's Choice Skin Relief treatment or her 2% BHA LIQUID. You can purchase samples from the Paula's Choice website.
Read this from Paula Begoun the Cosmetic's Cop:
lavender extract and oil. Primarily a fragrance ingredient, although it may have antibacterial properties. There is no research showing it has any benefit for skin (Sources: Phytotherapy Research, June 2002, pages 301–308). It can be a skin irritant (Source: Contact Dermatitis, August 1999, page 111) and a photosensitizer (Source: Family Practice Notebook, http://www.fpnotebook.com/DER188.htm). Research also indicates that components of lavender, specifically linalool, can be cytotoxic, meaning that topical application causes skin-cell death (Source: Cell Proliferation, June 2004, pages 221-229). In addition, the fragrance constituents in lavender oil oxidize when exposed to air. This not only makes lavender oil pro-oxidant, but also increases its irritancy on skin (Source: Contact Dermatitis, September 2008, pages 143-150). Lavender oil is the most potent form, and even small amounts of it can be problematic. It is a must to avoid in skin-care products. |
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mountainboy
New Member
Joined: 05 Dec 2009
Posts: 8
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Wed Feb 10, 2010 4:16 am |
| misskatblack wrote: |
| ...definitely skip the lavender as it can irritate...Use a chamomile hydrosol and kukui instead. |
@misskatblack Thanks for your advice. I'll definitely look into kukui oil. Is it safe to apply around my eyelids? Shocking news about Lavender, since it's recommended everywhere! I'll try chamomile only for a while and see if I improve. |
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Wed Feb 10, 2010 4:25 am |
I just edited my last reply and added a couple extra things. Make sure you don't use the BHA or Relief treatment around the eyes. If you are very sensitive test it on your neck first.
Kukui can take off eye makeup and is very gentle. My personal fav around the eyes is a tiny bit of rosehip seed oil. Kukui is fine tho! |
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Wed Feb 10, 2010 12:52 pm |
Hi mountainboy
About Calendula Cream, i'm thinking it might be the essential oils in it that is causing you the burning feeling. If you really liked California Baby's stuff, perhaps you can try the Super Sensitive Everyday Lotion. This has no essential oils, but also contains calendula.
I love love love the Helichrysum/Immortelle hydrosol for my eczema. That's about the most *powerful* anti-inflammatory hydrosol in my experience. I've also read that it helps with ingrown hairs.
Yarrow hydrosol is another one i like, although i think it is more suited for those heat rashes. Probably not that good for you.
Argan oil is my favourite oil. It helps with relieving inflammation. That i haven't noticed with other carrier oils i've tried.
Hope this helps some!  |
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mountainboy
New Member
Joined: 05 Dec 2009
Posts: 8
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Fri Feb 26, 2010 11:36 am |
Since my last post, I've changed my routine a little bit
Yesterday I received 8oz of kukui oil in the mail and I must say it is absolutely wonderful. Thanks to @misskatblack for the tip.
Kukui by itself is cooling, moisturizing and has a very silky feel that's soothing to irritated skin. It soaks right in, and I get relief from my eczema almost immediately.
My latest oil blend is in a 10ml bottle:
6ml kukui
3ml rosehip seed oil
1/2 capsule evening primrose oil
10 drops calendula oil extension in jojoba oil
my skin feels great afterwards. I'm considering adding a drop of german chamomile, rose otto, or oz sandalwood but so far this blend is working well. In fact, this morning was the first in a long while that I awoke to a moisturized face.
I've also read about the photosensitizing effects of rosehip seed oil, so I hope this dilution is okay. I'm wary about loading up on sunscreen until my skin returns to it's normal self.
As a balm goes, I've limited use of shea butter, and instead use beeswax to thicken up my blend. Once I get this oil blend finished, I'll add enough beeswax to create a salve that I can keep in my pocket and soothe my face from cold winter winds. |
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Fri Feb 26, 2010 1:08 pm |
| This may sound gross, but Crisco shortening mixed with olive oil has improved my eczema to a manageable state. Now I only need to use this concoction several weeks each year, mostly in the winters. Good luck! |
_________________
Asian. Near 30. Prone to broken caps, moles + freckles, large congested pores, hormonal cystic acne, flaky skin and fat puffy eyelids. Staples: Bioderma SS, Taz, Dr. Kassy's C, Skinoren, HQ, Cerave and growth factors-- but also trying EVERYTHING ELSE..... |
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Thu Mar 04, 2010 6:45 am |
This Australian product, "Billie Goat Soap" has developed a very good reputation here for curing eczema. It was created by a mum whose son had terrible eczema using the milk from their goats. Check it out here:
http://www.billiegoatsoap.com.au/
I have never tried it myself, so I can't personally attest to its effectiveness.
My other suggestion would be to try using some Emu Oil - it's anti-inflammatory and is very soothing to the skin. |
_________________
Born 1950. There's a new cream on the market that gets rid of wrinkles - you smear it on the mirror!! |
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