Really dry facial skin - help!

[Zorra]

Oh help me, I feel like my face is falling off :( Really dry (pretty much everywhere but especially in a big circle around my mouth/chin/bottom of nose) I look dreadful and it's really getting me down. I'm still BFing my 15 month old (who still wakes up every three hours) and feel haggard, but it's reallly showing on my face. Any ideas??

I actually pierce a vitamin E capsule, and put the oil on neat,do it at night tho' because it takes a while to be absorbed..

Embryolisse moisturiser is really good. You can buy it from cocobeau.co.uk

Is it 'just' dry or also red/ flaky/ sore?

If the first, you need a thick oily plain moisturiser - something like E45 or Aveeno (which can sting btw but works nicely). Apply it as often as you can and consider starting some (gentle) exfoliation. Sounds counterintuitive but if your skin is covered with a layer of dry rough scaly dead skin the moisturiser won't sink in properly so won't do much.

If it's red etc I'd suggest see your GP to discuss whether a very short-term mild steroid cream might settle it down a bit.

HTH.

Its horrible isn't it?
I have very dry, very sensitive skin that tends to break out into horrible red blotches at weird moments. Used E45 for ages as it was the thickest thing I knew.
Then someone on here recommended this and for the first time ever I understood what 'hydrated' meant in relation to skin! I've since upgraded to the anti-wrinkle version which is even richer (but then I'm an old wrinkly anyway )

Its often part of Boots Buy 2 get 1 free deals which makes it a bit more affordable.

I struggle with this type of dry skin. One thing that works for me at the moment, that I have just discovered is Dr Organic (Holland and Barrett's range) Otto Rose Facial Serum. I use Ren moisturiser, then use the serum. It is really working and smells gorgeous too.

I also use Dermalogica vitamin capsules which you break open then put on your skin, they are lovely but soooo expensive.

There are other serums on the market too, unless you have a condition (such as dermatitis) going on then imo this is the best way to treat dry skin. Heavy moisturisers could irritate it further, you need reasonably 'expensive' products when skin is sensitised.

I use Eucerin too :)

I get something similar round my mouth but I read somewhere that it can be a B vitamin deficiency: certainly it hasn't recurred since I started taking a good multivitamin.

mrsgordonfreeman - which multi-vitamin do you take? Looking for something as have had 2 horrible colds already this year and if its good for skin too it sounds like the one for me :)

Very useful, thanks :)

It is mostly just very dry, but does break into red soreness sometimes (usually when I get stressed out). I suspect that if I try a multivit and one of the moisturisers it might shift it.

Will let you know!

Castor Oil instead of washing with a cleanser, soap etc.

I use Argan Face Cream and that's excellent at soothing very dry skin. I get mine from Wild Wood Groves.

moisturise a lot

then when skin underneath flaky bits is suitably soothed, exfoliate v v gently before bed, slap on something hardcore like bio oil or vaseline and in the morning things should look a lot smoother

this happens to my nose when iget a cold and it is not a v glamourous image :(

this eucerin cream is very good too - recommended by my dermatologist.

I have eczema and it works for me.

Actually, looking at it, I have the aquaporin RICH not the day version with spf, I have that too but it can sting a little.

rich

I thought castor oil was drying?

I've been suffering of late tried a myriad of things but currently trying a home made scrub

2 x tablespoons of sugar
1 x tablespoon of olive oil
and a few drops of an essential oil (I used tea tree because I have a spotty chin!)

It's soft and squishy today (my face not the scrub) so will let you know how i get on

I suffered from something similar when I was expecting dd.

I used Allergenics cream (and shampoo because it was round my hairline and eyebrows too.)

I's extremely plain and quite cheap it really works for me.

You can buy it in Holland and Barrett or from amazon.

I hope you find something that helps you.

Feetheart, I just buy the Boots own brand multivitamin as I am also still bf.

I've also started using Dr Bronner's soap (available in some health food hippy shops) which has improved the overall dryness too.