Skincare advice for DP - angry skin!

[legolammb]

My DP is struggling with his skin and getting fed up of trying different things and them not working. He has extremely red skin on his face, especially after showering it can look red raw. There's some slight flakiness. It also takes a few hours for pillow marks to disappear in the morning, so I wonder if his skin could be very dry and dehydrated. He's wary of moisturising though as he can get red spots so doesn't want to block his pores. My skin is the complete opposite to his and like an oil slick so I have no idea what to suggest to him. Any suggestions would be welcome!

How old is he? Does he drink enough fluids? Does he work or spend a lot of time outdoors? What is the skin on his body like? I would tend towards starting out with something really bland from last Roche Posay or Weleda. It sounds like he could do with a moisturiser.

Moisturiser will not block his pores unless he uses lard.

La Roche Posay cicaplast balme is very gentle. One of my colleagues who was under a top dermatologist introduced me to it. It is on special offer from Look Fantastic atm and you can get it in larger Boots. Weleda skin food is also considered very good, you can get it from Amazon or Holland and Barrett.

LadyLapsang - he's early 30s, city-dweller with desk job. Very fair Celtic skin which never tans, and lots of keratosis pillars elsewhere. He's started running outdoors recently so I'll suggest he uses a sunscreen when doing that. I actually use LRP - I've started using Effaclar recently but will check out some of their other ranges for him

X-post, thank you, will check both of those out for him

I'm always recommending this for sore dry skin, Avene skin recovery cream

Have a look at the whole range, it doesn't block pores and is very gentle.

Boots have just brought out some new products. One of them is an overnight calming paste, I have very reactive and sensitive skin and I use it often.
Pai products are also very good for redness.

He shouldn't have the shower water too hot either this will just make things worse!

I have red/flakey issues (seborrhoeic dermatitis), only thing that works for me is to wash using aqueous cream instead of soap twice a day. And avoid all soaps and anything perfumed.

Dermalogica have a range for sensitive skin and it transformed mine within a week of using it. Most of their stuff is unisex, and my DH often borrows it!

Get a pharmacist to look at it or a dermatologist.
Use gentle products. La Roche possay has a range for people with rosacea.

My husband has similar skin and now he just uses weleda mallow face cream (purple one for babies) and cetaphil to wash his face.

Also use sunscreen

I would second the recommendation for Cicaplast Baume,

I'd also suggest looking up the Derm Nurse on instagram

Also what are you washing pillowcases and towels etc with?

Avène Skin Recovery cream (rich version also available), Avène Soothing Moisture Mask is meant to be good (am patch testing atm), La Roche Posay Toleriane moisturiser, LRP Toleriane Dermo cleanser, or Avène Extremely Gentle cleanser (he'll need something to get off sunscreen), LRP Cicaplast or Weleda Skin Food for a heavier nighttime layer.

Moogoo Milk Wash and Udder Cream are often recommended but I haven't tried them get.

A trip to a dermatologist would be the best investment.

I had terrible sore rosacea and put off going for a while and I was an idiot because they are able to make a massive difference with drugs and creams

Make sure proper dermatologist.

But selsun it the head and shoulders with selenium in and larger and leave on for a few mins then wash off. He sounds just like mine - this makes it a bit cross immediately after but repeat every other day then it’s gone completely - until you forget to do it from time to time to keep it at bay.

Sorry - Buy Selsun (chemist) or The Head and Shoulders, am sure you know what I mean!

^ yep totally agree .

@Bagel I LOVE the Avene soothing moisture mask , I leave it on overnight 😂

Definitely sunscreen for running.

And I agree, plain old aveeno cream is the only think my skin tolerates when it is angry and sore and red. It's amazing.

The Moogoo skin recovery cream is lovely but it's a lot heavier than aveeno. I don't think I'd like it on my face tbh. Great on body, mind you. Sorted my scaly legs right out.

I am in the process of getting my skin to calm down after a weird red itchy flare up about a month ago, down the sides of my face and on my eyelids. Visited various chemists and was given cortisone creams and God knows what but what has soothed it and (almost) sorted it is Skin Food slopped on at night and during the day if I'm at home.

Fabulous, thank you for the suggestions all.

We use bio-powder and Fairy fabric softener for washing laundry. I'd read on here years ago about bio actually being better than non-bio for irritated skin as it leaves less residue.

I'll get him some of the Avene to start with and see if that makes any difference

Oh also, if fabric softener etc may not be helping, I often just use white vinegar. It doesn’t smell after the cycle and great for softening clothes, towels etc.