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Original poster

Skin. Help.

14 replies

Newadventure · 28/03/2019 20:10

(Sorry this is long..)

He's my situation.

A couple of years ago I developed peri oral dermatitis, it's mostly around the skin of my nose and because of this I can't use any make up (think foundation, bb cream etc) or soaps, face cream/wash etc or I risk a big break out that takes weeks of using mentrondiozal (sp?) Cream to get rid of it.
It was a really awful experience and I honestly looked like a lepper for 8 months Sad

These days the only thing I use in my face (not eyes, I can wear eye makeup) is an aqueous cream prescribed from my gp and occasionally some extra virgin olive oil as a moisturizer when my skin feels dry.
My skin looks really awful atm, I can't exfoliate or use sun cream and the aqueous cream doesn't seem to be doing it any favours, I'm certain I've aged at least 10 years in the past two and I'm not happy.

I started a thread a little while ago complaining about blackheads, as some kind mumsnetters pointed out I don't have blackheads, it's blocked sebaceous filaments (I think??) On my nose, chin and cheeks. I'm blaming the aqueous cream for this as it leaves a weird layer on my face and my skin never really feels clean after I've used it.

Anyway, on that thread some posters suggested using jojoba oil to cleanse with and also a salicylic acid after this to help with the 'blackheads' which I'm planning to do. I will avoid putting the salicylic acid anywhere near the affected area on my nose. The poster who suggested using jojoba oil said she uses a muslin cloth to wipe it off which I think will give some form of exfoliation (bearing in mind my skin hasn't been exfoliated in two years so it's really needs it) so that will be good.

I'm also thinking of using a face cream with an spf in it but again avoiding the area around my nose purely because I can't go on for the rest of my days not using sun cream, I'm only 33 and I don't want to cause years of sun damage needlessly.. My only concern with that is if I get hot and the cream drips down my face when I sweat (Sorry.. ) and touches my nose area (it's the folds around my nose and near my nostrils) them I'm screwed but I have to give it a try.

Can anyone think of anything else I could use or any tips from other peri oral dermatitis sufferers?? It's pay day tomorrow and I'm going to treat my self to some things for a new skin care regime, god knows I need it, the skin on my face has really been neglected the past two years but I was too scared to try any thing else.. I can't go on like this though I really do look awful now Sad

So shopping list so far.
Jojoba oil
Muslin cloth
The ordinary salicylic acid

OP posts:
PlainPiglet · 28/03/2019 22:50

I have seb dermatitis and I went on Laroche-Posay website on the chat, expecting them to recommend a load of products that I'd then find out I was reactive to (as has happened with countless other brands). They didn't - just suggested one which has transformed my dermatitis patches in 2 weeks. I still keep expecting to wake up and find the angry red patches. I swapped aqueous cream for their cicaplast balm. Perhaps you could go on line and ask one of their staff if this is suitable for your condition before you buy? They have an SPF one for day use so it could be two birds ...... Or maybe they'll have other more suitable ones.
I read Beyond Skin which helped determine what to avoid. Hope you find something suitable.

tigerbear · 28/03/2019 22:52

Be VERY careful with the Ordinary Salycilic acid!! It’s very potent, use the tiniest bit. It made my sensitive skin worse - I had a large red rash almost like a burn on my chin after using this, and your skin sounds way more sensitive than mine!

Original poster
Newadventure · 28/03/2019 23:06

Thanks I'll try them Smile

tigerbear thanks for the warning!! As long as it doesn't go near that area then I should be fine, I'm only planning on using it on the bridge of my nose, chin and maybe cheeks to get rid of all the black dots!
Saying that, the poster who suggested the jojoba oil said that it could get rid of them on it's own actually.. something to do with the oil molecules being bigger than the sebum so that the sebum clings to it and gets wiped away.. 🤔.. hmmm I wonder if I should just try that first and see if it does the trick for my Dalmatian face.
I'll be f'ing horrified if I get a bad reaction 🤣
I know I'll be fine with the oil because it's natural.

OP posts:
Original poster
Newadventure · 28/03/2019 23:18

Oooh fuck no.

I've just read some reviews and there's one person who said it caused her to get peri oral dermatitis so I'm going no where near it. Damn sounded like good stuff too!!
Well hopefully the oil will work.
I swear my skin just needs a good clean/exfoliation. The aqueous cream doesnt really feel like it washes my skin at all and it's like I've got a weird layer on my face after I use it. Also these 'dots' have only been there for the past year or so so I think it's a build up of the cream more than anything.

OP posts:
lightningstrikes · 29/03/2019 10:11

Maybe try Paula's Choice 2% BHA, you can get it in a travel size. It has cleared my sebaceous filaments. I haven't found it harsh and just use to to spot treat any problem areas. Good luck!

Tomtontom · 29/03/2019 10:16

I'd second speaking to someone at LRP. I had a terrible reaction to the sun that the GP prescribed cream wouldn't touch, spoke to one of their staff and within two days my skin was so much better.

Swiftier · 29/03/2019 10:17

I’m also going to say be wary of TO Salicylic Acid! I used it for a few months and then it suddenly brought out a horrendous reaction - full on dermatitis, scaley sore skin and everything. Now I can’t use any products with Salicylic Acid. It’s very potent stuff.

As an aside could you ask for a referral to a dermatologist? It seems like the treatment the GP has given hasn’t fully resolved the problem. Or see a dermatologist privately if you have the funds?

Tomtontom · 29/03/2019 10:19

And another vote for not putting any acids on your face, or any kind of exfoliant.

Original poster
Newadventure · 29/03/2019 10:40

I have phoned my gp and waiting for a call back, I'm going to ask for a referral to a dermatologist (I don't think I'll get one, due to funding?? I don't know if they will as it's cosmetic??)

How this came about. For years, on and off id get dry skin in the folds of my nose, I never knew what it was than but when it came up the gp would prescribe some cream (can't remember the name but it begins with an F) and it would go away after a few days. Well this time it didn't. So the gp then prescribed a steroid cream, it would appear to go away then when I stopped using it it would flare up again, only worse than it did before. I kept ringing the gp and explaining what was happening (she never saw me, was only a phone call consultation with me explaining what was happening) and she would just say that I had to keep using the cream and I must be allergic to something else so to stop using make up, face cream, washing powder, everything! So I did but the affected skin just kept growing every time I stopped using the steroid cream. This went on for 8 months Sad I was so fed up I researched it myself and discovered it was peri oral dermatitis and that steroid cream makes it worse Sad what happens is, the steroids make it appear to go away but when you stop using it you have a huge breakout as your skin it's trying to get rid of it.
When I eventually stopping using the cream all together, what was only dry skin in the crease of my nose on the left hand side, ended up a two inch thick, angry, scaly spotting rash all around my nose and inside my nostrils Sad
It took weeks to go away and was horrendous, I didn't want to leave the house.
Now I'm scared to use any thing and the area is so sensitive.
Say if I have hand cream on my hands then scratch my nose I'll get a reaction, if I spray deodorant and it goes in my face I have to wash my face straight away. I'm in constant fear of things getting on the area and have regular break outs. Like today I looked in the mirror and have lots of little spots under my nose, it's there constantly.
I'm so annoyed, if the gp (who is my gps dermatologist!!) Had only seen me in person and looked into then this could have been prevented. The steroid cream has obviously done permanent damage.

OP posts:
Original poster
Newadventure · 29/03/2019 10:54

I mean two inchs wide (in span, it wasn't like two inches off my face)

OP posts:
XingMing · 29/03/2019 12:32

Have never used jojoba oil, but would recommend the DHC cleansing oil, which emulsifies on contact with water. That, and a warm wet clean flannel, is very gentle as it's almost pure olive oil.

FloofyDoof · 29/03/2019 13:36

I would stay away from acids. Maybe very gentle manual exfoliation only on the areas not affected would work. Something like a konjac sponge, just soak well in warm water before use to soften it up, they are quite gentle, but effective.

Swiftier · 29/03/2019 13:49

Hey, regarding a referral - I hope you get one. I got referred by the GP to the dermatologist for the reaction I mentioned (which I later worked out was the Salicylic Acid!) as they thought it was an allergy. It doesn’t have to be super serious to get a referral, but it sounds like it is quite serious and is having an impact on you - I would highlight this impact to the GP and how long it has all been going on for. Good luck.

LesLavandes · 29/03/2019 13:52

I have had peri oral dermatitis. Get referred to a dermatologist and he will prescribe a month of special anti biotics. My skin cleared up

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