Skin flare up/red cheeks

[IPokeBadgers]

So, since IVF in January my skin hasn't been it's usual calm self....with more occurrences of under the skin cystic style bumps etc. But nothing major ...just different.

However I don't know if it is as a result of stress or a diet that has shot to shit for the last few weeks (lots of comfort eating the wrong type of thing) but last week I woke up with incredibly red cheeks and a load of spots/ bumps under the skin that never came to a head. Skin was inflamed and felt very tight and dry...

I do have quite red cheeks normally, and have sometimes wondered if I have a mild form of rosacea. Last week I hadn't introduced new products or anything like this.

I have been so careful since last week's flare up...not worn any make up (so no need to remove) and have washed face with an existing facewash that has never caused any bother.

I have used cetraben cream on my face as its the only completely fragrance free moisturizer I have in the house ( usually use elemis or boots no 7) and face is now calmer but wondering what would be a good unscented proper face moisturizer as I'm not sure about reintroducing fragrance to my delicate face.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated 🙏

Cerave Moisturising Lotion is a great simple fragrance free moisturiser.

I would carefully examine my diet, if I were you. Have you introduced anything new or have you started eating more quantities of anything in particular?

I would say last few weeks has seen a marked increase in the amount of sugar I've been consuming...the two weeks I was in the office before lockdown was announced was absolutely frantic and we were all just eating madly...and then I had a week off work with a lot of anxiety driven stress cleaning in the house and then back into a working from home arrangements that's horrid...so again, more stress eating.

It's probably the sugar has pushed my skin over the edge isn't it...☹️

Same here, IPokeBadgers, I’m pretty sure it’s too much sugar. Need to cut it right back

I have breakouts where my skin on my cheeks often go bumpy and very red also my cheeks tend to have a prickly sensation. I've noticed mine often happen when I'm feeling stressed.

La Roche Posay Cicaplast is really good at calming skin, Boots also do a couple of Cica pastes you use overnight.

There might be a number of factors contributing to this.
In my case, I religiously wore foundation every single day for the last 27 years. I stopped bothering three weeks ago when I entered lockdown, and now my skin is tight and red. I think it is because my foundation had SPF and now I am catching the sun on my (short) daily walks. Could the same apply to you?
Sure the sugar and stress don't help either...

Thank you for the comments, some useful suggestions here. Will look into the La Roche Posay online.

@misskick the prickly sensation was definitely a feature for a couple of days.

@smallinthesmoke I'm not wearing foundation at the minute but I'm also very poor at going out so it isn't sun exposure causing it.

I think it has just been a perfect storm of factors as life changed so completely almost overnight. Cheeks have calmed down again thankfully but I am wary of another flare because it was very unpleasant and quite dreadful looking.

Caffeine is also not great.

You can try putting sudocrem on at night and sleeping in it.

Cut out/ count down on Dairy, sugar, alcohol, spicy food and go decaf with hot drinks.

Drink lots of water and try to destress (easier said than done atm)!

We’re the same! I finished an ivf round in January but unlike you I’ve always had very sensitive skin with eczema and a tendency to flush on my nose and cheeks. After a dreadful bout of eczema last May and in prep for my IVF I went on a high fat, low carb diet, no caffeine, alcohol, nightshades or sugars and my skin has never been better. Since the IVF round which resulted in a miscarriage at 8 weeks my diet hasn’t been as good and you can really tell in my skin so plan on starting it again soon. On my face I use origins clean energy face wash, trilogy face oil and aveeno lotion skin relief for very dry skin. All are excellent.

Some more good food for thought,thank you. I eat a small amount of cheese each day and half a small splash of milk in my morning (and only) cup of tea (decaf). So not huge amounts of dairy.

I drink a can of diet coke a day. Alcohol free days are the norm rather than exception to the rule. Don't eat spicy foods.

Since working from home I'm actually moving less than in my office and I'm also drinking less water.

I think it's the sugar, stress, poor water intake and disruption to sleep patterns. I do also think the IVF treatment has caused disruption to my hormones and that is playing into things.

@Pineapples1980 I'm really sorry about the miscarriage....the IVF is tough, getting pregnant and then losing, well, I'm so sorry pet.