Allergic to all moisturisers, what can I use?

[bellropes]

My skin, including face, is very dry, but I seem to have become allergic to everything I try. My skin becomes itchy with a rash and my eyes water and become dry and itchy. I have a damaged right cornea and can't let it be affected so I've given up trying different products.

I've tried all the hypoallergenic stuff to no avail. I'm even allergic to Avene stuff and the ultra hypoallergenic creams from Boots. I can't use Diprobase, Aveeno, prescribed eczema stuff etc. I can't wear any makeup as it affects my eyes. I can use Cerave moisturising cream on my body, but not my face.

I've been putting organic coconut oil on my skin, including face, but it's not that moisturising. I'm absolutely at my wits end. I can't afford to waste money on products that I try once then they end up in the bin.

Please can anybody recommend something? My husband made me an ointment from olive oil, beeswax and lavender which is okay, but I don't think you're meant to use olive oil or coconut oil on the face all the time.

Have you tried the La Roche baby one - I'm very reactive but OK with that. Almond oil?

@bellropes, stop putting things on your face. Don't try new things. If you must, use neat olive oil. Absolutely no added essential oil.

Eat healthily - lots of good oils.

Could you bear to avoid using a flannel on your face? I use Surcare washing powder and umpteen rinses but my flannels never seem really free of detergent residue. Our water here is very hard, too, so it doesn't help.

I am also allergic to shea butter, it is in so many things these days.

I'm sure shea butter is ok for your face OP.

This stuff is amazing:

https://theeczemastore.com/eczema-bath-body/elenge-shea-butter/

Thank you so much for all these suggestions.

I'm okay with lavender oil. I think it might be something like the alcohol because my blepharitis gel doesn't have any in and my eyes are fine with that. From what I can see, alcohol is used in everything.

I have Fexofenadine for when I react.

I've tried just using water, but my skin is all dry, tight and sore. I even tried just using mineral water and that was the same.

Don't use creams, go for ointments instead

Why not creams?

It took quite a lot of experimentation but I now switch between almond oil, avocado oil and wheat germ oil for both moisturising and (with a flannel) cleansing. I've also sometimes bought pure Shea butter, melted it (Shea Butter is very hard) and mixed with one of those oils, ending up with a cream. It's a bit of a faff but might be worth trying if you prefer a creamy texture - it also works well on my hands.

No, I don't use steroid creams. I don't have eczema or anything like that, it's just an allergic reaction to the usual moisturising products.

I might try Shea butter. It seems less oily.

No offence but this is GP/dermatologist territory if prescription products aren’t of use

Those Elena's natural products look interesting as well. They seem closer to homemade things and don't have the irritants in - alcohol etc.

I don't have eczema or psoriasis though, so I don't know what a Dermatologist would do. It's more a case of my eyes causing the problem. My skin does get itchy and allergic to moisturising products, but I can use the Cerave and the Healpsorin at least.

What you’re describing is eczema though - it’s contact dermatitis. They have non steroid moisturisers like dermol etc but if that doesn’t work for you then they’re best placed to help you manage your allergy

MooGoo might suit you. They are very gentle products that use oils like sweet almond oil etc, no harsh ingredients, all natural, though I agree with checking with a dermatologist first.

There's a lot of additives in creams that can cause reactions

Have you looked at Lyons leaf? Oil based, I think their beauty balm is mainly sunflower oil. Can be used as a cleanser or moisturiser. They have a rosehip oil one too. You can buy testers for cheap so don’t have to fork out for a big pot before you know if you react.

@bellropes

Is olive oil moisturising for the skin? I thought oils aren't moisturising in themselves, they just seal in moisture. I keep reading stuff and getting confused because it's contradictory.

That's right.

You need something with glycerin

I’m not sure whether your allergies have been officially diagnosed or not? If so, what is your list of allergens? Didn’t the dr give you product recommendations at the time?

If you haven’t been officially diagnosed, I have no idea why you’re trying to treat this yourself to be frank. You’d have already been seen and sorted by now. Dermatology can carry out patch testing to confirm whether you do have allergies or not, and what the actual ingredients to avoid are. Literally any ingredient in the list could be a problem, even things you don’t suspect. From there, they will help you manage it.

Haven't used moisturiser for years as it's a fast track to breakouts for my skin.

The key for me is not using a soap based cleanser as I found this took out moisture that then needed replacing! I use jojoba oil and a face cloth to clean my face. It took some trial and error with different oils to find the one that worked best with my skin but haven't looked back since.

I keep a spray bottle filled with approx 80% rosewater and 20% glycerin. Spritz on and smooth in if skin ever feels dry or tight.

In my 30s and got IDed for a lottery ticket the other day, so the 'regime' seems to be doing something right for my skin

I haven't been diagnosed. I was prescribed the moisturisers several years ago as I was treated for work acquired scabies and the products were very harsh on the skin and I needed an emollient to help once the scabie mites had gone. I then found out that I was allergic to the emollients after I'd used them a few times. I tried buying different stuff from the chemists - E45, Aveeno etc. and found I reacted to them as well. The GP prescribed Fexofenadine and I never went back.

Has anyone suggested Khiels yet?
In our allergicy family it seems to suit most people's skins, though on the expensive side.

Specifically this one - Ultra facial cream
www.kiehls.co.uk/skin-care/category/moisturisers/ultra-facial-cream/622.html

They are very good about doing samples, certainly in the shops. If you messages them on the website they might well send you a sachet too. Their customer service is generally excellent.

Did you go back to the GP and explain that the products they prescribed caused a reaction? As a dermatology referral would be a logical next step. There’s other products that your GP could alternatively prescribe too, eg Dermol 500 lotion.

If you didn’t, contact your GP ASAP. This really is dermatologist territory and you didn’t need to suffer with this for several years.

This is literally what dermatologists deal with day in, day out lol

Lots of people react to emollients like aqueous cream and e45.
Your shampoo might be irritating your skin and eyes too, not to mention other things that come into contact with your skin, like make-up, mask, hands, towel, pillowcase.Leave your skin alone until it has healed.