Rough skin

[Gwenhwyfar]

In my youth I had combination skins, normal to dry on cheeks, but greasy forehead and centre of face. Now it's the opposite. My forehead and the middle of my face are rough. I presumed dry skin and have been trying rich moisturisers and HA serum, but there seem to be some spots under the surface of my forehead so maybe it's not simple dryness. The skin between my nose and lips is red and rough like my forehead.
I use tret sometimes, but this is not what caused the problems as they started before.
I use a peel from The Ordinary, but it doesn't help much and no exfoliation gives me the smooth feeling it used to do so neither exfoliating nor moisturising is really helping.
I'm 45, but not suffering any particular peri symptoms and this rough skin problem's been going on for a few years although the redness is quite recent.

I'd stop using all those products and give it a chance to heal itself, your skin sounds like it is sensitive and fighting against all the harsh products you're using. I'm around your age, Same happened to me, used to have oily skin then it turned sensitive and dry and now the slightest deviation from my new routine sets it off.

Use something very simple like cerave cleanser and Clinique moisture surge for a while. Your skin will thank you!

What do you mean all those products?
I use a cleanser and a moisturiser (the ones you mention actually and they don't work very well). I do a weekly peel and occasionally use Tret.
Occasionally a HA serum (Vichy). Hardly 'all those products' and I don't use them all every day.
I've had rough skin from before using these things.
I've got a Eucerin moisturiser that's better than clinique moisture surge and I sometimes slug with that (vaseline), but nothing really works.

Are there small cysts under the skin? If so try some different acids, and then maybe if that doesn't work a decent beautician who might be able to help.

Or is the skin sort of red and thick and lumpy?

My skin went a bit ‘thick,’ and when I rubbed it sounded dry, although it wasn’t. I started using a flannel to wash my face with soap. It has helped.

"Are there small cysts under the skin? If so try some different acids, and then maybe if that doesn't work a decent beautician who might be able to help."

On my forehead there seem to be some kind of under the skin acne or spots. Maybe they are cysts. I use a peel from The Ordinary which is using acids isn't it? Doesn't work though...

My forehead is not red, but I have redness around the naso labial lines.

I use a hydrating facewash and my hands in the morning. I could try with a flannel instead.

Go to a good beautician? She will know whether she can dig shit out, or if there's another obvious cause or if you would need to go to a (private) dermatologist to get it sorted. I suppose it depends how much you are bothered by it.

Re naso labial lines, do you have dandruff or anything like that? I get this sometimes and I simply wash (gently) with a face cloth three times a day or as often as I remember and it goes. And after I continue to wash my face twice a day or more often (only use cleansers a couple of times a week though)

I have no idea what I'm talking about though. I have no qualifications or particular knowledge, just my personal experience.

Try using a damp flannel to take off the face wash.

Good point. Sodium laurel sulphate can cause issues. Try a face wash without, or just warm water and a cloth. I use a freshly laundered face cloth every time too. They are about 30p each in wilko so it's not impossible to have loads of them.

"Re naso labial lines, do you have dandruff or anything like that?"

I get a bit of dandruff on my head, but I don't see the link with the red skin.
I definitely don't want to wash my face more often.