DD2 15yrs old really dry skin..ideas tried most things

[Busybeegirl71]

Hi my DD2 has the usual t-zone spots dry/greasy skin. She's coming up to 16 soon and does her best to look after her skin but recently she has been suffering from extremely dry scalely patches around the creases of her nose and just under her bottom lip. It's so bad that it looks like its about to crack sometimes, we tried so many lotions/positions and washes and so far nothing has worked. She is starting to stress about it now so any advice or ideas would be very welcome. :)

*i meant potions damn auto correct

I had very bad spots at that age and I got tablets from tr doctors. They do work but make you light sensitive. Not the best things to take tbh but worked.

Clearsil works for DD. It's stronger than normal products

Could she take a fish oil or evening primrose oil supplement? If the cracks are at the corner of her mouth eat marmite or take vit b. I would use gentle skin care tbh.

Hi elephant, she's doesn't really have bad spots it's just these areas on her skin that keeps going crusty.. Really bizarre, tried Clearsil made it worse :( but thank you anyway :)

epaderm?

Hi talkingnonsense .. Do you think she might be lacking in something then? Thought about eve primrose as wondered whether it was a spot of excema.. The patches are round her nose creases and below her bottom lip above her chin.

Thanks humphrey will google that :)

simple derma intensive relief cream works well on my scaly bits (!) in comes in a round tub and costs about £4ish (probably less). Have you tried it already?

Buy some vitamin E capsules from the health food shop and break one open and put the contents on her skin. Do this every night - you will have to change her pillowcase daily as it is a bit sticky.

send her to the quack....dd has just been, it sounds exactly the same as she has

She has very sensitive skin and recently has been breaking out, dry dry areas which look crispy but recently got worse and they heal like a burn, tight red shiny skin, and then back to normal. We thought it was a stress thing with her highers, but it got a lot worse this week so off she went.

She has two types of cream and tablets too....anti-b and antifungal and the difference since tuesday evening is amazing.

3little and bumpy, we've tried neither, so will be trying both ideas asap, she will so relieved if they work.. Thank you guys

Yes - it is very important to rule out fungal or bacterial infection before trying any home treatments. Also - be very careful to wash hands before applying creams etc, and never put the finger that has touched the skin back into the pot for a second go.

I find alot of shop bought products very harsh on the skin even o es claiming to be hypoallergenic and all that lot. Iwould stick to washing her face with water and nothing else and maybe just using a mild face wash once a week. I have recently discovered a fab web site that sells stuff that is miraculously moisturizing my 5 yr old dd with very dry eczema ridden skin. Allproducts are paraban sulphate fragrance and animal product free and not drying or irritating at all. Would recommend mypure.co.uk check out the young and pure range :) for teens

Catsmamma that sounds very much the same as what she's got, will try quack as well, such a shame as she looks after her skin so got upset when this starting happening :( she's been studying a lot as her exams are coming up, but now don't think the two are related.

Would agree with seeing if she's getting enough essential fatty acids; oily fish, raw, good oils like hemp, flax, coconut.

look at the oil cleansing method - lots of helpful MN threads on it if you search...

If it's eczema or dermatitis, then my own experience tells me it's more likely she needs to be using fewer lotions and potions than more! She could try NO soap, creams or lotions that are scented in any way, and no foundation/skin make-up for 2 weeks - just water and a 'plain' moisturiser - aqueous cream or E45 ... If it clears up, she'll know she's sensitive to the things they put in cosmetics and creams. I had terrible trouble with my face in my teens and early 20s; then I worked out my skin couldn't handle the chemicals, so stopped using them, and I have had no problems at all since. The bonus is that I am now in my mid 40s, but people think I am 5-10 years younger :)

But I had another couple of thoughts, because you said the patches are only around her mouth and you described them as 'crusty'... Is possible that she has impetigo or bad cold sores? Both can match your description. If you think either are possible, she should go to see a doctor, because they need special prescription creams (different ones for each - cold sores are a virus infection and impetigo is a bacterial infection).

I hope she gets whatever it is sorted soon :)

My toddler ds had revolting 'teething' rash which wouldn't clear up, tried steroid creams etc from docs which helped in short term but we now swear by aloe Vera gel to keep his patches under control and it helps my excema type patches as well. That and vitamin e cream keep us all ticking along, generally I use rose water to clean my face or wash with something mild and then finish as its generally dry but goes bonkers when pregnant.

Might also be worth looking at her when she's studying, I rub my face when I'm thinking and if it is something infection like she could be passing it back and forth? Rotten timing, hope she heals soon.

Wow thank you so much all of you for all the fab advice! Flow dont think it's cold sores or impetigo, as it's only restricted to those areas. I think because she's tried in vain with so many lotions etc it's actually made it worse. A lot of the shelf facial washes etc are very harsh and prob not done her any favours at all. She won't eat fish etc, she won't go without foundation as she uses it to cover her spots, if I suggested it I can already see her face contorting now with the thought of it! :) maybe it's a back to basics and use a very mild wash and the ideas you guys have suggested one at a time and see what works best for her. Will check out the pure website that you wheresmycaffeine as my DD3 who's 7 suffers quite badly sometimes from excema, so would be great to use something on that doesnt contain steroids :) will check how she study's as that's a great point! Mspickles where would I get rose water from? Thank you all so much for taking the time to help us out.. I am a newbie to mn and this is my 2nd post and I am so unbelievably impressed how helpful and supportive everyone on here is.. Such nice wonderful ladies!! thank you again!

I'd try the Dr Hauschka face kit. I have dry skin and rosacea, and without it my skin is tight, itchy and peeling. With it it is as soft as a baby's bum! Every so often I economise and try doing without the cleansing cream and quince cream, but after a couple of weeks I leg it to John Lewis in despair! You only use the face cream once a day, so it lasts ages!

E45 cream and (normally I do not use soap) if you can find a soap made with lard that will help - I use it on my psoriasis, it is made by a friend.

Hi, I get rose water in my local chemist, it's very simple, smells lovely and is very soothing. If she won't go without foundation to go out could she shift her routine so she "puts her face on" when going out but takes it off once home for the day?

Body shop vitamin e cream. Cheap and highly effective

I would avoid aqueous cream - it has perfume and can be very irritating to sore skin.

Ms pickle.. She's started doing that 'taking her face off when home 'now.. So that's a good thing! Going to try the vit e cream/capsules to start with and see how she gets on.. Defo going to get that rose water for both of us as it sounds sooo lovely!! Thank you everyone for all your wonderful ideas .. My DD will be so chuffed to get it sorted. :) :)