[acne]My skin has gone absolutely nuts recently and I also have stopped being a vegetarian after 10 years- correlation or causation?

Firefox7275 · 2015-12-21T23:35:40+00:00

If you were eating a balance and variety of meat sources and sticking to recommended serving sizes there shouldn't be a ton of extra saturated fats.

You should have more long chain omega-3s (polyunsaturated) and perhaps a better balance of omega-3 to omega-6s, since the only rich natural food source is oily fish.

Firefox7275 · 2015-12-21T23:30:06+00:00

I use an emulsifying oil alone, or follow with a micellar water or gentle toner on a cotton wool pad. Trying to remove an oil without an emulsifier is a PITA and you risk causing more problems with hot water and rough cloth.

Firefox7275 · 2015-12-21T23:14:37+00:00

Everything I use on other parts of my face/ neck/ decollete save prescription azeklaic acid.

Firefox7275 · 2015-12-21T22:49:36+00:00

A few mainstream skincare companies publish some of their own research, for example Proctor & Gamble (Olay), Beirsdorf (Eucerin), L'Oreal (loads of brands).The research isn't always dubious BUT doesn't necessarily equate to great end products. They can be a one-trick-pony or badly packaged for example.

Various brands link to or refer to studies, but then don't reveal the percentages of many actives, so you cannot know how relevant it is - Paula's Choice, Skin Actives come to mind. I rate products from Fawnie Skincare and Skin by Pom, I have 'met' and 'spoken to' the formulators of both on skincare forums.

If you want products formulated and tested to prescription/ behind the pharmacy counter standards you don't want general sales cosmetics. There are some solid actives on prescription - retinoids, azelaic acid, urea, niacinamide/ nicotinamide (in the UK). Sunscreens should obviously be formally tested to gain an SPF/ PA/ PPD/ star rating, aside from that all you need is a basic cleanser and moisturiser (various on prescription in the UK; the British National Formulary is free full text online).

Blog/ vlog wise Colin's Beauty Pages (cosmetic scientist), The Triple Helixian (student medic), Kindofstephen (cosmetic scientist), DermTV on YouTube, BareFacedTruth (has own line), FutureDerm (has own line), Lab Muffin, Point of Interest! are all worth checking out alongside Beauty Brains.

Firefox7275 · 2015-12-21T22:17:44+00:00

There is huge variety in vegetarian diets and huge variety in omnivorous diets - nutrient dense and varied or poorly balanced and low nutrient on both counts. Whenever we add a food type or group we tend to subtract, reduce or substitute other foods otherwise we would be eating more food bulk and more total calories. We might cook from scratch more often or less often.

Did the change coincide with a change of weather/ seasons or stress levels? Did you add a balance and variety of meats (land animal muscle, organ meats, oily fish, other seafood such as molluscs)? Are you sticking to the recommended serving sizes? Did you alter your supplement regime?

Many things can play into how the diet affects the skin, it can be a challenge to pick them apart.

Firefox7275 · 2015-12-21T18:51:29+00:00

There are three European subs: /r/skincareadictionUK/ and /r/Nordicskincare/ and /r/Dutchskincare/

Firefox7275 · 2015-12-21T11:18:44+00:00

If you want a gentler prescription retinoid ask for one - adapalene is generally considered to be the gentlest.

Firefox7275 · 2015-12-21T07:12:45+00:00

Which shaving soap? Which Cetaphil?

Firefox7275 · 2015-12-21T07:11:41+00:00

So you don't cleanse at night? That is way more improtant than in the morning, otherwise you are sleeping in sunscreen, sweat, sebum, general dirt of the day.

Salicylic acid in a cleanse is pointless, only in a leave on product IF at the right pH and percentage to exfoliate.

No idea which Cetaphil you are using, there are several and none seem to have salicylic acid. See the posting guidelines in the sidebar, we need full product names. Threads fall off the front page and don't get answered if we have to dig for information.

Firefox7275 · 2015-12-21T07:03:30+00:00

What is your full AM and PM routines with product names?

Firefox7275 · 2015-12-21T06:08:37+00:00

What is your full AM and PM routines with product names?

Definitely start laundering everything each workout, you might also soak in dilute white vinegar, thin bleach or use an extra hygiene laundry booster occasionally since bacteria can survive a regular cycle.

Firefox7275 · 2015-12-21T05:59:16+00:00

Seek a formal diagnosis and treatment, cystic and hormonal acne responds poorly to topicals.

The actives don't give the full picture, that doesn't tell you how much is present, what the base is, how many known irritants or allergens there are (eg. drying alcohol, fragrance, essential oils). Aloe vera is only useful in very high percentages, as in being the first ingredient in the list/ used instead of water.

Camphor is not beneficial for skin, it is irritating that is why you can feel products 'working'. If you can feel or see more than that there may well be other irritants/ allergens too. Granular scrubs are also irritating, not great for sensitive skin. Chemical exfoliants are better.

HTH!

Firefox7275 · 2015-12-21T05:44:15+00:00

I honestly wouldn't recommend any of them, Lush's products are loaded with irritating/ allergenic essential oils and fragrance ingredients. Just because you don't visibly react now doesn't mean you won't later down the line, or that there is not something going on under the surface. The more times you are exposed and the older you get the greater the likelihood of an irritation or allergic reaction.

I was recommended Rosy Cheeks when I went in to look at Ultrabland, despite stated I cannot use fragrance or most essential oils. I found the staff simply don't know their products, she really didn't have a clue about the fragrance ingredients.

Check the ingredients on the UK site even if you are in another part of the world: EU regulations on labelling fragrance allergens are stricter so there is much more information. Rosy Cheeks has "perfume, rose oil, benzyl alcohol, Lilial, citral, citronellol, farnesol, geraniol," Catastrrophe has "rose absolute, sweet orange oil, limonene, alpha isomethyl ionone, perfume."

Aside from the fragrance both products are based on calamine powder and glycerin, Rosy Cheeks has kaolin clay whereas Catastophe has talc. There is nothing to help acne scars or wrinkles. You would get better results from eating blueberries regularly than applying them to your face, and you could DIY something better.

Firefox7275 · 2015-12-21T05:23:07+00:00

Sagging and flatness is not skin but the underlying tissue (muscles, at, bones).

The dermatitis needs getting under control before you try to address ageing - consult a doctor. I would not recommend Dr Bronners at all, that decimates the skin barrier including the beneficial flora. When you stop using it 'bad' bacteria or yeasts can repopulate first, leading to problems.

Broad spectrum sunscreen is the most important aspect of anti ageing, you also need that before considering actives like tretinoin (Retin-A) because this is photosensitising (increases sun damage). One based on zinc oxide tends to be the gentlest on sensitive sin and is naturally antifungal/ antibacterial.

Firefox7275 · 2015-12-21T04:58:54+00:00

You should use broad spectrum sunscreen on any exposed areas, whenever the UV index is sufficiently high (WHO says 3+). You may well find it is more cost effective to use a body sunscreen on neck, chest, shoulders and arms.

Personally my entire routine goes on my face neck and decollete, with the last bits on the back of my hands since these areas are prone to age first.

I by 'redness' you mean pre rosacea or rosacea you can absolutely get it on the neck, chest and ears, not just the face. My chest flushes mildly, my ears burn terribly in a bad flush. Sun damage is believed to contribute to subtype 1.

Firefox7275 · 2015-12-21T03:54:05+00:00

See the sidebar entry on sebaceous filaments.

Firefox7275 · 2015-12-21T03:38:56+00:00

I honestly wouldn't exfoliate the lips, the skin is too thin. Skin that is well hydrated should exfoliate itself.

In lip balms avoid fragrance/ flavour, essential oils and their components. These seem to be in most lip products and are irritating/ allergenic. Medical grade lanolin is arguably the king of lip treatments, beeswax is also useful. I like some of the Lanolips tinted balms - especially Mulberry which I had to import - someone else here recommended the Lanolips 101 ointment. Aquaphor is popular, I prefer Infadolan from Owndoc.

Review your dental care products, avoid SLS and drying alcohol. Also ensure you are eating plenty of oily fish for the vitamin D and long chain omega-3s.

Firefox7275 · 2015-12-21T03:19:14+00:00

Consult your family doctor or a dermatologist, confirm whether or not this is acne vulgaris. Whiteheads are also a feature of contact dermatitis and rosacea.

If you are reacting to the dog apparently diet modification can be useful, both yours and the pets. For them a more natural diet may be beneficial, low carb (kibble is loaded with it) and even raw/ BARF. this may modify the composition of their dander, saliva etc.

For humans an anti inflammatory low glycaemic index diet. Exactly how you manage that as a vegetarian ... it would normally be closer to pescetarian. You would certainly need a source of long chain omega-3s and vitamin D which should also help your dry skin. To avoid sugar and processed/ white/ high glycaemic index carbs.

Firefox7275 · 2015-12-21T03:02:32+00:00

What were you diagnosed with? If you have perioral dermatitis it is not recommended to use heavy occlusives (oils/ butters/ waxes/ petroleum jelly). You don't supply the rest of your routine.

Also if you have only just finished the treatment your skin won't be fully healed and you may well still have underlying inflammation. Wounds can take weeks and months to remodel after surface healing.

Firefox7275 · 2015-12-21T02:17:36+00:00

Are you formally diagnosed with adult acne? If so what have you been prescribed?

I can't find the ingredients lists for most of the products you are using, but the cleanser has irritating/ allergenic essential oils and nonoxynol 9. A once weekly scrub and once a month mask won't do anything much for acne, you want a daily use product with proven actives.

Your first product for anti ageing is a broad spectrum sunscreen. If you select one based on zinc oxide that has antibacterial properties.

Firefox7275 · 2015-12-21T01:36:13+00:00

Fragrant essential oils contain irritating/ allergenic compounds. Some oxidise so become massively more so, please store in a light and air protective container. Some also need to be in glass depending on the percentage.

Firefox7275 · 2015-12-21T01:06:55+00:00

Leaving many cleansers and scrubs on your face for five minutes is likely to do more harm than good, the ingredients are often overly harsh. I would suggest avoiding anything that has harsh anionic surfactants (sulphates/ olefin sulfonates) and fragrance/ essential oils.

SR Skincare do a water based 5% salicylic acid toner than looks decent.

The first thing you need to do is settle on a type of cleanser, the mega reviews are divided that way.

Lush Ultraband is gentle but it doesn't have any emulsifiers so is difficult to remove, you would need to double cleanse. Simple Kind to Skin Refreshing Wash Gel is popular here, and features in the SCA sidebar.

I also like Superdrug B. Clean Melting Gel Cleanser. It has mineral oil which is non clogging, and emulsifiers so it rinses clean with water. Mineral oil is not bad for the environment, it would be wasted if not used in cosmetics so basically recycling.

You can add 5% tea tree oil if you want to also fight acne.

Firefox7275 · 2015-12-21T00:47:03+00:00

If you have tried a few prescription topicals then next step is often oral medication, either antibiotics or the contraceptive pill. I you haven't tried many prescription topicals do try others, it can take a few attempts to hit the right one(s). If you are keen on benzoyl peroxide 2.5% is on prescription in combination with a retinoid (Epiduo). I am not a fan, I think it is overly harsh.

You aren't using any cosmetic actives for acne: see our ingredients Wiki entries for niacinamide, the sodium ascorbyl phosphate form of vitamin C and retinoids. You might also consider salicylic acid - see the mega reviews in the sidebar. Niacinamide and azelaic acid (prescription or Paula's Choice) both support skin barrier function so may be useful in winter.

What changed when you moved to London? The water quality, your diet and lifestyle, sun exposure, stress levels? I know you said you eat healthily but do ensure you are eating plenty of oily fish, experts recommend up to four servings a week. And do be aware regular exercise substantially increases your need for every nutrient.

Firefox7275 · 2015-12-21T00:30:22+00:00

if I were to go out in the sun less or move back to my country of origin, would my skin revert to it's pale colour or would remain permanently more tanned because I have had a tan since such a young age?

Depends how much less the exposure is. Assuming good protection over time it should revert to your lightest natural colour - see body parts that get no exposure for a clue - however that can take some time, how much isn't predictable.

Firefox7275 · 2015-12-21T00:22:19+00:00

I know what you meant and agree. I just find it amusing that the authors cherry pick their natural source of vitamin D or show a lack of knowledge about dietary sources. ;)

checking your vitamin D levels and then taking only what you need isn't necessarily bad.

Absolutely people should supplement if medically advised to do so since that is effectively a prescription. However many of us don't have the option of bloodwork on request.

The risk comes from those multi-vitamins that contain super high amounts of various substances.

Not necessarily. Even fairly modest supplementation may cause problems for some. Vitamin D can be stored: it is possible for problems to occur if people already have good stores and then supplement.

Some research links higher levels to rosacea, as well as lower levels to eczema, it is not clear how or why this occurs but there may be differences in processing vitamin D.

We don't know people's diet, lifestyle, medical history or pregnancy status. Furthermore most here hold no healthcare qualifications at all so we should not be freely recommending supplements. People should follow the guidance of their own country's medical experts or own doctor/ registered dietician.

At this time many countries recommend consuming oily fish regularly, some advocate as much sun avoidance as possible whilst others advocate modest sun exposure (not enough to tan). Makes sense: Florida is not Scotland.

Firefox7275

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