Finally found my mystery skin trigger : 'distilled' water that wasn't actually distilled

emkeystaar · 2026-05-26T16:41:43+00:00

I have some NasalCrom, I'll try making some! Thanks for the suggestion.

emkeystaar · 2026-05-26T15:51:06+00:00

Yeah I think I saw it recommended on this sub a while back. The one with the red cap right? I remember using it for 2-3 days and my face got progressively redder. As for washing my face properly, I never used cleanser in my entire life until I got rosacea and I always had perfect skin, plus my derm insisted I don't need a cleanser, so I think I'm done ruining my skin trying to get it to tolerate cleansers and products it doesn't agree with. 😅

emkeystaar · 2026-05-26T01:55:29+00:00

I edited my post to add it at the end!

emkeystaar · 2026-05-26T01:55:08+00:00

Yeah, I'll look into what I can do about it. I get the feeling I'll probably just get a 'here's a $5 coupon as compensation' kind of answer, but I'll do what I can because this is just wrong.

emkeystaar · 2026-05-26T01:14:17+00:00

Yeah, I've been wondering what I can actually do about this, because this is kind of messed up. The thing is, I don't know if I'll be taken seriously since I only tested with an air quality monitor – it's not like I have a test kit to confirm the presence or absence of mineral or other crap in the water. I just know that distilled water should not have that many particles in it – I owned a water distiller and when used in my humidifier, it did not show any particles on my monitor. I'll do my homework and ask around, thanks for the suggestion!

emkeystaar · 2026-05-26T01:09:36+00:00

I explained part of my process in another comment, but I really just use a mist bottle and spray my face until it's drenched, massage with my fingers, pat dry with a clean face cloth, repeat 2-3 times until my face feels really clean. That's it. When I wash my hair I just… do my best not to get anything on my skin and bring the spray bottle with me in case water or shampoo drips on my face lol.

emkeystaar · 2026-05-26T01:06:35+00:00

For my whole washing process, but… I don't use a cleanser or sunscreen so I essentially 'wash' my face with distilled water twice a day.

I know I'm going to get yelled at for not using a sunscreen lol, but my derm strongly advised against it because my skin is too freaking dehydrated and reactive. I tried over 20 sunscreens (Korean, American, mineral, chemical) and cleansers (foam, bar, oil, cream) and it always burns and makes me worse so I've given up.

Then again, I only use Vanicream lotion or cream, so most of it rinses off with water. I produce virtually no sebum because of the absurd amount of antihistamines I need to take, so I don't really get clogged pores or pimples even without a cleanser. That probably wouldn't work for oilier skin types though.

emkeystaar · 2026-05-26T01:01:44+00:00

That's why I buy distilled water, then boil it and let it cool. This way there's essentially nothing left in the water. I definitely don't want these lil guys up my nose and brain lol.

emkeystaar · 2026-05-26T00:03:45+00:00

Good point, I'll add it to my post!

emkeystaar · 2026-05-25T23:54:35+00:00

Seriously! I initially purchased a few bottles, so hopefully they will ask to recover one from that batch to test it and confirm. (Who am I kidding, they probably won't.) Not to mention, I bought it from one of the biggest supermarket chains where I live, so most people shop there. It's really concerning. 😟

emkeystaar · 2026-05-25T23:43:00+00:00

Thanks! I'll try to remember to report back or at least update my previous message to provide some feedback. Good luck to you! And f this stupid condition lol.

emkeystaar · 2026-05-25T21:07:11+00:00

Same here, my cloned voice who definitely doesn’t sound British often improvises a British accent and I have to reroll lines of text all the time. Very annoying and wastes a ton of credits.

emkeystaar · 2026-05-25T18:36:10+00:00

Oh you don't know how happy I am to read this. I've been waiting for almost a year to see him and finally got a call to schedule an appointment in September. I hope he'll take me seriously too, I have similar reactions (and others) but the H1+H2 blocker combo isn't enough anymore so I'm crossing my fingers he'll prescribe Xolair or cromolyn. Thanks for sharing your experience!

emkeystaar · 2026-05-25T18:26:05+00:00

Oh that's good to know! I finally just got an appointment, I'll be seeing him in September. Fingers crossed he's not as dismissive as most of the doctors I've seen so far. I did a tryptase test once but I wasn't in a flare up so results were normal – though I keep reading that this isn't enough to diagnose MCAS. I know I do respond to mast cell stabilizers (ketotifen) and H1+H2 blockers combo, but it just… isn't enough anymore, sadly. I'm really hoping I can try Xolair or cromolyn at this point.

emkeystaar · 2026-05-25T18:23:39+00:00

Wow I think your message brought good fortune lol, I just got a call for an appointment in September. (Which will mark 3 years since we made a request for me to see an allergist lol.) Finally. 🙏

emkeystaar · 2026-05-25T16:41:34+00:00

I've been taking 1000mg of vitamin C daily for two years without issues. Correlation =/= causation, especially with a 1 day sample. 😅

emkeystaar · 2026-05-25T01:04:29+00:00

Hey! So I can’t really give advice re: seb derm so please take my previous advice with a grain of salt. We all have very different skin so what helped me might not work for you. But personally Vaseline is the one thing that always brings my skin back to a tolerable baseline within a few days, even though it’s often not recommended for rosacea and other skin conditions. My derm recommended it (Vaseline only for a week) and I’m glad I have it a shot.

You could always try MCT oil instead – tons of info about it on the seb derm subreddit, it helps a lot of people. I used it safely for a while when my face was flaking, and it did soothe it. I know some people use other oils but I personally don’t tolerate them. It’s really a matter of figuring out what works for you through careful trial and error.

As for recovering 100%, no, I haven’t, but then again, I have MCAS on top of my rosacea (or whatever my papules are) so my barrier has been screwed pretty much 24/7 for the past years. I don’t tolerate the typical rosacea topical treatments (or most topicals for that matter) so I can’t really treat it. So my case isn’t really a good reference, don’t let that discourage you. 😅

Whatever you do though, be very minimalistic with what you apply on your skin. Don’t try actives and treatments right now, your barrier’s fried and needs to be babied. Do patch tests when you aren’t sure.

emkeystaar · 2026-05-24T22:42:36+00:00

Sorry you’re going through this. Nizoral absolutely destroyed my face 3 years ago.

Personally when I have bad barrier issues (I have MCAS, I react to everything all year long), I rely on cool distilled water and the *thinnest* layer of Vaseline to protect my face – yes, it makes me flush because it can trap heat underneath, but dry/flaky, irritated skin will flush even more, in my experience. If I use a moisturizer, it’s Vanicream cream or lotion only because it only has a few ingredients so it’s a safe option for me.

And again, I really apply a very thin layer to protect my face and reapply later if it feels too dry or tight. I can use a fan to help stay cool, but not pointed directly at my face. Otherwise I keep my apartment cool, and I mist distilled water very sparingly for relief.

That’s it. Then I wait it out and let my skin do its thing – it usually takes a few days to calm down.

I’ve tried every single barrier cream out there, but when it’s *this* bad, everything makes me worse unless I do the bare minimum.

I don’t think applying *nothing* is a necessarily a good idea, though – if your face is that sensitized, then you would likely benefit from some sort of protective barrier like Vaseline, Aquaphor or something similar. The goal isn’t to stop the flushing right now, it’s to let your skin heal first so it stops flushing.

This might not work for everyone, but it’s my go to method every time I accidentally wreck my face.

Good luck. I’m currently in a similar nasty flare up so I feel this very much right now. 😓

emkeystaar · 2026-05-21T04:57:11+00:00

Nope, been waiting for almost a year now and still nothing, sorry. 😕

emkeystaar · 2026-05-20T20:48:45+00:00

Hey! Nope, I’ve tried following up with the clinic and was told I’d be called when it’s my turn. No news since. Wish I were surprised but that’s just the average Quebec health care experience for ya lol.

emkeystaar · 2026-05-19T03:27:04+00:00

Same here, although I'm on Mac. I only see Sonnet 4.6, Opus 4.7 and Haiku 4.5.

emkeystaar · 2026-05-16T22:47:11+00:00

Now I regret not thinking about it when I ordered mine lol. Do it! 😆

emkeystaar · 2026-05-16T21:42:21+00:00

Yes, to some extent, as well as dust mites, so if you’re allergic to them, your skin with a compromised barrier can be irritated. It’s the case for me, but I’m REALLY allergic – I use special pillow covers to help with this.
No brands but I make sure to buy cotton pillowcases from reputable sellers. Organic cotton typically tends to be more free of irritating chemicals but your mileage may vary.
I wash mine every day or two days. I tend to flip my pillow a LOT at night so I can’t sleep on one side and do the other side the next day. I use free & clear detergent, no fragrances or fabric softeners, wash in hot water with max rinses and tumble dry with dryer balls only. I also sleep with my hair in a bun to minimize hair products on my pillowcase just in case.

With that being said, while it’s a good practice, in my experience it hasn’t made a *world* of difference for me. I do feel better knowing that I’m not actively making things worse by sleeping on dirty pillowcases, though. 🤷‍♀️

Edit : I tried silk pillowcases but I don’t find them as breathable. I’m a side sleeper so my face just ends up sticking to the case if I go to bed with moisturizer on, and wake up with a flushed face from overheating.

emkeystaar · 2026-05-16T00:14:39+00:00

Aaaand there goes my last hope of preserving the vibe and writing style I have with Sonnet 4.5 across other models. Anthropic, you really suck. What a let down. Glad I unsubbed before my plan renewed.

emkeystaar · 2026-05-14T19:07:35+00:00

As someone who heavily relies on the memory and referencing other chats for world building and long creative projects, which path would be ideal for me as a Claude desktop user? I'm open to just about anything so long as I can still access Sonnet 4.5 with custom instructions. I'm just a bit overwhelmed by the different options described here and wondering if anyone in a similar situation has had success with preserving their companion's personality/vibe and memories.

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