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UGH! I don't know what's going on. I have had skin sensitivty on my face on and off for the past couple of years... When I cut out dermatological meds and just went for simple natural products and when I went on a diet without gluten, dairy or soy everything cleared up (besides the acne).
Not eating any dairy or soy, have only had gluten (spelt) twice within the past two months, and my face is so dry and itchy! A part of it is the weather obviously, but then a part of it is OBVIOUSLY not the weather. We're talking red splotches of itch on my face and neck. The skin on my cheeks is totally inflamed. Well, I won't be eating spelt for a while, that's for sure... but I wonder if it's something else?
I've been using jojoba oil for my face for the past couple of weeks. I don't think it's been causing any problems. It helped a ton with the dry skin...
I feel like I"m in a catch 22 because I don't feel like I can put anything on my face to protect it from the winter weather, and I can't put anything on it to relieve the inflammation/itch... I wonder if I should keep using the jojoba or even stop that for a day or two or until my face gets happy again...
Has anyone had this issue? What did you do?
My face and ego thank you in advance!
Hannah
Oh, the dreaded skin detox.
Oh, the dreaded skin detox. You are in a detox mode. I personally would not attribute the skin symptoms to spelt. I think it is detox through the skin. I do a lot of detox through my skin.
I have heard that Jojoba actually can be too intense for some people, and when they switched to Bomasense lotion (has some jojoba, but has other things to make it more balanced) they did better. I personally can't use Bomasense on my face or body, because it is acne aggrivating. If you skin is very clear, you could use it. If you break out still, I personally would not use bomasense. But sadly, you might try eliminating the jojoba because it can be strong (even if it is moisterizing)
What about a plain yogurt mask? If you are detoxing, it should help with the itch and won't aggrevate acne....
If we don't excel at health, the only other option is disease.
Edited to add that I DO use
Edited to add that I DO use Bomasense shampoo and conditioner, body wash (for my hands) and salve (for minor cuts, skin irritations that are NOT on my face, and other Bomasense products). They are GREAT. I just can't apply the lotion to my face due to acne.
If we don't excel at health, the only other option is disease.
Mimi, may I ask what you use,
Mimi, may I ask what you use, if anything for your face? My skin is dry, but I also detox through my skin and have trouble with acne. I have been using Bomasense lotion currently, but would love to know if you have a better option. Thanks!
Hi there!
Hi there!
I just wanted to add that I've had dry skin with red patches (not sure if the red is rosacae), but have tried lotions and oils. Oils have not been moisturizing enough and lotions seem to have too many ingredients. I feel like I've finally found something that works! I use pure vegetable glycerine and mix a little dab/drop of it with around equal parts water in my hand and put that on my face. It's surprisingly very moisturizing and my skin feels more calm. It can be tacky feeling if there's too much glycerine in the ratio. But I like that this ingredient is used in like all of the moisturizers I've seen, and the kind I get is food grade... the Now brand. And inexpensive.
Good to know that the skin thing might be a detox too! My skin has been ruddy in color and I thought it gets worse with eating meat and acidic foods, which sounds like rosacae. So I dunno. But I'm holding out that it's detox and will go away :)
Debbie
Thanks Debbie! If you read
Thanks Debbie! If you read this again, did Dr. B approve vegetable glycerine? Sounds GREAT!
If we don't excel at health, the only other option is disease.
Hi Mimi,
Hi Mimi,
She didn't explicitly approve it though it's one of the first ingredients in her lotion so I thought it would be more ok than, say, one of the later ingredients. I hope that helps!
Debbie
Yes, thanks! Debbie, how are
Yes, thanks! Debbie, how are your symptoms? How long have you been in treatment? Do you mind me asking? Thanks!!
xo
If we don't excel at health, the only other option is disease.
Cprince,
Cprince,
Dr. B has approved some of my icky acne medications. I am not sure if they would be safe for you. Could you use a gentle exfolator, say, yogurt and backing soda?? Maybe try exfolation once every day and see if it is ok for your skin? Or maybe once every other day? There are lots of good natural things out there like honey, etc..., but none are safe for us really, during treatment. I just know that there are several things in the Bomasense lotion that are listed on several reputable websites as acne aggrevators. I just can't use bomasense on my face. Maybe when my skin is behaving normally, I could?? I have had acne for 30 years, so I just have to avoid a lot of things in skin formulas. There are also exfoliating wash cloths, but be cautious not to over scrub with them. Only 10 strokes in each area, and only 2 times per week, max?
If we don't excel at health, the only other option is disease.
Cprince,
Cprince,
I use an ice cube 2x per day, for one minute. Sliding it over my face and especially on bumpy areas. Ice is really good for inflammation in the skin. Probably not great in TCM terms, but it works wonders on my bumps!!
If we don't excel at health, the only other option is disease.
Thanks Mimi! Very helpful
Thanks Mimi! Very helpful info! Always been so sensitive to lotions and products for my face, always had tiny bumps on my face even as a child! I will have to try the yogurt and baking soda! Yeah, and I hate ice because my Raynaud's, but if it helps I am up for trying it! Does your acne get worse around ovulation, or all the time issue? I am still so new to this whole cycle stuff, I can't really tell if worse around this time or not! I do know I don't like it, but it is really bad on my cheeks and around my mouth, which makes sense with all my gut issues, but like you I'm sure, anxious to have clear skin!
Hmm, interesting.
Hmm, interesting.
Well, I know that my reaction was an allergy/intolerance. I'm pretty sure it was the gluten, although it is possible it was just because I was about to get my period. I am fairly positive it's an intolerance because I haven't experienced facial sensitivity like this since before the diet I did without gluten dairy and soy. I was allergic to soy, until I got it out of my diet I had red bumps under my eyes, rashes on my face, I mean, my face was unrecognizable it was so inflamed.
Anyway, I'm going to get to the point. The jojoba has been great for me actually. It's great for my acne as well. It reduces pimples, the lifespan of pimples, and the best of all is that it reduces the scarring and marks left by old pimples.
So, if you can tolerate the oil, I honestly have never had anything better. Before I started using jojoba I tried coconut and olive oils which were good too, but switched to jojoba when I started the protocol.
I follow the oil cleansing method, so I rub a good amount of jojoba on my face in circular motions for a few minutes. I focus on problem areas, if you have blackheads you'll actually feel them coming out of your skin or see them on your fingers after (gross haha). When I'm done massaging the oil into my face I use a clean washcloth, run it under super hot water (not scalding obviously) and press it on my face keeping it there until the heat diminishes to room temperature. I do it again, and then absord excess oil with the cloth.
Then I do it one last time wringing the washcloth out before putting it on my face and VERY gently wipe away excess oil and dirt that's been pulled out by the heat and oil.
I think this is great because it's low maintenance, no need for moisturizer and I just wash my face once a day at night this is enough. Actually, your face can still be a little dry after and in that case I just put a little oil on it and it moisturizers. I like it... so just another option. Plus, it's simple, one ingredient, either it irritates or it doesn't!
My skin is INFINITELY better today since I didn't do any more spelt!! Let's see if it keeps up...
I will have to try this as
I will have to try this as well! Thanks Hannah!
Hi Mimi,
Hi Mimi,
I'm mostly fine, though when I cheat I get symptoms. I've been in treatment about 3 years or more, and am SOOOOO much better than when I first started.
Good luck!
Debbie
Thanks Debbie!! I would send
Thanks Debbie!! I would send you a personal message but you don't have that option. When you say "cheat" does that mean that if you eat one sweet, or have one drink, you get bladder symptoms again? Or is it more cummulative? I ask this because I wish we had a sense of wether it is possible to enjoy an occasional glass of wine, or have a piece of chocolate once per week, or cake twice or year, etc... I know everyone is different, and Dr. B advises to limit sugar and alcohol after treatment. But I really don't know what that means. I would like to know what "limited" amount I could have and still be symptom-free. Sigh....I guess it is just very individual and I know it is best to stay away from these things. But I woul love to be able to enjoy a glass of wine with my husband 1 x per week! Or have a bite of dessert 2x per month (That was all of the dessert I ever had anyway!!). I plan to bake agave and fruit-sweetened things for my family, and I already have and they love them. But I am still not sure what "limit" means...
If we don't excel at health, the only other option is disease.
Hi Mimi!
Hi Mimi!
For me my cheating is more cumulative in its effect. Like I still have the belief that the gluten free muffins I get are ok, though I think they aren't really bc of the sugar. So, I'll cheat and have those and then after a while I feel symptoms. For me, I've still been finding a balance with what to eat, and still feeling satisfied. I do have chocolate though I get only very dark chocolate and try to limit this as well (but if I buy a small bar of chocolate I will eat the whole thing, so there are small squares that I buy occasionally). Though I think I am fairly healthy now, so I can eat things I shouldn't but not for a long time. I don't have alcohol though. But sometimes I'll have something that has vinegar in a sauce. I'm usually fine except for things that trigger me personally like dairy. I cut out nuts a few weeks ago and noticed that the breakouts along my jawline are going away, so nuts might not be for me too. Eggs are also an offender. :\ For me, I think a glass of wine a week might be too much. I haven't had wine in so long but I think it would affect me more than say a gluten free low sugar muffin. I don't have dessert so much as the dark chocolate works for me. Feel free to email me at my user name at hotmail.
Debbie