An item about skin problems, or cures you may know of.

Now stop scratching and stop picking. You'll leave a scar. Pass me the 
Solarcaine, please...

9 responses total.

So. Usually my skin does its job of keeping me from shriveling up like a 
raisin quite well. It doesn't like the sun on it, and a lot of things 
irritate it. And for no reason I can think of, it's decided to break out 
on me. Maybe it's something I ate, but my nose and chin area are quite 
broken out. Thank God for concealer. This is weird for me because I'm 
usually one of those who is complemented on her skin. I really don't 
break out too much, but when I do it's horrifying. 

Does anyone know of some products/solutions for this? Most acne products 
are too harsh for my skin. Some fragranced products are bad for me too.
Even cleansers that promise to be gentle can kill my skin (for instance, 
pHisoderm... for me it equals instant breakout). I don't plan on 
visiting a dermatologist because the one I know books up for weeks in 
advance, and by then (I hope) the breakout will have subsided. 

For the record, I have tried Proactiv, and it works. It really isn't a 
marketing gimmick! It was a little too harsh for me to use daily though, 
and caused some peeling. But if you have consistent breakouts and such, 
I'd reccommend it. 

If the breakouts are of the allergic type (contact or otherwise), try an
antihistamine like benadryl or one of the prescription ones like Claritin.
Try and figure out what it is that is causing the irritation (one variable
at a time).

If it might be some surface infection (bacterial, fungal, etc) a mild solution
of white vinegar (1:4 or 5) can be used to clean and 'disinfect' the skin.
It shouldn't be too harsh, even for sensitive skin, but try a small patch 1st
and give it some time just to be sure.

Other OTC products are available, but I can't vouch for any for certain.  If
there is some inflammation involved (warm, red, etc) you might try a cortisone
cream, but remember that cortisone can thin your skin and make it more
sensitive to UV rays.

If this doesn't clear up easily, or quickly, I recommend seeing a
dermatologist.  Kathy Lange (on E. Stadium Blvd, just west of the Lamp Post
Plaza) has practiced awhile, but this is a new office and she might be able
to get a new patient in more quickly than your other derm.

good luck.

Um... well, Michigan would be too far a commute from Memphis, Richard, 
but thanks :)

It's gotten better today. Now I will have lovely red splotches for 
weeks. I've never heard of vinegar solution on the face. A lot of people 
vouch for witch hazel, but that's also a no-no for my skin. 

Vinegar (aka: acetic acid), in a very mild solution will lower the pH to make
an environment unfavorable for most fungi and bacteria...especially anaerobic
bacteria and some of the more common anerobes.  It's good for soaking lesions
to draw out exudates and inhibit reinfections.  No reason it should be bad
on facial skin (unless you use glacial acetic acid - ie; _concentrated_.  Then
you might have to deal with serious scars, heh).  Be sure to use _distilled,
white vinegar, and dilute it at least 1:5.  The red vinegar is fermented and
carries yeasts and possibly some molds.

So in other words, the stuff you can get at the grocery store. But no, 
say, hydrochloric. :) 

I also break out along my jawline, from holding the phone to it. Yech. I 
wiped my received at work down with alcohol today.

The main difference between hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid,
etc, and acetic acid is that the latter is an _organic_ acid.  In a diluted
state can be much milder on organic tissues (nitric acid, btw, is sometimes
used to treat plantars warts, and of course, sulfuric acid is in your cars
battery).

It isn't because it is an organic acid. It is because it is a weak
organic acid. This means that it does not ionize completely in solution
as do the other acids Rick names. As the concentration is increased,
the "acidity", as measured by pH, increases only as approximately the
square root of the concentration. There are also strong organic acids,
which ionize completely (and also weak inorganic acids). 

Thanks for the chem review Rane...it's been a lloooonnnnggg time since basic
chemistry and biochemistry for me.  My "chemistry vocabulary" has become quite
stale.

Well. I did break down and go to a dermatologist, because after one 
breakout subsided I'd instantly have another. Was given Doxycyclene (a 
derivative of tetracycline, but I'm not sure how it is different), some 
lotion called Klaron, and Differin gel. It's all really helped! It's 
great that the Differin does not dry my skin or make it peel, like 
Retin-A did. Even the mildest dosage ate my skin alive. Amazing what 
they've come out with in the past ten years. 

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