6 replies to this topic

[confused girl]

Basically i think i have a condition called 'reactive seborrhoea' but i cannot find much information about how to CURE it. All i find is that 'over washing can lead to an increase in sebum so as to compensate for the previous loss..blah blah' I ALREADY KNOW THIS, I already know i did this to my skin. However i can't seem to "reverse" this process. I don't even use harsh cleansers anymore. All i use is water and cotton wool balls to cleanse my skin, and moisturise with aloe vera gel afterwards. My skin is still as sensitive and red/oily as it ever was. It's not calming down at all, even though like i have stated; i haven't been using any harsh cleansers for months and months.

I'm so frustrated and i'm sick of not being able to find the right information & dermatologists will cost too much money that i simply haven't got.

[aLeX XeLa]

I know how you feel - however that 'reactive seborrhoea' condition, is apparently just a myth and over washing doesnt lead to increase sebum production, but i beleive if anything, just irritates the skin.
As im from UK we dont have to pay for derm, but get refered to by are GPs (well thats what happened to me), and I can only advise you to think serious about how bad your skin affects you, and if you havent tried the antibiotic route and all the other topicals etc, maybe accutane is right for you at this moment. If this seems a too scary route, have you heard about spirro, i dont have much knowledge about this, but from what ive heard its meant to be good for stopping excess sebum.
I hope I could help, and wish you good luck in future.

[confused girl]

Thanks for the reply

So, if 'reactive seborrhoea' is a myth? How comes my skin only grew problematic AFTER i started washing my face exsessively? Before i did this my skin tone was not red at all, nor was it sensitive, oily, scaly, and bumpy. I only washed it because i had the odd regular breakout.....little did i know i were to recieve a much harsher problem !

What is spirro?a tablet? I am wary of tablets. I've taken a lot in the past for various illnesses and my body doesn't seem to react to any, anymore. Also i googled 'spirro' and i saw things relating to hair loss and stuff, and my hair is already thinning so i don't want to speed this process up >.<

Oh i am from the UK also, i didn't know dermatologists were free? I thought they were private. My doctor seems to think i don't need to be reffered to one, even though i keep going back there and stressing that my skin is causing me problems. It is SO sensitive beyond belief and it feels like i'm having breakouts all of the time. If a hair gets into my face, it's all tingly. I really can't stand this anymore.

I've heard accutane is meant to be really powerful? I'm not sure if my doctor will prescribe me this. I was prescribed many creams and lotions and things in the past, and all they seemed to do was make my face even more sensitive and red and oily.

[aLeX XeLa]

All about spirro here - http://acne.about.com/od/acnetreatments/a/spironolactone.htm - if anything, i beleive hair loss will not occur due to it being an anti androgen. It is also up to you to bite the bullet to take a tablet or not - once again depends how much it affects you.

I cannot tell you why your skin became problematic for you, maybe your hormones are all over the place at the moment, i know over washing can irritate the skin causing the redness, but apparently doesnt cause you to be oily. Maybe you should buy the blotting sheets everythime you get oily, intead of washing it off. (Best way is to buy on ebay in bulk for cheap price).
Also many lotions the doc give, can be alchohol based which could lead also to the irritation, plus loads of the otc stuff too - sadly, it seems you have to learn through experience.

If nothing else has worked, maybe your doc will ask you about accutane, or you could bring it up and ask to be refered to a derm about it. Yes, accutane is a powerful drug, but you can start at a low dose. I belive its a good idea, if you are thinking about it to read some peoples blogs and look at the picture section on peoples journy while on it to see a better view on what its like.

Like you, i have been through everything the doc could give me, plus loads of otc products too, and i have decided to go on accutane, and am starting on a low 10mg dose - ive just started a blog so you are free to look on that when you want.

I hope i have answered as much as possible.

Edited by aLeXeLa, 23 September 2009 - 07:39 PM.

[confused girl]

Right, thankyou very mcuh for all of that info! Very helpful
I will probably book an appointment with my doc asap.

For now, what do you suggest i do in terms of cleansing and moisturising? I have tried the blotting sheets in the past but they seem to make my face more oily as it's like my skin is saying 'STOP DOING THAT, I'M GOING TO PRODUCE MORE OIL NOW' lol. And the more i kept blotting; the more my skin looked really caked on with foundation or something.

[aLeX XeLa]

Right, this is the cleanser i use http://www.gordons-chemists.com/products/47026. I know it says nivea for men, but im sure it doesnt really matter lol - i have found this is very very gentle and doesnt irritate the skin.

This is quite good for oil control http://www.pharmacy2u.co.uk/productdetail.aspx?code=FMOCE45 - i do advise to keep the blotting sheets though, and then reapply this stuff on after you have blotted again. Basically this OC8 stuff will kinda help with the oil, not anything thats going to stop you from being oily the whole day, but will definately help it more.

For the moisturizer, maybe this http://www.paulaschoice.com/product/skin-b...l/moisturizers/ - its got good reviews on the site and others have recommended it on here as well.

Hope this has helped.
Maybe i should be your doc instead

Edited by aLeXeLa, 24 September 2009 - 01:40 PM.

[confused girl]

Okay, I shall have to check all of those out

Thanks once again!