Help desperately needed

[Stephanie Walton]

Hi,

I am in some desperate need of help and advice. I am not a professional but often research beauty on this site. I am at my wits end.

I have always had great skin and loved professional results based treatments and skincare ( Environ etc). However, 18 months ago my skin went crazy. It reacts to everything and burns, is itchy, dehydrated, congested and full of bumps. I found out 6 weeks ago it was all caused by gluten and I am now gluten free and on the plus side lost a stone lol. The itching and bumps have gone but I am left with hyper sensitive skin. I just want a basic skincare range to use until it heals. I don't want to use any products with crap in as in parabens etc as they make it worse. I have been using some truly natural skincare which is great but using essential oils daily is causing some problems. I make my own raw honey masks and steam with some essential oils and my skin loves that. However, I can't find a cleanser, toner and moisturiser brand that is 100% natural without essential oils. I have found one cleanser which is natural without essential oils

http://www.handmadenaturals.co.uk/shop/shop.php?action=full&id=131

And this is great, no problems at all. I have also just found an Eve Taylor moisturiser without essential oils.

Is this my best approach until I heal or do any of you wonderful experts know of a range I could try. I have spent so much money even changing all my make up to bareminerals, but just need to sort this as changing products is not helping but I need to wash and moisturise my face.

I do use a babor impurities moisturiser but it's not moisturising enough, but doesn't cause reactions, in fact eases them but not helping with dry skin.

Any help would be welcome

 

[Stephanie Walton]

Hi,

After looking through posts I think I need to repair my acid mantle barrier. Any suggestions on a range for this?

I have seen mention on posts of products with GLA to do this.

Any help please??????

 

[Gemarmalade]

You could get a cleanser, toner and moisturiser from Tropic! It's all natural ingredients and worked wonders on my skin

 

[beautymaven]

Did a dermatologist confirm it was caused by gluten? If so, I would probably go with their recommendations as they have pinpointed the cause they should have some ideas on the most effective products to use.

 

[Stephanie Walton]

Hi,

I have had stomach issues for years. I am talking been in hospital for 7 weeks years ago. Had various health problems and the catalyst for my celiac disease diagnosis was the rash (dermatitis herpiformis). This has been diagnosed through the Drs and hospital. My skin is no longer having an allergic reaction every day as I am no longer eating gluten. Basically my antibodies had been attacking my skin when I ingested gluten. I am not one of those new age people shouting gluten intolerance and sensitive skin lol. Now the allergen has been removed my skin is healing as in no more reactions. However, because it has suffered for 18 months, I am left with highly sensitive reactive skin that needs time to heal. I have not been referred to a dermatologist as the diagnosis has now been confirmed by blood tests and a camera down my throat. I just assumed as the itching and bumps stopped it would immediately go back to 'normal'. However, it has been left not knowing what to do with itself. The Dr just said use simple lol. I just wanted some advice on a range that was pure and basic to help the healing. I am wary of a lot of ranges for reactive skin as the ingredients are shocking and known irritants. Thanks.

 

[Beansy]

I saw a Dermatologist about a month ago (for something quite different) but they recommended Agera (it's synthetic but doesn't have any perfumes in). The other product they recommend is Heliocare.

Good luck finding something x

Edit. They don't sell the products so assume it's unbiased!

 

[Stephanie Walton]

Hi geeks,

Sorry to keep going on but I am soooooo desperate. I am happy to use a range and go for regular treatments to sort my skin out but don't even know what beauty therapist to visit as want an unbiased opinion not just products they use and sell. Has any of you guys had a client with nightmare skin and your recommendation has solved it over time? There is so much advice and contradictory options I am finding it difficult. Do I just buy cetaphil type skincare and see what happens.

I have used in the past Liz Earle, Bareminerals, No7, Epionce, Babor, Crystal Clear, just basic carrier oils, Time Bomb, Avenee, Vichy, Paula's Choice, Aquaeous, Dr Organics, Clarins, Elmis, Guinot etc. I have not been chopping and changing that is over a few years. The only skincare that helped a little was Babor. I know everyone's skin is different but I am just wanting some advice. I may just go to back to a local therapist that uses Babor, it is just so expensive with facials at £60-75 and a cleanser, toner and moisturiser would cost about £150. I would like a facial every month also to get more intensive help.

Someone recommended Heaven Skincare by Deborah Mitchell. I got some testers and did love it but the oxygen cream I liked was £100 (about) for 30ml

 

[Stephanie Walton]

Some pics of my poor battered skin :-(

 

[squidgernetball]

I would retail you 2 products. Yes, I am biased. I use and retail environ. When I was a tiny one room salon, the outlay for environ was huge, so I did my homework and research. Nothing had ever changed my mind.
So 2 products. A lovely gentle cleanser (£30) and a moisturiser - day and night cream in one (£38). I wouldn't tone your skin. The moisturiser contains vitamin A that will help repair your skin. Products like Simple won't repair your skin. They just (hopefully) won't aggravate it. I'm afraid if you had asked about bare minerals, I would have advised against them as they contain a product called bismuth. A mineral but not one that's good for your skin. It can cause tingling and itchiness and is something else for an already challenged skin to deal with.

I'd also recommend some supplements, but ours are skin specific, so skin omegas, etc but we also do a supplement called colostrum c which helps with a depleted immunity. We have great results - have a look at our Facebook page - and offer skin events so you see a picture of your skin now and again after using the products.

Believe me, I don't part with my money easily, so some therapists may just sell you what they sell, which they bought at the wholesalers as they don't do many facials, but some salons are skin specialists because their investment and passion is in skin.

Vic x

 

[Stephanie Walton]

Hi Vic,

Thank you so much for your wonderful advice, it is so very much appreciated. It is such a shame your good self and wonderful salon were not nearer. I will try and find a local Environ salon near me and ask for a consultation. I moved a few years ago and am now miles away from the salon I used to use that did Environ amongst other products. I will also look up about the vitamin you mentioned. I have just ordered a new multi vitamin as my last ones had gluten in. I have gone for a whole food vitamin by New Chapter. I was also going to start taking some liquid omega 3 supplements. I am only too aware that my skin is reflecting some internal problems so a two pronged approach sounds good.

 

[squidgernetball]

Hi @Stephanie Walton I've just pm'd you. I would also say that if you can buy your supplements from an environ salon, they can usually prescribe a much higher dose than you can buy in the shops so results are much quicker.

Vic x

 

[swilks12]

Have you thought about treating from the inside out with supplements from advanced nutrition programme?

 

[KHS]

For a natural toner and cleanser I now use "Raw apple cider vinegar with "Mother" .. OK you can't go out in public as it wiffs a bit. I diluted 1 table spoon of water to the cider vinegar, my skin is fab now after a really lumpy bad spell like you've mentioned....it has to be the 100% organic with "mother" apparently the Mother is the sediment with all the goodness in it.

It's also great for the inside of the body too diluted 2-1 with water to drink...

 

[Stephanie Walton]

For a natural toner and cleanser I now use "Raw apple cider vinegar with "Mother" .. OK you can't go out in public as it wiffs a bit. I diluted 1 table spoon of water to the cider vinegar, my skin is fab now after a really lumpy bad spell like you've mentioned....it has to be the 100% organic with "mother" apparently the Mother is the sediment with all the goodness in it.

It's also great for the inside of the body too diluted 2-1 with water to drink...

Hi,

Thanks for that. I do actually use organic apple cider vinegar with the mother in and yes you do whiff a bit lol. However, when my skin reacts which can be for any reason at the moment as its gone a little mental, it is so raw and sore I can't touch it with anything like this. However, I agree it is a fab natural alternative. Thanks again.