Unexplained Redness

[AJP]

Dear all,
I have redness around the nostrils and top lip area, this seems to be spreading to the bottom of my mouth area. I have had blood tests and a patch test for allergies, the doctor says she can not help me and that it is 'just a phase I am going through'. I am a male aged 28 in good health otherwise. Does anybody know of any products which will reduce the redness or better still the cause of it. Has anyone had any similar experiences? I would love to hear from you all!
Thanks,
Andrew

[Angie]

Hello AJP, and welcome to the Board

Can I ask you what type of products you are currently using? For example, if your facial wash/soap is too harsh, this could be causing dryness, leading to red patches?

Perhaps your skin is not as oily as it used to be? As skin aged 25+ is classed as mature, and the production of sebum becomes reduced as we age.

But, I do think, the culprit is likely to be a facial wash you are currently using?

Hope to hear from you soon,

[AJP]

Angie,
Thank you for your reply. Yes, my cleanser and exfoliator do irritate the area, however i use these only once a week, sometimes less, and the redness is there but to a lesser extent. I now have an appt. with a private dermatologist but am afraid they may only give me some 'green coloured' cream to cover it up. It would be great if they could address the source of the problem. I could change my cleanser and exfoliator, also I would like to use a toner but these tend to be ultra-irritant to my skin. Can you recommend any natural organic toners?
Thanks,
Andrew

[Angie]

Hi AJP,

Exfoliating the skin, when the skin is at a heightened irritable state is not a great thing to do.

You need a mild cleanser, no exfoliator for this moment in time. Forget the toner for the moment. A basic and very gentle cleansing routine is required for the moment - until the skin calms down.

Try the Pure Nuff Stuff’s Eczema Facial Wash, this should help with calming the area down.

If you feel the need to exfoliate, only exfoliate once every two weeks… but only when the skin is calm.

When you exfoliate, you damage the surface area of the skin, the natural pH level (acid mantle) that keeps all bacterial microbes from invasion… break this area, and the skin suffers, first of all with mild irritation and then with further rashes if this is not addressed.

You need to build up your acid mantle, your skin’s defence barrier, until then, the skin may appear red.

Also look at your diet, your skin’s acid mantle is created from essential fatty acids present in skin oil and sweat – both of these combined create the skin’s natural skin defence barrier. Essential fatty acids are abundant in healthy skin and are seriously lacking in sensitive/irritable prone skins.

Hopefully by using the above facial wash, this should help the area calm down in a matter of days, at the most, weeks.

Do you wear a moisturiser? If you don't and don't feel the need for one, then hopefully the gentle skin cleanser will suffice. However, I do notice with the colder snap in the air, my skin requires a little more moisturisation than normal. Perhaps consider this option if the redness does not disappear altogether? Say perhaps, after a week or so?

[AJP]

Angie,
Thank you for your reply. Having trawled the internet and been to the doctors I now belive I have something called Teleangiectasia which is a Rosacea like disease. It is purely of cosmetic concern but is deepy worrying. I think the dermatologist will advise laser therapy so I will post back when I know what the diagnosis is and what they will do about it.
Thanks for your concern,
Andrew

[Angie]

I understand that you are worried.

Rosacea can be manageable.

I would suggest, before you try anything too invasive, to try a very basic skincare routine. Plus, really making sure you are absorbing enough essential fatty acids through you diet too. The lack of these precious fats, results in sensitive disorders, such as Eczema, Rosacea, etc.

Good luck AJP.

[Jewel]

Glad i run on this post. My sister-in-law had the same problem. I'll send a link of this thread on her. This might be a big help as well. Thanks also for all the comments. It helps a lot.