h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Now this is where I can help, after Shell and BP fought for the exploration rights to my nose

So far the only thing that comes close to keeping it in check is Body Shop body Body Scrub with Tea Treee oil and hard bits, in fact I was so please when my nose and forehead started showing the symptoms described in the dry skin column ! I now only use every other day as it isn't meant as a face treatment.

It is a major pain, still getting zits into my mid 30s.

Not sure how much of a help this is, but it will allow me to keep track of any other advice posted here.

CH

Look at it this way - you'll still have skin looking young and unwrinkled when us flaky crew all look like dried prunes!

Thanks for the help - this is one area I'm really going to need some assistance with. I'm probably going to have to put a call for help out in ask h2g2 eventually.

Unless you fancy writing the page...?

Oh no, you don't catch me like that, especially at a vulnerable point (slightly pished after two glasses of wine but minus one unit of blood)

What I would also like is tips on how to de-sensitized your nose where new glassses rub, I'm sure these new ones will feel fine after a while, but boy do they hurt now, but at least they are lubricated.

Back to the skin thing. Like dry skin you have to be careful, although this is pure speculation, I believe that over washing causes over oil production and a feedback loop thingy.

Take sweating, When I started work and had to where prper shirts for the first time since skool I noticed I had damp pits, I used an anti persirant, which worked for a while, then stopped, I used a stronger one, same effect, I used the powerful "problem sweating" ones and still dripping.

I stopped, I use a deodorant with no anti sweat stuff and apart from real hot days or when I peel the leathers off, very little moisture.

Same with hair. Very greasy hair, but I have been told that if you leave it unwashed for several months it cleans itself. Yet to try this, should of done when I was a student and all my peers were to stoned to notice/comment

TTFN

CH

Two other snippets of info.

Last year I had red, itchy, flaky patches of skin on my hips, was given cortisone and never really cleared up till I sussed the cause. 30 lbs of lead rubbing through a wet suit when I was walking to the dive boat.

Also I see you mention UV as treatment, I remember seeing a show where they showed a psoriasis (I think) sufferer being treated at the Dead Sea where the levels of UV-A and B were exactly reight, being below sea level. There was a Doctor there giving him exact esposure times over a period of several weeks. I wonder if the NHS would pay?

Cracking Gran Prix today, even had me watching it all for the first time in many.

TTFN

CH

Thanks, you've made me remember another 3 things or so I wanted to put in the psoriasis entry... new & improved version (but still nowhere near finished) just been put up.

You're quite right about the dead sea - I know someone who went there once. Cleared her skin in 2 days. Unfortunately it all came back about a week after returning to the UK... I *think* it's the UV levels and the minerals but I'm running off to check now. I think there's somewhere in the US that works too. Investigation mode on again!

I'm not a dermatologist, but having worked in the cosmetics industry for most of the prestige lines over the last decade, maybe I can help a little. Many people with oily skin also suffer acne, blackheads and large pores. Using a clay mask on a regular basis helps to draw the dirt from the pores. Be prepared for a period of more than usual breakouts for a few weeks, as the gunk is rising to the surface.

Exfoliating prevents clogging and removes dead surface cells that absorb excess oil and make you look even greasier. There are physical exfoliaters with grains in them (avoid the really rough ones, and don't try to sand your face off when you use them). There are also chemical exfoliaters--hydroxy, fruit acid, glycolic products which loosen the dead skin cells. Stronger is not always better. Use one that doesn't irritate the skin which can be applied daily.

There are various products on the market that will help to "normalize" the skin and make it produce less oil while maintaining hydration. Some of these have ingredients which absorb excess oil and help to control shine.

A big mistake many oily people make is to strip their skin, by overusing drying products or wiping with alcohol. That dehydrates the surface and causes the skin to produce even more oil.

Pore size is genetically determined, and they can only be shrunk temporarily (for a few seconds) using cosmetic measures. A splash of cold water does the same thing. There might be some sort of resurfacing available through the medical profession that can actually diminish pore size. Other "pore minimizing" products just smoothe over the surface. They can help with the appearance of large pores, and do make a difference if you wear makeup. Most important is to just keep the skin clean and unclogged.

That's brilliant - thank you! Just the sort of thing I'm after - not so much medical advice but the sort of thing you pick up with years of trial and error, seemingly trivial tips & tricks that no-one seems to tell you.

I'll post a link up here once I get the entry started so you can have a look, it may take me a while yet though.

Anything else either of you can think of will be gratefully received....please?

Thanks again

Sue