Dry skin..I think..

Dry skin..I think.. (Full Version)

All Forums >> [Community Discussions] >> Health and Safety

Message

deadlylover -> Dry skin..I think.. (12/9/2006 2:14:12 PM)
I have a problem. Under my arms, at the side of my breasts where my bra is, I have horrible dry skin. I can sit there and peel it off, but it is not cracked nor painful, and I've had it for 6 years now. Since I am unable to go to a dermatologist for it, I've tried moisturizers and exfoliators but nothing seems to work and lessen the issue, and it seems to...spread...it's even on my breasts as well. Because of this I am highly self-conscious about them. I hate it, very much. Does anyone have any idea what it could be or how to help it?

cjenny -> RE: Dry skin..I think.. (12/9/2006 2:22:38 PM)
have you tried using a hypo-allergenic wash for your clothing? oh, and body soap too. i've had to go totally scent and color free for things that go onto my skin. bah.

deadlylover -> RE: Dry skin..I think.. (12/9/2006 2:33:37 PM)
I haven't tried it, but I don't think it is the stuff we use on our clothes since we've switched recently. Do you have any recommendations for what I can try and see if it helps?

wandersalone -> RE: Dry skin..I think.. (12/10/2006 3:59:19 AM)
I realise you said that you are unable to go to a dermatologist but are you able to talk to your doctor about it - if you haven't already? Take a list of the different moisturisers etc that you have already tried.

sweetnurseBBW -> RE: Dry skin..I think.. (12/10/2006 6:13:57 AM)
Could be psorasis or eczema. Defintiatly needs a doctors attention. Might be an allergic reaction or something.

KatyLied -> RE: Dry skin..I think.. (12/10/2006 7:53:16 AM)
If you are trying to home remedy and it may be eczema or allergic reaction, try hydrocortisone. For skin lotion make sure you get something that is lanolin-free. It sounds like you need to see a dermatologist, though. Anything rubbing against the skin can aggravate eczema and it is difficult treat.

ThinkingKitten -> RE: Dry skin..I think.. (12/10/2006 8:02:39 AM)
There are a number of possibilities (some already mentioned) and you really should see a doctor, however if you're determined to try and sort it out yourself then here are some things you can try/rule out: Allergy/dermatitis: Yes, you may have recently changed detergent brands, but did you just go from the frying pan into the fire? If you went from a commercial detergent to a scent free, natural soap based powder such as the kind you buy in a healthfood store/organic foods section and there's no change after several weeks, then no, it may not be an allergy to the washing powder. What about fabric softeners? Same thing applies. An allergy to latex or other rubber compounds (found in the elastic on your bra) maybe? You could try wearing a thin cotton top UNDER your bra for a while, to provide a barrier between the bra and your skin. Try using a non-aluminum anti-perspirant for a while too. Fungal infection: You might have a low-grade, chronic superficial fungal infection (although these often tend to itch in some way). You could try an over-the-counter athletes foot cream or spray for several weeks - and you'd need to be washing your clothes in very hot water etc, so as to avoid re-infecting yourself from spores/fungal elements that get caught in the fibres. If that's what it is, then if its resistant to the OTC remedy, you'll need something on prescription. A skin scraping, examined under a microscope and a culture would need to be done. Eczema: You could try an over the counter hydrocortisone cream (would help soothe an allergic reaction too), but these are often not sufficiently strong enough to do anything worth while. They shouldn't be used for anything much longer than a week however, at a time. I'm sure there are other things too. If going bra-less is an option at all (for a week maybe) then try that too - if it improves at all in that time, then at least you'll know that's where the problem lies. Do your bra's fit properly as well? Go to a fitter - a lot of females are wearing the wrong size - they squeeze themselves into something too small/tight! Good luck - and I repeat - go see your doc and remember, it takes a while for new, healthy skin layers to work their way up to the surface, so any remedy needs to be given sufficient time to work. Applying a cream for one or two days, then going "well that didn't work!" is not long enough to make a valid assessment of efficacy.

bandit25 -> RE: Dry skin..I think.. (12/10/2006 8:15:27 AM)
I'm going to add my two cents here because I've recently had the same problem and the ONLY thing that helped was seeing a dermotologist. He gave me three different creams, two different treatments for my scalp and they WORKED! My skin has never looked so good. Like you, I was embarassed because (at the time) I looked horrible..at least, I thought so. I used the stuff he gave me and the difference is like night and day. Seriously.

KatyLied -> RE: Dry skin..I think.. (12/10/2006 8:19:40 AM)
Yep, you can try to home treat eczema for weeks, unsuccessfully and a dermatologist can give you cream that will work within a few days. It's worth the visit. Also, winter weather can make eczema a problem for many people, because the skin dries out.

bandit25 -> RE: Dry skin..I think.. (12/10/2006 8:27:23 AM)
Yes, it does. In fact, I noticed a few "spots" on my legs and rear that I applied cream to the other day. Now, if the OP is insistant upon not going to a doctor, you can try anything and everything you want, but it's not going to work...that is, it won't clear it up, but liberally applying lotion will help. It will prevent the area from being horrible looking.

deadlylover -> RE: Dry skin..I think.. (12/10/2006 2:38:20 PM)
There is only one problem with everyone telling me to go see a doctor: I cannot. Simple as that. I no longer have medical insurance and therefore I am unable to do such a thing. I also don't have the money to be able to pay without insurance, and here doctors visits and medications are no where near cheap. It doesn't itch so I doubt it's any type of fungal infection, as ThinkingKitten mentioned. Also I have to use a certain kind of deodorant because of the fact that I've had body odor since I was little from sweating a lot and the type I use helps if I sweat excessively. Braless isn't an option either, and they do fit correctly. I have switched between my underwire bras and my sports bras and I've noticed no difference in it. I'll try wearing a top under my underwire bras when I do have to wear them and see if it helps some. It does get worse in winter though, and I know it's because of the weather changes. I try to keep it as moisturized as humanly possible.

JerseyKrissi72 -> RE: Dry skin..I think.. (12/10/2006 4:01:22 PM)
i get very dry skin and there are special lotions you can use for that purpose. Be careful what laundry soap/ fabric softener you use when washing your clothes...good luck and hope you feel better soon.

daddysprop247 -> RE: Dry skin..I think.. (12/11/2006 6:54:20 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: deadlylover There is only one problem with everyone telling me to go see a doctor: I cannot. Simple as that. I no longer have medical insurance and therefore I am unable to do such a thing. I also don't have the money to be able to pay without insurance, and here doctors visits and medications are no where near cheap. It doesn't itch so I doubt it's any type of fungal infection, as ThinkingKitten mentioned. Also I have to use a certain kind of deodorant because of the fact that I've had body odor since I was little from sweating a lot and the type I use helps if I sweat excessively. Braless isn't an option either, and they do fit correctly. I have switched between my underwire bras and my sports bras and I've noticed no difference in it. I'll try wearing a top under my underwire bras when I do have to wear them and see if it helps some. It does get worse in winter though, and I know it's because of the weather changes. I try to keep it as moisturized as humanly possible. i understand not being able to go see a doctor. from what you're describing it sounds like you have eczema, i have it myself and have dealt with it since i was little. tho i went to many different dermatologists, NONE of them were ever able to prescripe or recommend anything that helped me. however thru trial and error i found a few things that worked: for the area you're talking about, you could try looking for this cream, it's called DML Forte. first, bathe with a gentle cleanser like the regular Aveeno, then put a liberal amount of the cream on. then take a piping hot moistened washcloth and place it over that area and hold it for about a minute. rinse it off, dry thoroughly, then put a smaller amount of the cream back on. do this twice a day. sounds strange i know but it worked for me when i got a horrible patch on my face. in addition to that you could (once a day) a cream or salve with a good bit of sulfur in it..it's stinky as heck, but very effective. you can also try asking a good pharmacist for suggestions. another important thing when you have eczema especially is to moisturize (with a good, non-scented lotion) all OVER your body everyday. also try and stay away from laundry detergent with dyes and fragrances, and fragranced soaps.

onestandingstill -> RE: Dry skin..I think.. (12/12/2006 12:15:17 PM)
I had a friend send me an E-Mail with all these terrible photos of some sort of parasite that's specifically coming into the country from bras sewn out of the country being worn before they are washed. It causes this horrible red rash that in extreme cases actually eats away the skin tissues. Maybe if you wore a new bra without washing it first what ever you got came from that contact. As for treatments of your mystery ailment my Son is very sensitive to laundry detergents. The only one he can use is Wisk or Gain. Maybe switch to one of them. He also reacts to deodorant so we found some clear stone in a health food store that's natural deodorant as the residue of the stone eliminates under arm odor without any chemicals. I'd also like to suggest after reading your question I also thought it sounds like a fungus. It's hard to say without seeing it. I read where you don't think it is fungus, but being you're not sure I wouldn't be so sure to dismiss the notion. My son gets fungus between his fingers from working out at the YMCA & believe it or not the Dr. said the best thing is Apple Cider Vinegar to get rid of it. It stings a little, but cures it quick if it is some kind of fungus. The last thing I could suggest is to get over the counter Claritin Allergy medicine or Benadryl and see if that has any affect. Good luck, suzanne

TheSheepy -> RE: Dry skin..I think.. (12/12/2006 12:34:13 PM)
Please sign up for your state's insurance program. All states have them, and they at least help in the case of an emergency. Insurance is a very important thing to have, and it seems you already know this. That said, have you tried using natural soaps? The perfumes, detergents, and some of the chemicals used to preserve other ingredients have irritated my skin in the past. In the summer, I get this problem, too. Another inexpensive thing to try is putting baby powder on your skin where your bra will touch. It will prevent rubbing, but needs to be refreshed every 8 hours or so. Another: Buy a loofah or a nylon bath towel, and scrub away every time you are in the shower. This remove excess skin, which may be causing a problem. At one point, a derm. recommended a benzoyl peroxide cream, and this made the condition much worse. What we finally determined was that my skin is both sensitive and does not shed like it should. I have used the baby powder and a nylon bath towel ever since, and have not had a problem with it since. Both can be found in your local dollar store. Good luck! ~Destiny

deadlylover -> RE: Dry skin..I think.. (12/12/2006 12:49:08 PM)
Thank you all for your replies. I'm going to discuss the possibility of it being eczema with my Aunt and see what she says. I'll also discuss some of the things with my mother and take her input as well, especially about the washing detergents, etc. Again, thank you all.

Page: [1]

Collarchat.com © 2025

Terms of Service

0.046875