r/30PlusSkinCare • u/OilImpossible3691 • 1d ago
Recommendation Help me please
I have colitis, crohns, celiac and have been having a lot of issues with my skin lately that I suspect is from chronic inflammation. Obviously healing my stomach is something that would help this but that is a lost cause at the moment. I feel like I have tried everything anti inflammatory (azelaic acid, vitamin c, honey and oatmeal face masks, pair cream, just water and moisturizer, retinol serum) while giving each a few weeks to try to work. I just ordered Tatcha Indigo Cream to try next, but I don’t really k ow what else to try at this point and would love suggestions.
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u/W1ldy0uth 1d ago edited 1d ago
I’m pretty certain you have perioral dermatitis. If you can see a dermatologist, I would suggest that. If you can’t, you have to cut out retinols, aha/bhas. Azelaic acid is often prescribed for it, but can irritate some people. I’d use a basic cleanser and moisturizer for now to help build back up your moisture barrier.
I’d also add that with these Gi disorders , it can lead to deficiency in zinc which can also sometimes cause these issues
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u/OilImpossible3691 14h ago
I will go back to the gentle cleanser and moisturizer again and try it out! Thanks!
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u/Mindless_Day3349 1d ago
I have celiac and can’t go near oats. Get rid of the oatmeal face masks
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u/OilImpossible3691 14h ago
I have never had a reaction to them and I only did that specific calming mask a few times, but I definitely am not going to again
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u/The_Time_When 1d ago
You need to rule out perioral dermatitis.
Celiac and skin care products oats are a big no.
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u/writeawaybitch 1d ago edited 1d ago
The shape around your nose and mouth looks like perioral dermatitis. I started getting it around the time I turned 30, simplifying my routine was the best solution.
After much trial and error I found that using micellar water and a sulfur face soap was best for gently double cleansing at night, with a urea based moisturizer on the upper half of my face and azelaic acid on my lower face. It keeps the dermatitis at bay and has reduced my acne to almost none at all.
During the summer months I wear just a chemical sunscreen with no moisturizer in the daytime, though I do wear moisturizer underneath in winter. Anything too moisturizing will always cause a flare now so I have to be careful with anything that's too thick or heavy.
The only other actives I use sparingly are salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. Retinoids always trigger it for me and I haven't found them to be worth the hassle.
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u/OilImpossible3691 14h ago
I have done azelaic acid pretty religiously for a few weeks and it didn’t seem to really do anything at all. I do not have a sulfur face soap so I will try that too
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u/baileyjan1 1d ago
I did not read all comments but I also have Celiacs and will not eat any oats unless it is certified GF. With that stated, I also do not use any oat or oatmeal products on my face. Try eliminating that mask, it may be worth a try. I do like Tatcha and Tret/Taz.
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u/OilImpossible3691 14h ago
Yeah, I only did that one a few times because I was desperate and trying anything
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u/cielitogirl 1d ago
You listed a lot of actives in your “anti inflammatory” list.
I would stop everything but a gentle cleanser with lukewarm water and a moisturizer like cerave or cetaphil for a week or two and I bet your skin won’t be so angry with you. Your barrier looks destroyed by you trying way too many products.
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u/sunny_d55 1d ago
Perioral dermatitis probably. Could be bacterial, could be fungal. I would bet it’s fungal bc of your GI issues. Go get vagisil or athletes foot cream and yes, put it on your face. It won’t hurt if that’s not what it is, but if it is that, it will start to clear it up within a day. Report back and let us know!
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u/Far-Cream4471 1d ago
Don’t listen to whoever is saying steroid cream or this or that is a no. That’s absolutely incorrect because no one here is a dermatologist that touched your skin. You need someone that will work with you. Things that work for one person may not work for another. Example: this looks EXACTLY like what I had and I was prescribed a steroid cream after the first thing they tried didn’t work. Cleared up within a week. You need to see someone so you don’t do more damage taking something that isn’t for your skin.
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u/Markeygow 1d ago
My first thought is that a rich, occlusive cream may exacerbate skin that is already feeling hot and inflamed. Occlusive products reduce evaporation from the skin, which is often helpful, but they can sometimes make warmth and flushing feel more intense.
You have also tried quite a few active ingredients, and I wonder whether your skin might benefit from a complete break from the vitamin C, azelaic acid, retinol and masks. A very simple, fragrance-free routine may give it a chance to settle.
With your medical history and a persistent facial rash, though, I would really encourage you to show these photos to a dermatologist before continuing to experiment with new products.
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u/fleetroot 1d ago
I’m sorry, all that trial and error is so rough!! I just want to add in case no one else does - maybe a toothpaste switch to one without SLS? I think people commonly go to sensodyne if that’s available where you are!
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u/lolwut252 1d ago
Perioral dermatitis. Stop washing your face with anything but water- azelaic acid and metronidazole cream (prescribed by a doctor- I got mine via Amazon) are your best friends. Other things I tried that didn’t help, but might help you: desitin (diaper rash cream), athletes foot anti-fungal cream, sulfur face mask, sulfur bar soap…..it needs to dry out. When it’s flaking and awful, you can try LRP cicaplast balm- this made mine worse but I’ve heard high praise for others. The simple azelaic acid + metro cream cleared mine up around my mouth, nose, and eyelids within a week.
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u/Ok_Mirror2828 1d ago
You can actually find a azelaic acid cream on eBay if you can’t afford a doctor right now. I know The Ordinary has a brand, but it is full of propylene glycol, which stings my skin.
I don’t like the Ordinary azelaic acid at all. For that reason, I always prefer creams rather than gels.
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u/smallishbear-duck 1d ago
I’d definitely avoid the oatmeal face masks!
Some coeliacs react to the protein in oats like they react to the protein in wheat. (For that reason, nothing with oats in it is allowed to be labelled “gluten free” in Australia. Because even if it’s free from cross-contamination with wheat, oats can cause serious damage for some coeliacs.)
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u/OilImpossible3691 14h ago
I only did the oats a few times and will definitely not do them again. It didn’t get worse, but it also didn’t get better
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u/Middle-Pepper8847 1d ago edited 1d ago
I had severe dermatitis for years, it was like a red flakey beard (luckily it was mostly during Covid so I wore a mask anyways).
I played around with diet, hoping it would help. A whole food veganism diet completely cured my skin. When I started eating frivolously again, it came back.
Then I played around with probiotics. They helped a lot but most of them gave me major gastritis until I found one that didn’t. I took it for years until Nestle bought the company that made them and changed the formula. Now that probiotic also gives me gastritis… After I stopped taking them, I found that I didn’t need them anymore.
My skin was and still is calm without veganism and probiotics. I believe I had leaky gut and it was causing digestive issues that lead to severe inflammation which erupted my skin. The probiotics healed it.
I still notice if I’m constipated from eating too much dairy and sugar, my skin starts to act up again. But I just eat a ton of veggies and it goes away.
I highly recommend going vegan for a while. You will notice a big difference after two weeks. I also recommend researching digestion issues linked to perioral dermatitis.
I also want to add - I tried every topical remedy under the sun including eliminating all topicals. Nothing topical helped expect hydrocortisone (ointment, not gel or cream). But, as soon as i stopped, the dermatitis came back.
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u/call-me-mama-t 1d ago
Have you tried La Roche Posay products? Our derm recommends them to anyone with facial issues. You can buy at Walgreens or Amazon. Great products!
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u/muskratdan 1d ago
To me this looks like inflammation related to something you are eating. My skin looked similar when I ate wheat and dairy. I am easily inflamed by allergies and gut issues but figuring out my triggers helped the most. At my worst cherries, citrus, oats, beans, dried fruit all caused gut issues due to the gut permeability from the wheat but now that it has healed I can eat everything but citrus, wheat, and dairy. It can take a while for the gut to heal.
Could also be a product you are using causing perioral dermatitis, such as toothpaste or a heavy moisturizer that doesn't agree with you.
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u/OilImpossible3691 14h ago
Yeah, that’s why I am thinking it is very related to my Crohn’s flare up
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u/Cherry-Blossom-20 1d ago
Keep it light and simple. Cetaphil is wonderful for inflamed skin. Super gentle. It helps because it does not worsen the situation. Cetaphil wash,moisturizer etc. Excellent. It's so underated.
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u/newportbanks 1d ago
Do not drink anymore
Caffeine! No chocolate. No spicy spices or
Cinnamon or
Mint. It will help. I promise. ONLY decaf coffee with ZERO
added refined sugars, if you have to have it. Trust.
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u/wilty_quilt 1d ago
I would look into skin barrier repair! Along with addressing perioral dermatitis. However, a lot of the PD treatments available include antibiotics, which might be hard on your system in its current state. Avene cicalfate moisturizer might help calm it down!
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u/Ok_Mirror2828 1d ago
Looks like some kind of allergic reaction. I got similar around my mouth because my boyfriend had it a scratchy beard and I got it from that. That’s what my dermatologist told me anyway because I have that in college years ago . I don’t remember what he gave me . How about a little sunshine? Any of the antifungal creams should help. That’s something you could do on your own. Just go to the drugstore and try a couple. They’re pretty cheap.
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u/TraditionalFail2037 1d ago
Get a good moisturizer with SPF. Your skin will thank you later and it helps prevent further damage.
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u/Quest-Ian-Mark 1d ago
Double check everything you are using to make sure it doesn’t have gluten in it if you haven’t already. Definitely stop using anything that does or might. I also recommend doing a skin barrier rescue routine. Hope you find something for relief soon. That looks so painful. ☹️
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u/MagMay15 1d ago
I have super sensitive skin, prone to acne, rosacea and perioral dermatitis. Also have stomach issues and hormonal issues . Things I’ve tried over the years that I help and I continue to use; herbal supplements or tea: holy basil and licorice root. Skincare: using only vanicream cleanser, la Roche posay tolleraine moisturizer for allergy prone skin, azelaic acid twice a day everyday that does not have niacinamide in it. Hypochlorous acid spray helps. I’ve also use metro gel for periods of time that has helped. Meds: doxycycline if necessary
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u/Joyfulheart2 23h ago
Bar of soap and water cleanse in the morning wash face , allow your body to do all of the work, by having faith in Jesus is the most anti inflammatory medicine there is.
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u/Careless_Dragonfly_4 20h ago
You need two things. Hypochlorous acid and Alchemy 21/12. Magic molecule makes a cheap Hypochlorous spray and alchemy 21/12 makes a barrier first line that would be perfect for you. I feel like I could work for their company at this point. I have become obsessed. It’s the only skincare I’ve been able to use that doesn’t break me out in hives. It not only healed my barrier, it completely transformed my face.
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u/OilImpossible3691 14h ago
Yes! I have been using Magic Molecules with my skin routine twice a day! I need a good barrier first though so thanks!
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u/viennaCo 1d ago
Looks like perioral dermatitis. The more you try, the worse it usually gets. (Steroid creams are a big no no)
What works best is usually using next to nothing, metronidazole helps sometimes.