I’m a 54 year old white man, and I’ve noticed some increased red and flaky patches on my face and between my eyebrows over the past year. It seems to have gotten worse with the cold weather lately.
I suppose I have been lucky so far than my skin had enough natural moisture and oils I didn’t really need anything, but these red, flaky patches are getting progressively bigger and looking kind of rough.
What is the best stuff to use for these?
Sounds like what I’ve been suffering from for the past several years. My doctor says it seborrheic dermatitis. The only thing that I’ve found that works consistently is: 100% tea tree oil (OTC) and Ketoconazole (prescription-strength).
I’ve always had trouble choosing a face cream because anything I put on my face gives me zits (even at 33). I was using Cetaphil face moisturizer for a long time and it was ok, but something weird started going on with my skin some time in October, and it was red and burning. And always peeling. Cetaphil wasn’t doing one bit of good, either. No idea what caused that but this stuff by First Aid Beauty cured it right away and continues to do a great job on my face without clogging my pores. It also doesn’t really have a scent.
Now, you might not want to pay $12 for 2 ounces to try the stuff (but a little goes a long way) but it’s quite awesome and I recommend the mid-sized tube. If you are man enough to go to the frou-frou mall in your area and waltz into a Sephora store you can try some for free and see how it does ya.
You can also try the different Cetaphil moisturizers but those are kind of expensive too. Not as expensive as First Aid I don’t think.
I don’t have a specific brand that’s best. However, whatever you use, your best bet is to pat your skin dry after a shower or bath, leaving it a bit damp, and then putting moisturizer on it. Moisturizer actually doesn’t put moisture into your skin, it helps your skin retain moisture.
A bit of experimentation may be in order. Find the face lotion aisle of your local friendly drugstore, and maybe see if there are any samplers so you can do a little sniff test. Nivea and a few other brands have started making men-oriented face care lines, so you don’t even have to buy anything in a pastel bottle.
I’ve always liked that old standyby, Oil of Olay for face and neck. Especially in winter when the air’s even drier. But I’m female and OoO is pink, if that makes a difference. Actually, I think this is something you might want to have a doctor check out.
Also: what soap/shave cream are you using? That can make a difference too. Not quite the same thing, but when I bought a bottle of some cheap laundry detergent I started getting a little itchy rash around my neck and waistline. Ditched the cheap stuff and went back to my usual Tide; problem went away.
If you want the real good shit, I suggest you orderGerman Nivea. Yes, it’s different than US Nivea (the ingredients are different and the resulting product is way different). This kind of Nivea, you grab a bit in your hand, rub it around to warm it up and melt it, then slather it on. A little goes a long way and you can use it all over your body. Seriously, that tub up there will easily last you a year +.
IANA doctor and you didn’t ask for medical advice, but if you are actually having patches of skin that are both red and flaky, I would have a doctor look at it, it sounds like more than just dry skin. On the other hand, if they are only flaky and then turn red when you rub or scratch them, then a moisturizer may be enough.
That said, I find Aveeno lotion to be very mild and non-irritating, and effective at retaining moisture in my skin. My skin is very sensitive, especially on my face, Aveeno is almost the only product I can tolerate there.
p.s. if you are allergic to wool, as I am, stay away from products that contain Lanolin, which is a product derived from sheep sweat glands.
Roddy
I’d go see a doc first, to rule out some local fungus infection or eczema. If you want to try a creme, and not risk any reactions to the creams additios, go to a pharmacy and buy a small amount of their freshle made (so, no preservatives) skin cream. It is cheap and guatanteed low allergy inducing. If that clears up your skin, then you know cream helps and you can go find a brand you like. If it doest help, then no cream will help and you need to see a doc.
Good old Vaseline.
I agree, it’s most likely seborrheic dermatitis, and you should see your doctor for a prescription or a referral to a dermatologist.
This. I’ve had it for years, not only on my face but also on my scalp. After trying many “natural” remedies I finally went to a dermatologist, who prescribed Ketoconazole cream and also shampoo. They are both prescription-strength, and really work.