The Long Hair Community - DERMATOLOGIST'S REMEDY FOR EXCEMA AND DRY SKIN

Deborah · April 4th, 2003, 03:47 PM

Hi All,

Many years ago I went to a Dermatologist with cracked, peeling, bleeding, very itchy shins that seemed to appear out of nowhere. He gave me a prescription cream to deal with the surface skin damage, but said I'd most likely get this periodically because my skin is very dry and sensitive and I live in Colorado (also dry). I think I sort of groaned and crossed my eyes, then he laughed and said "Look if you will use this cheap oil right from the shower, your skin will heal up and the problem will not recur." He then went on to tell me how to use LIGHT MINERAL OIL on my skin. I balked a little at the use of mineral oil instead of a vegetable oil or something else that sounded more natural. He shook his head and said "I could give you some expensive, fancy cream, but if you use this oil exactly as I explained to you, I'll never see you again for excema or any other dry skin problems." He was right.

So here's his time-tested fancy remedy:

1. Buy LIGHT MINERAL OIL. It comes in a one pint clear plastic bottle. He had it in his office and at the pharmacy downstairs, so that's where I bought it for a long time. He has since retired and my oil source dried up. No one carries it on their shelves but a pharmacy can order it for you. I get my Wal-Mart pharmacy to get some in for me. When I first started it cost $2 and change. Now it varies (who knows why?) from $4-ish to $5-ish.

Here's exactly what the bottle says:

HUMCO MINERAL OIL, USP LIGHT

The UPC code is 03951 67316. The number that Wal-Mart uses for the product is 215-1165. Every time I order some they act like they have never heard of this stuff before. It's apparently a real 'low-tech' remedy.

Make sure you don't buy regular mineral oil. This is what you will find on the shelves. That type is way thicker and designed to be taken internally as a laxative or something. The LIGHT MINERAL OIL is much lighter and thinner, and the bottle mentions 'skin care' and 'skin protectant'.

2. Put some in a smaller bottle with a squirt type top that only allows the oil to come out in a thin stream. It's easy to use too much.

3. Now, when you finish showering, while you are still standing there in the buff, dripping wet, you take your little bottle and squeeze out a thin line of the oil, down each arm, down each leg, and wherever else you want to use it. As you apply the oil to each body part, smooth it all over, mixing it with the water already on your skin.

4. AIR DRY.

THAT'S IT!!

At first you will stand there feeling like a wet grease ball. Now you can dry off, but only where you have not put oil, like maybe your back or wherever.

REMEMBER TO AIR DRY. As you continue on to spray or powder or whatever else you do, then begin to dress, the water will quickly evaporate, and you will have a very light coating of the oil left on your skin, which will soak in. Your skin will feel wonderful!

OK, that's it. This has literally saved my skin. Now I only wash with Sorbolene, and use this oil out of a shower almost all of the time. Occasionally I will use the Sorbolene for moisture instead of the oil.

I hope this helps someone else.

I tried to be pretty detailed, but I undoubtedly left something out. Feel free to ask questions if you would like to.

Deborah

Almondhoney · April 4th, 2003, 04:02 PM

Mine told me to use vaseline/petroleum jelly.
Again same concept, apply when skin is damp right after, shower/bath, washing hands etc.

It's worked like a charm for me and two of my children who also have
eczema. Of course the Noxema in a blue jar will also relieve the itchies.

I'm glad the mineral oil has worked for you!

Almondhoney

Rachel · April 4th, 2003, 04:45 PM

Hmmmm.... mineral oil? Never heard of this! I had bad eczema on my hands, peeling, cracking, bleeding, etc, and my doc gave me a cortisone creme. Helped with the flareups, but I didn't want to continue doing it, since it thins the skin.

I set to work making my own potion with calendula (pot marigold) and it worked just as well as the cortisone! I also began fixing my diet, since eczema is often related to food allergies, stress, etc. Between the two methods, I haven't had a episode since.

Diet is definitely something you want to look into, if you're having constant problems - the most common allergens that people with eczema seem to have problems with are milk, wheat, gluten, eggs, soy, and of course, too much sugar.

Rachel

RedJen · April 4th, 2003, 05:56 PM

Thanks Deborah! I'm going to see if I can find it at the health food store here.

Almondhoney, I've tried vaseline, but for some reason, it doesn't have much of an effect on my skin. I think it might be because I don't like the feeling!

Rachel, I'm also investigating the diet connection. I know I'm sensitive to soy- I get arthritis-like pains in my joints when I eat it. I haven't been able to link any food to the ecxema, though.

Thanks for all the info! I'm always amazed to find out how many people have this.

Deborah · April 4th, 2003, 06:01 PM

Hi RedJen,

I don't think you will find the oil in a health food store. More likely in a regular pharmacy.

The vaseline didn't work for me either. On my skin it just laid on top and got on my clothes. I'm sure it's a matter of what works for your particular skin.

Deborah

rosepetal · April 6th, 2003, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deborah

Now I only wash with Sorbolene, and use this oil out of a shower almost all of the time.

Thanks so much for the good info! I'm going to check with my local pharmacy for the lighter oil.

rosepetal · April 9th, 2003, 12:06 PM

FYI...

I contacted Auroma to find out the ingredients in their Sorbolene:

http://www.auroma.com/catalog/BathAndBodySkinAndHairCare/SorboleneCream/

Here's what they e-mailed me:

SORBOLENE CREAM -

Ingredients: contains deionised water, paraffin oils, emulsifying wax, glycerin and chlorocresol.

DweamGoiL · April 10th, 2003, 05:16 AM

the ONLY thing that has worked for my eczema flare-ups is Avon's SSS Smart Moisture Body Lotion. I have tried cortisone, oils, etc. and nothing had helped. I tried it one day when I ran out of cortisone and it has worked ever since. I have to apply a light coating in the morn b4 I go out and even during winter, my skin stays normal.

rosepetal · April 10th, 2003, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DweamGoiL

the ONLY thing that has worked for my eczema flare-ups is Avon's SSS Smart Moisture Body Lotion

That IS weird!!! :shock:

...but worth a shot... thanks DweamGoil!!!

RedJen · April 10th, 2003, 08:28 AM

What does the Avon SSS smell like? I love the smell of their Moisture Therapy.

Deborah · April 10th, 2003, 02:35 PM

I used to sell Avon. I couldn't use any of their skin lotions, oils, etc., because everything had way too much fragrance for my cranky skin. That's why the light mineral oil is so good for me. It's fragrance-free and has nothing in it but the plain old oil.

Deborah

DweamGoiL · April 11th, 2003, 04:59 AM

the pink one, which is the one I use smells sort of like baby lotion, but a tad sweeter.