When Acne Isn’t Acne

For the most part of the year, I’ve been battling with breakouts (and breakdowns) which I thought were due to hormonal imbalance (which I also thought were causing my emotional breakdowns :P) Last Sunday, I finally found time to see a dermatologist. This was something I was considering for a while now, but if it wasn’t for a friend of mine recommending I should take the steps by looking into sites such as columbiadermsc.com, I didn’t actually think this would happen. I’ve thought about it so much, but I’m glad I finally decided to take my skincare game even more seriously. Lo and behold, I found out that I’ve been using the wrong skin care products on my face! AND I also learned that the acne I thought I had was not acne at all! With this being said, if you do suffer from acne, if you choose to buy cbd oil online or make a change to your skincare routine in anyway, being consistent is key.

I really should have seen a dermatologist sooner and not experimented with just about all the skincare products I could afford. Apparently, my self-diagnosis was just a big misdiagnosis. It was already too late before I was told that you can actually consult an online dermatologist if you are unsure regarding the health of your skin. I now wish I had done something before it was too late, but here we are.

Since I thought I had hormonal acne, I bought a tea tree cleanser which can help control my breakouts. However, the doctor told me that tea tree oil was doing more damage than good on my skin (good thing I hadn’t had time to buy that new BB with tea tree oil I wanted to try). She told me that salicyclic acid wasn’t a friend to my skin and I should avoid products that contain it. It also turns out that I shouldn’t even be using moisturizers on my face. I was already producing more than enough sebum to keep it moisturized naturally. So what was causing the breakouts? Dermatitis.

‘Tis a Thing Called DERMATITIS

 photo dermadiagnosis.jpg

Perioral Dermatitis and Seborrheic Dermatitis to be exact. This caught me again in surprise as I’ve always associated seborrheic dermatitis with dandruff which I didn’t have – or so I thought. I didn’t have those white flaky stuff we usually associate with “dandruff”. Well, there’s another myth debunked!

Seborrheic Dermatitis isn’t just dandruff. It can occur not just on the scalp but on other parts of the body that tend to be oily such as creases of the nose, around the lips, behind the ears, outer ear, and the chest. Have you heard of cradle cap in infants? That’s seborrheic dermatitis too. Though she cannot pinpoint the exact triggers, it may be caused by stress, changes in the weather, excessive sebum production, or infrequent shampoos. The dermatologist said that this form of dermatitis is chronic (meaning I have it for life, huhuhuhu) but can be managed with proper skin care and healthy diet.

As for the other –itis, it resembles acne but it isn’t. Perioral dermatitis is characterized by acne-like bumps around the mouth, on the chin, in the folds around the nose, under the eyes, and on the forehead. It’s on the T-zone which is why I thought it was hormonal acne. According to the dermatologist my seborrheic dermatitis could be the man cause for this. It is also aggravated by toothpaste dripping on my chin. Yah, I’m a child like that – letting toothpaste froth drip down my chin while I’m brushing my teeth. 😛 My using heavy skin creams and sunscreen makes it even worse – which is why I’m staying away from moisturizers for now.

New Skin Care Regimen

 photo dermameds.jpg

For the next week, I’m on Tetralysal (lymecycline) and Hydrocortisone+Erythromycin cream. No more tea tree oil cleanser also. I’m back to using Cetaphil for keeps. Cetaphil and Physiogel are the only cleansers the dermatologist recommends. She also recommended that I change my shampoo to Head & Shoulders or Gard. I’m to also use a ketoconazole shampoo once a week. It has only been a couple of days since I’ve changed my regimen and followed the prescription yet my skin’s already visibly cleared a bit. Hopefully, all the redness will be gone before Saturday.

Are you having problems with your skin too? Please do see a dermatologist ASAP. You won’t want to waste your money on skin care products that aren’t really suited for your skin.

Want To Win A Trip to Hongkong Disneyland? Join the CETAPHIL SKIN TREATS PROMO now!

For 65 years now, Cetaphil has been providing us with evidence-based skin care solutions for all skin types.   And until today, it continues to be “the country’s most prescribed brand of Cleansers and Moisturizers by Dermatologists and Pediatricians.”

In celebration of your continued patronage of Cetaphil skin care products, Cetaphil launches the CETAPHIL SKIN TREATS PROMO.  Now you don’t only get the gentlest skin care but you also get to have a chance to win Cetaphil gift packs, Ipad3, and a TRIP FOR TWO TO HONGKONG!

What do you need to do?   Just send a photo of yourself holding a 118mL Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser and a scanned copy of the official receipt of your Cetaphil purchase with your full name, landline/mobile number, and email address to [email protected].

The promo runs from October 22 to November 22, 2012 only so send in your entries now!  I’m also wishing to win the trip for two to Hongkong which comes complete with Roundtrip Airfares, Hotel Accommodation for three days and two nights, Day Passes to Disneyland, AND $100 shopping money!  Now, that would be a wonderful Christmas treat for my daughter!!!

Watch this video for more information and visit http://www.facebook.com/cetaphilphilippines for the full mechanics.

What are you waiting for, strike a pose now with your 118ml Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser and submit your entry.  You just might be able to fly to Hongkong Disneyland for free this December!  Oh, and don’t forget to keep the official receipt lest your entry be deemed invalid. Cross your fingers and hope to win!

CETAPHIL: Much More Than A Gentle Skin Cleanser

The Tottering Mama is proud to be a Cetaphil online ambassador!

My sisters and I have been using Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser long before my children were born. If it wasn’t for my kids looked into sites like Product Playoffs and watching YouTube videos of some of their favourite social media influencers trying out this product, I don’t think they would have even considering giving this a go. But I’m glad that they do though, as I believe this is one of the best skincare products on the market. Yes, the ole blue and white bottle of Cetaphil was a fixture in our bathroom. So, naturally, I replied with a resounding yes when asked whether I would like to become one of Cetaphil’s online ambassadors. We have been using this product for several years now and can vouch for its effectiveness in keeping our skin moisturized and our skin problems at bay. If you’re like us and have sensitive skin or various skin issues that you try to tackle daily, using products similar to ones you can find on sites like https://naturesaidcbd.com/ or Cetaphil could help improve your skin and hopefully you can see more visible results soon enough. It’s all about patience and consistency with skincare.

Our long-term love affair with Cetaphil started when it was prescribed by our dermatologist to one of my sisters who has atopic dermatitis. Unfortunately, she wasn’t the only one riddled with skin problems as we all had dry sensitive skin that was prone to rashes and eczema. Our facial skin was the opposite though as it was oily and acne-prone. Fortunately, Cetaphil works well on all of us.

Photobucket

When my children were infants, they were bathed with only purified water and Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. Since sensitive skin runs in the family, I didn’t want to take chances and opted to use our dermatologist-prescribed cleanser on my babies. Had I known about the mositurizing cream then, I would have used that on them too.

Aside from being hypoallergenic, another thing I love about Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is that you could actually use it even without water. This makes clean up possible even when the kids are running a fever and can’t be given a real bath or when we get home really late and they’re just too sleepy to wake up for a quick shower.

I’m not really one who’d take my time to scan products on store shelves. Armed with a list of things to buy, it’s usually grab-and-go shopping for me. Which is why I was surprised to find out that Cetaphil had more to offer than their skin cleanser and cleansing bar.

  • PhotobucketCetaphil Antibacterial Gentle Cleansing Bar not only deodorizes and moisturizers but also provides antibacterial protection as it cleans. I’ve written this on our grocery list so we can grab some for the little ones. Anything that’s antibacterial yet gentle on the skin is a must-have for those with very active preschoolers.
  • Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser is an effective deep pore cleanser for oily skin. This foaming cleanser removes oil and dirt without stripping your skin’s natural moisture. More importantly, it’s hypoallergenic. It only proves that gentle cleansing is possible even with oily skin.
  • PhotobucketCetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF15 with Parsol 1789 is a light, non-greasy moisturizer that’s perfect for everyday use. It also protects your skin against both UVA and UVB rays.
  • Cetaphil Daily Advance Ultra Hydrating Lotion hydrates and protects skin for a full 24 hours. It contains Epidermal Replenishing Complex 5, a unique combination of five key ingredients that protects dry skin and enhances hydration.
  • PhotobucketCetaphil Moisturizing Cream is a rich formulation of emollients and humefactants that bind water to the skin to prevent moisture loss. This would work well to prevent diaper rash and maintain your baby’s smooth bottom.

Definitely, Cetaphil is more than just a gentle skin cleanser prescribed by dermatologist. It is a whole range of skin care for even the most sensitive skin. It’s actually a great line of skin care products for the whole family.

The Tottering Mama is giving away some Cetaphil products. Mechanics will be posted on Friday, October 5, so do come back and visit this blog then. 😀