Question for Katie about Water
Hey Katie. I have read all of your posts and really trust your
judgement. You always seem to know what your talking about when it
comes to this stuff. Anyway, my question was about water. We have a
water softner and it does wonders on my face compared to hard water.
I have mild eczema and acne on occasion, so my face is always a
little dry. I started washing my face and hair with filtered bottled
water a few days ago and noticed my face was extremly smooth, no
dryness at all. After a few days, I started to notice a few pimples.
Now I am broken out all over which is not normal for me. Do you think
this is due to the filtered water? Will it take time for the pH in my
skin to get used to it? If anyone has any input please let me know.
Thanks all…
-Ben
February 22nd, 2005 at 11:26 pm
Hi Ben, and thank you for the compliments. I can offer my opinion / theory
based upon a bad water experience I’d had while on vacation where using bottled
filtered water or aloe juice was my only option, as the hotel water made any
part of my skin it touched bruised, red, dry, and crackling (even hard water
hadn’t done that to me before) !!!
I’m guessing that the filtered water allows better hydration for you based
upon your softer / smoother skin that you noticed immediately. Better hydration
is critical for helping both eczema and acne, as it maintains softer, more
elastic surface cells, which would facilitate your pores cleansing themselves
better - which may be what they’re doing ??? It may also facilitate your
cleanser "getting in a little deeper" as well as a better response with
moisturizers. This is great if it’s the right cleanser and the right
moisturizer, but
those could contribute to acne if either has ingredients that can encourage acne
in your skin (despite claims to the contrary). To know, give it a little
while and see if it subsides.
Meanwhile, I’d continue with the bottled water simply on the obvious factor
that your skin needs the hydration … if it doesn’t clear up or if you think
it could be your skincare products, let us know and we’ll look at those.
- Katie
February 23rd, 2005 at 3:29 pm
Katie-Thank you for your response. I havent used any product of any kind on
my face. I used to be obsessed with my acne when it all started about 5 years
ago. My dr. put me on Retin A for 4 years, with really no results. I finally
stopped using it, and I developed a rash a month after. I did some research and
realized it was contact dermatitis. I had to stop using everything because
even washing my face with a transparent Neutrogena bar made my skin dry and
broken out. Now all I do is wash with plain warm water once a day with no soaps
or
moisturizers. This cleared me up for about 6 months untill now. I can deal
with the slight dryness, because it is hardly noticable, but maybe that was the
reason for my acne clearing up. I stopped using the bottled water yesterday, so
I guess we will see how it goes. Thanks again.
-Ben
February 23rd, 2005 at 8:03 pm
> I had to stop using everything because even washing my face with a
> transparent Neutrogena bar made my skin dry and broken out. Now all I do is
wash with
> plain warm water once a day with no soaps or moisturizers. This cleared me
> up for about 6 months untill now.
Right … until you switched to bottled water. How that brand of water is
purified may be the culprit (again, guessing). I don’t know your age, but if we
don’t address the slight dryness, it could make the acne worse at "ages or
stages" you don’t expect. Obviously, your dry, very sensitive skin needs to
hold its water and remain as oil-free as possible. Try the oat-milk-sugar wash
to see if it helps skin start holding the water better. Oats contain one of
the best humectants there are, and clean oily skin well while remaining
moisturizing to dry skin, and is the best non-scouring, non-AHA exfoliating mix
I’ve
found. A great toner for you would be rosewater, as cleanses any remaining
cleansing mixture, is great for sensitive skin, and is really moisturizing.
This
may be all you need, depending upon climate and season.
- Katie
February 25th, 2005 at 3:20 am
Katie,
You mentioned in a previous post a oat-milk-sugar wash. Can you tell
me more about it. Is this a product to be purchased or one you make
up at home?
Thanks,
Katrina
February 26th, 2005 at 8:35 pm
It’s one you make at home. There are several posts in the archives
about this:
Grind rolled oats in a blender - measure. Add to them equal measures
of sugar and dry milk. Store in container that will not allow
moisture in, use and store in a place away from the shower (by the
sink is okay), and don’t leave open! I pour a bit into my hand,
close the container, add to the powder a few drops of water and
play "making mudpies," and wash with it. Be sure to rinse well.
Hope that helps.
- Katie