Acne/Skin issues with Colitis

Polls relevant to Microscopic Colitis, and related issues, can be posted here, to allow for the collection of data that might help to shed some light on this disease, and it's treatment options.

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What type of skin do YOU have??? (referring to facial skin)

Poll ended at Thu Jul 07, 2005 10:04 am

Oily? (prone to acne, or acne as a teenager)
6
43%
Normal? (some acne as a teen, but long gone in adulthood - some oily patches and some dry patches)
3
21%
Dry? (never had acne, mostly dry skin)
5
36%
 
Total votes: 14

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TendrTummy
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Acne/Skin issues with Colitis

Post by TendrTummy »

Many of us have skin issues, and I've read research associating it with MC and other auto-immune disorders. I guess, like our gut, our skin has a similar reaction with topical triggers, such as soap, lotions, cremes, etc. I personally have had rashes of red dots associated with the use of any lotion from Bath and Body works, as well as bumps under my armpits from use of deoderant (I can't use it consecutively for a few days or I see this).

I'm wondering what sort of skin issues we all have. Head to toe, list 'em out.

Personally:

Acne consisting of whiteheads, blackheads, and large pustules (huge red bumps) since age 12. Only things that have helped were antibiotics (taken for 3+yrs), and Proactiv.

Skin reaction to "smelly" lotions, soaps, and/or deoderants consisting of but not limited to a rash of red bumps on any place I put the lotion (usually occurs with 3-4 uses of one particular lotion in that given place), or large cysts or swollen lymph nodes under or around the given place, such as when I use deoderant. The bumps can be felt but are not mobile.

Also related: hormone fluctuation throughout life, regulated by birth control pills mostly, dark hair color, thick hair, no dandruff, but large pores. Excess facial hair until I started using Proactiv. This seems to have shrunk my pores some.

Christine
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Post by jenilake »

Christine,

I had very oily skin as a teen ager. Some acne, not a lot though.

I had some adult acne in my twentys, but not much.

I now have very dry, itchy skin. I think it is due to hormones, not eating very well, and maybe food sensitivities. I always thought that as we get older, our skin gets dryer.

I have always had very sensitive skin, tags on shirts, and other clothes. Also, itchy fabrics.

I get a histimine reaction when I eat or drink something that I'm sensitive to. This causes an itchy, red rash. Drives me nuts! :crazy:

Sometimes anti-histimines help, sometimes not. I am going through a period of about a week, where I am itchy all over, and nothing seems to help. I used to have steroid creams that helped, but I don't use them anymore.

Do you have suggestions for anti-itch creams? None of the ones that the dermatologist told me to use did anything. I use Keri lotion, but it is very oily. My skin just soaks it up.

Love, KathyP :birds:
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Jaco, a parrot in Salzburg, could not only speak but seemed to understand grammar. Whenever his person left, Jaco would say "God be with you." But when several people were departing, Jaco would change it to "God be with all of you."
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skin

Post by TendrTummy »

Kathy,

That's a cute one :) (the smilie feeding the birds)

Well, I don't get histamine reactions very often, because I avoid those lotions, but did you try some Benedryl topical cream or ointment? You might want to try that in conjunction with a dose of Benedryl antihistamine (pill)? I know that during a reaction like yours, there is a histamine reaction both on the skin and internally, and using both might help curb whichever one is most bothersome..

So tell me this: what drinks and foods give you THAT type of reaction? (doctors refer to it as an IgG reaction, I believe.., where those of us who've had Dr. Fine's testing have IgA reactions to those foods) I personally have MANY allergies that give me IgG reactions as well: hayfever, molds, dust mites, cats, dogs, etc. Now you've got me curious! Have you ever gone in and actually had the allergy testing where they make a little scratch and then drop allergens on your skin? When you have the reaction, it results in a small mosquito bite looking bump. I started out with NO allergies, and slowly, during multiple pregnancies (3 total), they increased. During my LAST pregnancy, I developed an intolerance to eggs tho it took me awhile to figure it out (thought it was morning sickness). To eggs, apparently, I have an IgG AND IgA reaction. FUN!!!!

Christine :croc:
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sidenote..

Post by TendrTummy »

sidenote.. Kathy, are you gluten free?? curious, because I found a site for GF skin products and it made me wonder if perhaps something you're using on your skin is the cause of your chronic dry skin..

So the question would be.. what do you use for soaps and lotions? I guess it would have to be something you use on your entire body or wherever you have dryness, so the shower soaps are most suspect..

Also, you mentioned your all over itching was of recent onset... have you switched soaps? lotions? shampoo or conditioner? What about water hardness? do you guys use softner salt and if so, has it run out or have you switched brands?

Christine :bikecollision:
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Post by jenilake »

Christine,

I just posted a long explanation, and lost it.

Well, as near as I can tell, white wine, sugar, yeast, sulfites, processed foods, maybe gluten, and lots of carbs. I stay away from too many carbs, they feed the yeast. I stay away from the others as much as I can.
Tis hard, as they are everywhere. :yikes:

I refuse to give up white wine forever. Won't happen! I don't tell myself NO, not ever, b/c I would defy myself. :mallet:

I am not gluten free completely, still trying to find the hidden buggers.
I am GF with major things and am working on the rest.

I use Keri lotion now, I will try the benedryl cream. What is the GF site for skin products? Gluten in skin products? :yikes:

That is nuts, why is it in them? See, I don't know much about it yet.
I have been working on the Intestinal Candida for so long, that I have been off of breads, etc. for a long time.

Love, KathyP :flamingo:
Birdlady

Jaco, a parrot in Salzburg, could not only speak but seemed to understand grammar. Whenever his person left, Jaco would say "God be with you." But when several people were departing, Jaco would change it to "God be with all of you."
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GF skin products

Post by TendrTummy »

Well, honestly, I dunno if gluten IS in skin products, or why it would be, other than to bind ingredients together, which is its main purpose in most things, but here is the site:
http://www.beautybotanical.myarbonne.co ... anical.nsf

I found it and THEN started to wondering LOL. Here are the ingredients for Keri Lotion:

Active ingredients: octinoxate 7.5%, oxybenzone 2%.

Also contains: water, cetearyl alcohol, glycerin, ceteth-20, ammonium lactate, galactoarabinan, propylene glycol myristyl ether acetate, C12-15 alkyl benzoate, sodium hydroxypropyl starch phosphate, octyldodecyl neopen-tanoate, dimethicone, neopentyl glycol diethylhexanoate, neopentyl glycol diisostearate, tocopheryl acetate, xanthan gum, fragrance, DMDM hydantoin, iodopropynyl butyl-carbamate, disodium EDTA.

Now, I can identify a FEW of these, like EDTA is an anti-coagulant.. but most of the others it's like HUH????? Can anyone translate??

LOL you would DEFY yourself .. sounds like that movie, "me, myself, & irene" LOL the part where he's two people fighting in one body comes to mind..

Christine
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Post by jenilake »

Thanks Christine,

Definitely food for thought. That list of things in the Keri is disturbing!
Guess I will have to check out the stuff on the website. Good site!

Love, KathyP :grin:
Birdlady

Jaco, a parrot in Salzburg, could not only speak but seemed to understand grammar. Whenever his person left, Jaco would say "God be with you." But when several people were departing, Jaco would change it to "God be with all of you."
Marsha

Post by Marsha »

Gosh you all, :idea:
You have to read up on sulfites. I'm really hesitant to jump on yet another bandwagon, but this is a big hurdle for me, to have lately figured out how sulfite sensitivity has affected my skin, sinuses, stomach, etc. Some things that I thought were attributable to gluten are seeming not to be. But, I'll give you better "guinea-pig" results in a few months when I've been avoiding sulfites in topical mixes, shampoos, detergents, and foods.
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links

Post by TendrTummy »

Got any links, Marsha? I'm lazy LOL Actually I'm working and don't have a whole lotta TIME now.. but hey, I'm willing to look into ANYTHING that affects my skin. I am sooo sick of pizza face, constellations on my face, etc. I've heard 'em all. ;) And I STILL THINK OF MYSELF as that gal in high school that everyone made fun of. *sigh*

Christine
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Just in case someone reads this later who doesn't already kn

Post by Lucy »

Hi all,

Just thought this would be a good place to include a post about dry skin since it's one of the signs of thyroid problems which are so common with this M.C. stuff, so it seems.

Also (and this may be a little MORE related) I think that oily skin/acne (particularly on into adulthood) is frequently related to PCO or polycystic ovary disease.

Think most of you already knew this, but could be someone reading who just hadn't thought about these things lately, sooooo...

Yours, Luce
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Post by Carrie »

Hi Christine and everyone. I have brown hair, blue eyes and very fair skin. Some history:
skin - always extremely sensitive; became very oily in puberty and for most of my adult life; severe acne from puberty until my 30's
early puberty - I was the first girl in my class to mature
growth - I had a HUGE growth spurt around 5th grade and was a full head taller than everyone my age (even the boys); lots of sharp bone pains in my legs preceding and during this; I stopped growing in 6th grade at 5' 6"
health - always sick growing up but pretty healthy most of my adult life (until LC)

I should mention that when I was a toddler they told my mom I had Celiac. Back then they thought it was "cured" so I continued, and still do, to eat things with gluten. Now I wonder if the whole picture - skin, abnormal growth and now LC - may be tied to gluten or being a silent, or latent, Celiac. All recent Celiac tests were negative except I do have the DQ2 gene.

My skin and hair have changed since I got LC! Both are much drier and the hair on my head, which is still plentiful, has become baby-like fine. Also I don't have hair any more on my thighs or underarms (used to be pretty heavy).

This all is a mystery to me. I really like reading your stories - looking to make some sense of this.

Love, Carrie
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wow

Post by TendrTummy »

Luce and Carrie,

Lucy, I was unaware of the correlation to that ovary stuff you mentioned.. I'll have to look into that. I have always had irregular menstrual cycles, have been VERY fertile and have defied ALL birth control methods (yes, yes I have), and have also had issues with my uterus (the ligaments holding it up broke and I had corrective surgery, but that has since reversed, so my uterus is now retroflexed and/or retroverted (backwards and hanging down)). What fun!!!

ANYWHO....

Carrie, you'd previously mentioned the lack of underarm hair but I guess I hadn't related it until now: since my MC onset, I've been LOSING hair, and the hair I have has changed texture, from coarse/thick to fine. I still get arm hair and leg hair, but it has reduced.. I used to have a "five o clock shadow" by noon, but now I could go for probably 2 days or more without shaving and not really notice.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....

the hair stuff is to do with hormones as well as thyroid symptoms.. I have been checked for thyroid issues, Carrie, have you?

Also, wanted to mention that altho I never really had much of a growth spurt (stopped growing heightwise in 5th grade, period. I'm 5 friggin 1"), I've always had leg pains and what I've considered "growing pains".. now of course, I realize they're "restless leg syndrome", which is also known to accompany this sort of stuff, or at least fibromyalgia..

Christine
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Post by Mars »

Interesting -

Reached puberty early (5th/6th grade), oily skin as a teenager. Chronic hives in my early 20's. No reason found.

Hysterectomy in my mid 20's/endrometriosis also (wrapped around my organs, including my bowels) raises questions there. No HRT taken then or now.

Loose bowels in early 20's, excessive D in my late 30's. Misdiagnosed with IBS - pushed fiber on me (duh)

Excess facial hair now. Large pores, small bumps on face (white or skin color/almost mole like in appearance).

Dry skin otherwise - especially the legs.

Sensitive to only TIDE detergent - extreme hives if used.

Hair was oily as a teenager along with dandriff, now dry and falls out in handfuls. This happened or began with the taking of Asacol. (have allergy to sulfa drugs also).

I think thats it for the nitnoids (is that the right word?).
"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful." -- Buddha
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NITNOIDS~~~~

Post by barbaranoela »

well I have one NITNOID and its dozing on the recliner!!! :grin:

Evening all---

Since *someone* is feeling better and better as each day passes,this someone is being a pain in the :censored:
And being the *driver* is driving me crazy :lol: but IT sits in the back and does the driving for me :mad:
Like Barb slow up----watch the curb---we coming to a light!!! NOOOOOO kidding---I didnt know I was color-blind!!!

UFF----dont drive with ya HUBBY!!! :wink:

He finally gave in and asked the Dr. for something to sleep---Luigi hates taking pills, so lets hope this gives him a good nites :sleep2:

And my *inners* are settleing down---to a total calmness---

Once again----I am dee-lited that I finally got the hang of this---

Till later---we had a friend over for dinner(and YES, I cooked) cus he has been of great help to us---

Chicken Parm.---cant go wrong with that---linguini/garlic and oil--salad--
So am off to check out some stuff---

Hope everyone is doing good--
Luv Barbara


PS. Just to add--normal skin---BUT when I started with this MCC, I began to develope psorasis---on legs mostly---then it clears and I am good for a bit----I think STRESS can have something to do with that--
Went thru meno. @ 48---with no problems---thinning of hair(which is hereditary) and thinning of bones too---anything I take seems to aggitate me---so I am off everything I tried---and trusting that the calcium/etc. is keeping me in *whole* shape--- :wink:
OH, also developed rosacea(spelling)---some ointment for that---
And *smiling* lines!!!!! :lol:
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Post by Carrie »

Luce, Belated thanks for the PCO information. I did have cysts in my late 30's but they went away. It's been about 3 years since my last ultrasound so maybe I should get it checked again. Also, my PCP tested me twice for ovarian cancer (the CA125 test) when I first got LC as he said sometimes the symptoms are the same (thankfully both tests were negative).

Christine, Yes my PCP gave me basic thyroid tests and they were ok. Still I wonder. And maybe I should get my hormones tested. Also, with the hair, a tiny handful used to come out every time I washed my hair; but, around the same time my body hair disappeared, the hair on my head STOPPED coming out! Go figure. Isn't it supposed to be healthy for some hair to fall out so that new hair can grow? I hope I don't go bald! Never heard of "restless leg syndrome" - is it an autimmune thing? My leg pain stopped when I stopped growing (it was really excrutiating...I used to wake up screaming).

Mars, me too with Tide. I use only Cheer Free (free & gentle & supposedly recommended by dermatologists). I also use only Ivory Gentle Blossoms dish detergent as all others make my hands break out. And for cakes of soap I used to use Alpha Keri but when Bristol Meyers bought Westwood they discontinued it. Bah humbug! Now I use a French Milled Soap - it's made by Neutrogena but only for hotels - I bought a whole case of it from Hilton which is where I first discovered it!

I think some of the similarities - other than digestive things - as we get to know each other better are really thought provoking. Thanks everyone for sharing with me.

Love, Carrie
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