Dry Skin and Breakouts at Work

[FlyChicaga]

Lately I've noticed that when I go to work, my skin is getting extremely dry (as is my sinuses, my throat, and my eyes). I've been trying to drink more water, but that hasn't really been helping. I also so the "humidifier" trick using an ice bucket and a face towel in the hotel, but more and more hotels don't have a place to put the bucket.

I'm not sure if it can be attributed to the dry skin, but on the road I've also noticed I start getting acne breakouts pretty bad. I don't have this problem at home... Only when I get to work. Not sure if it is stress, or the dry skin, but by the end of a four-day trip my pores are all clogged and my skin gets very oily. It's a double-edged sword... My skin will start to get oily and clog my pores during a day, so I'll wet my face and wipe with a paper towel, only to have my skin now dry and cracked.

I am hesitant to start using lotions on my face like I do my hands (my hands get very dry), because I don't want to exacerbate the breakouts. But I want to do something, because it gets annoying to have these bad breakouts at work each week. It's bad enough I look so young, but then throw acne into the picture... You get the idea.

Thoughts on how to solve the dry air problem and the breakouts? Anyone else experience things like this?

[EDUC8-or]

I use Neutrogena Healthy Defense sunblock/moisturizer. It's a sunblock and moisturizer combo. I use the SPF 45. My skin gets extremely dry after I shave, and this lotion works well and I haven't had any problems with breakouts. My wife is a little more sensitive to breakouts and she uses the same stuff without any problems. It's a little on the expensive side, but not only does it make my face feel better it's protecting me down the road.

[My Flight Surgeon]

Ah, the old dry skin problem. A real issue here in the desert. I actually wrote a chapter in the Oxford Textbook of Primary Care that addressed this issue. The answer to dry skin is to MOISTURIZE. Do this with urea containing lotions (LacHydrin 12%, AmHydrin, Eucerin, etc.). Avoid those that have alcohol in them - too drying. Apply daily and don't wait until it is so dry that it starts to itch. The "acne" may just be some inflamation or infection of the hair follicles produced by the skin dryness. I see this a lot, especially in the winter.

[FlyChicaga]

Thank you for the replies. I'll go look for some moisturizers today. I assume they will not clog the pores too terribly? I know I've been steered away from many lotions because they do more harm than good when it comes to acne. Of course, acne products like Proactive did wonders for the "dry skin" problem. Yikes.

I hope I don't lose "man points" for moisturizing.

[EDUC8-or]

Even tough guys moisturize. Do you have a dermatologist in your area that you go see? They should be able to provide you with free samples. The good lotions won't clog pores.

[Doug Taylor]

I moisturize daily and exfoliate occasionally.

[ClearedForOption]

Originally Posted by FlyChicaga

hope I don't lose "man points" for moisturizing.

Of course not, not in the age of the metro-sexual!

I have the driest skin on the planet, and the Excema. (sp?) In all seriousness, I use Neutrogena Oil Free Moisture - 4 oz. bottle. ($9 at Target) on the face every day. Especially after shaving. I also use the Neutrogena face wash... the most gentle one out there and wash the areas you didn't shave. At night - light face wash - any gentle soap will do, don't lather up, just get some soap on your hands and give yourself a light wash... then moisturize before going to sleep. It'll do wonders.

For the rest of the body, my old Doc recommended the St. Ives with collegen. ($4 for a 12-16 oz bottle) I use that as needed, probably should be using more. (and I mix it with Cortizone 1-2.5% on the trouble areas per his orders and that's been blowing the stress rashes out of the water) Lotion works great, you won't itch... feels kind of funky at first, but you'll get used to it. (I have the Howard Hughes disease when it comes to that kind of stuff and at first putting on lotion will make you feel greasy) If you have sensitive skin, look out for the lotions without any sents... I'm a big fan of the Lubriderm, but it's got the cetyl alcohol in it.

Oh, and for the record... I was taught all of the lotion/moisturizing stuff from a gal with great skin. She said - take care of your skin, and your skin will take care of you.