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As the Director of Scientific Affairs at beauty mega-corp Johnson & Johnson, it’s a safe bet that Dr Warren Wallo knows a thing or fifty million about skin, so when I heard he’d be in town for the launch of Aveeno‘s new Dermexa line, a daily skincare regime suitable for dry skin sufferers and those prone to eczema, I reckoned a few of you might have some pretty specific questions I could put to him.
So this is a targeted post – if you’ve an issue around dry, flaking skin or skin that’s prone to eczema, please do leave a comment. I’ll put the best ones to him and post them up next week. Get going!
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Hi there, I have 6 patches of psoriasis on my face (on cheeks, forehead & over one eyebrow) and I have spent a fortune on lotions and potions to get rid of it but its all been no use. Can you please please reccomend something. Thanks
Oh Kirstie, how I luv thee!
but hen I use eyebrow pencil I get patches above and in my eyebrows and I don’t want to use the betnovate on them because I could end up eyebrowless!
Could u plz ask him what products are good for use on ur face? I have eczema and psoriasis and I use a strong steroid, betnovate, which does work but causes the hair on my legs to grow less and finer. This isn’t a complaint on my legs
Thanks
Since becoming pregnant, my skin has turned into sandpaper and no amount of creams seem to work. Can you recommend a regime for me that can help. The itch is beyond all at the moment. Thanks in advance.
Hello,
My skin has recently changed from being oily to dry, tight, flaky and itchy (and red raw). My usual face cream only seems to aggravate my skin. I also have some acne on my chin. Could you please ask Dr Wallo which face cream would be suitable for my skin that I can also use under makeup. Thanks!
Could Dr Wallo recommend a good eye cream that doesn’t aggravate excema ON my eye (lid and both corners and right underneath) please – anti ageing would be a lovely bonus
Ok this is not pretty but Im asking anyway I have hideous dry skin both around my ears and it would seem actually inside them. I’ve tried lots of moisturisers but nothing seems to help. I suffer from dry skin in general and have quite bad psoriasis on my scalp. Any help at all would be appreciated!
Any scalp psoriasis advice greatly appreciated!
Karen Q & Lainey – I hear ya….
Orlando don’t use betonvate on your face at all – it’s far too stong a steroid cream and will thin your skin. You can get a much lower formulation (think it’s called betnovate 1% or something) but even then only very very limited use is advised. If you have a few patches on your face I’d recommend cetaphil as a cleanser.
Usually psoriasis on your face can be linked to that on your scalp, so if you can successfully treat the scap problem the face will tend to follow. I found my scalp psoriasis cleared very effectively on dermatologists suggestion of using betamousse (perscription only) in conjunction with la roche posay kerium shampoo and with neostrata shampoo. You use the betamousse maybe 1-2 a week but as it clears up only when needed. I might use it every 2-3 months now and it keeps me clear.
Rosey – wow I’ve never heard any of that, thanks! Where can u buy cetaphil?I use Diprosalic all the time on my scalp but the psoriasis never totaly clears and as I’ve heard it can stunt hair growth 2 I’d prefer 2 use sth else.
Hi,
This is in relation to my feet. I have a dry/scaly patch on each of my feet kind of in front of the ankle where there is a bend in the foot. I’ve had it years and years and no amount of moisturising it seems to make any difference. Is there anything that might help? It’s not sore or anything but would be nice to get rid of it.
Thanks
Oh scalp psoriasis is the total bane of my life. Tt drives me crazy with the itch and horrible flaking all over my clothes. I’ve tried every treatment and cream under the sun but nothing has cleared it up. The only way I can cope with it at all is by taking anti-histimines for the itch and using Dead Sea shampoo and conditioner on my scalp also to deaden the itchiness. I’ve been referred to a dermotologist and everything who more or less told me to just live me it. I’ve cut my rather long hair up into a really short bob which also seems to help as anytime there is a bit of sun it can at least get at it.
Sorry for rambling on, its just one of those topics that I never really talk about but think about quite a lot.
Orlando, you can get Cetaphil in most chemists but it’s usually a good deal cheaper in Boots. You just use it like a normal cleaner but wipe off with a cloth rather than rinse off – apparently psoriasis doesn’t like water so the less used the better (dermatologist always says to me ‘stay out of the bathroom’…!)
La Roche Posay is in most chemists but Neostrata is a bit harder to find – I think there was a full list of stockists here at one point so a search might throw it up again. But really the key for me was the betamousse, you’ll have to go to your doc for this though as it’s perscription only.
Also, for the patches you mention on your legs and knees, have you tried coal tar pomade? I find it much better than betonave and not as harsh on my skin. It comes in a massive tub in the chemists but it’s been so long since I bought it I’m not sure they still make it! (It lasts about 2 years the tub is so big). It’s a very effective non-steroid treatment for me and unlike betnovate clears the patches for a long time.
Hopefully some of this will help, it’s so hard to find a treatment that works for you as everyone responds differently. I’ve spent years trying different treatments (my mother made me drink litres of pure aloe vera at one opint – bleugh) but hopefully have found my wonder combination now
Good luck!
I used to use the coal tart stuff for a few years but it ruined the sheets and the chemist used 2 have to make it for me in the back of the chemists! My doctor just prescribed Dovobet (the gel with betnovate in it) after that. I went 2 a dermatologist once and he just said ‘u have psoriasis’, prescribed nothing n charged a bomb….
The thing about betnovate is yeah, like u said, its effects rly don’t last a long time, I seem 2 have 2 use it for the week, leave it for 2 weeks n have luvly skin n then it’s back with a vengeance! Think I might talk 2 my doctor about the coal tar pomade. I’m saving this page, ur a legend!
Good god Karen, I can’t believe a dermatologist told you that! That’s so frustrating, it’s their job to give you advice and to help find the treatment that will work for you – even if it does take time. If you want, I can give you the number of my dermatologist who sorted me out? I know there’s no guarentee she’ll find the solution for you, and it can be quite expensive for a consult (I think I paid something like e200 for the first one and e150 for each one after, not to mention spreeing out on all the products she recommended) but honestly, my only regret is not seeing her sooner.
I totally understand what you mean about thinking but not talking about this kind of thing – ultimately psoriasis for me is a ‘no go’ area for conversations. I used to feel embarrassed, ashamed, and had no self-confidence in my looks at all. Even though I’m so much better now talking about it still makes me feel self-conscious. So ramble on!
Karen – I know, I used the daed sea stuff 2, but it irritated mine more! That’s the thing abt psoriasis, it’s so individual that what works for one person mightn’t necessarily work for u. I would recommend the Diprosalic (on prescription) if ur scalp is rly bad – altho it didn’t clear mine totally, it can get rid of some of the worst so u get a bit more confident. I only use elave shampoo & conditioner 2 as I seem 2 be allergic 2 any scented lotions/potions. Also – biggest defo advice I can give –
DON’T USE JOHNSONS BABY SHAMPOO/LOTION/WIPES!!!!!!!!! It’s one of the worst things possible, all that ‘as kind to skin as water’ is a load of BS when it comes 2 psoriasis. I started using it n couldn’t figure out why my skin was in bits, til my doctor n hairdresser both said ‘r u totally mad, that’s the worst thing u could use’ – so DON’T USE IT!!!!
Orlando, I think the coal tar pomade is different to the stinky-sheets-stuff (which I have vague recollections of too). This is quite ointment like and you just slather it on to whatever parts of your skin need it. It does smell a little but isn’t overpowering – and usually 2-3 nights use is all I need.
Okay, now that I’ve rambled on a lot without asking any questions for dr wallo – here’s mine
Are there any products available for skin that has been slightly damaged through steriod use? Skin that is a bit thinner and redder than normal.
Thanka again
also, that’s a fab question!! I often think there r so many ppl with oily skin r acne that dry skin/psoriasis can get forgotten abt….great 2 see a post with other ppl who know what they’re talking abt n have experience of it!
Thanks Orlando and Rosey for your suggestions. Ive noted them all down and am off to see where I can track them down to give them a go. I also think I’m going to go back to the doctor and see if he can prescribe me some betamousse. I figure its one of those things that you just have to keep trying stuff until you find what works for you individually. Sorry Beaut.ie for turning your helpful thread into a ‘poor me’ routine!
Karen – ur v welcome, I did the exact same when I was on Beaut 1st! It does get u down sometimes doesn’t it? I’ve been babysitting n had he kids be nice n go ‘Oh u have sth in ur hair’ n pull at it, but u know when u pull at one bit it’s like a snowstorm!! Gud luck with it
Yea, thanks Orlando & Rosey, I’ve noted your suggestions down also, no harm in giving them a try. Thankfully I only have one tiny patch of psoriasis on my hairline so I’ll keep the betamouse in mind if it gets worse.
I have KP on my upper arms- any tips?? Exfoliating doesn’t help! Coconut oil didn’t help either!
Hi, my question is about my dermatitis.
Whenever I get stressed out, the skin around my nose and mouth erupts into a bumpy red rash. It’s not particularly itchy, just unsightly. Any tips for skincare or otherwise that would be good for me?
As an aside….
Flame: that sounds like a fungal infection. If you take yourself off to see your pharmacist, they should be able to help you out.
Scarie: try a facial scrub with salicylic acid in it. St Ives make one (for blackheads) which is great. It cleared my KP right up.