Scabrous

[bugshaw]

My face felt quite itchy and tight this morning, so I went and peered at it in the mirror. The skin is flaking off in a fine white powder. Is this eczema? What does one do about it?

I am inclined to turn to sweet fluffy Bob the cat for blame - my hand went like this when short-haired George the cat lived here, but only the stroking hand. And George never slept on my bed.

It's either that, or too much Scottish wind and rain and not enough moisturiser.

EDIT: Not eczema!

Comments

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

What I've seen as eczema on other people is more like a red rash?

[yalovetz]

Yeah, but it starts with just dry flaky skin, often.

To bugshaw - sounds like your skin is dry, which could be the start of eczema, could be some other skin condition, could just be dry skin. A pharmacist should be able to give you some idea of which it could be, let you know if it's something you should see a doctor about, and/or recommend a cream to help.

[(Anonymous)]

Or a fungal infection like the ones you can get on your scalp? (That's my problem :-( )

[muninnhuginn]

Oh, that's me: since I stopped logging out every day, I just get randomly logged out instead. I wasn't hiding my awful skin condition behind a veil of anonymity.

What to do: see a GP? or a pharmacist might be able to help.

[bugshaw.livejournal.com]

Ew - if it is fungus, I wish to retract my post so no one has ever read it (including me!)

[muninnhuginn]

It could be the wind. It's a much less embarrassing reason.

Or an allergy (tho' again I'd expect a rash). Have you changed any skin related products recently?

[darth-tigger.livejournal.com]

I think it's your brain leaking out.

[bugshaw.livejournal.com]

As long as it's only the white matter, not the grey :-)

[despotliz.livejournal.com]

When I get bouts of eczema I usually get a dry red patch which can have flaky skin, and it feels hot and uncomfortable, but it will build up over a few days. This might be the start of that, or it might just be dry skin from the weather. Either way I think E45 cream should do the trick, if it doesn't then I'd go see a doctor who can prescribe stronger stuff.

[bugshaw.livejournal.com]

Pharmacist then, as I'd have to go buy E45 cream anyway. Ta.

[ex-lark-asc.livejournal.com]

OK, long-term eczema sufferer's 2p here: eczema has a very characteristic appearance, it's a scaly, flaky rash over a bumpy red inflamed area of skin, and it doesn't often pop up out of the blue on people who don't normally have it. It's usually treated with topical steroids. Fine white powdery stuff suggests it's probably not eczema; harsh weather could well have done for your current epidermis, so try lots of moisturiser and gentle exfoliation (gentle rubbing with a flannel after a good soaking in moisturising gloop should be fine) first, then antihistamines if you think it's cat allergy. If that doesn't work get your GP to identify it.

[bugshaw.livejournal.com]

So, not eczema then! Ta.

[ang-grrr.livejournal.com]

Dry skin. Caused by train and stuff. I get it all the time. Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise.

[erik]

and drink more water, yes. (IE: Moisturize from the inside out)

[saare-snowqueen.livejournal.com]

...and get some salve made from sea buckthorn. Its very popular here in the usually frozen north which is where the bushes flourish. Its just becoming known for the treatment of cold weather caused skin conditions.

[bugshaw.livejournal.com]

and stop maligning poor, innocent, fluffy cats!

Water is good.