Doing everything right - my skin looks like cr*p!

lulabellarama
lulabellarama Posts: 96 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi there,

I've been eating well and working out for the last three months and my skin has got progressively worse. I drink loads of water, eat plenty of veggies and fish etc, so why isn't my skin glowing like it should?

I seem to always have several spots around my mouth and chin area and it's really getting me down, when I was less mindful of what I ate and was a couch potato my skin looked great. My body is looking better and better, it's like something is trying to balance me out, so I can't be too smoking hot ;)

Has anyone else had this? I'm wondering if it's due to sweating more? I do wash my face with an antibacterial face wash once I've cooled down after my morning workout.

Help me please.
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Replies

  • JacksMom12
    JacksMom12 Posts: 1,044 Member
    Are you eating enough fats? Healthy fats are good for skin and hair.
  • seliinac
    seliinac Posts: 336 Member
    Are you eating enough fats? Healthy fats are good for skin and hair.

    ^This is what I was wondering.
  • VonTinka
    VonTinka Posts: 89 Member
    I get this! I have such bad spots now since loosing weight! It's on my chest but mostly on my chin and face they really hurt too...i've used everything to try get rid of them :(
  • lulabellarama
    lulabellarama Posts: 96 Member
    I'm not often much under my fats. I use real butter and have cheese and yogurts etc.
    I'd love an excuse to eat more though, so maybe I'll give it a try.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Are you eating enough fats? Healthy fats are good for skin and hair.

    ^ That would be my question.

    The minimum fat intake you should get is 0.35 grams per lb of body weight. So if you are 140lbs, then the minimum fat intake should be 49 grams, again this should be seen as a minimum.

    ETA: Looked at your diary, fat intake does not seem to be the issue, you get plenty
  • lulabellarama
    lulabellarama Posts: 96 Member
    ...in fact looking at my fats, it's the one area I'm consistently slightly over on
  • bluesunset2015
    bluesunset2015 Posts: 120
    It could be hormonal issues, maybe you should have your family doctor check it out. You could also see a dermatologist?
  • gracielynn1011
    gracielynn1011 Posts: 726 Member
    Make sure that you are not using too many skin products that can dry skin out and make break outs worse. Dry skin causes your body to produce more oil to balance it out, which causes more breakouts.

    I switched to a milder cleanser, and my break outs are getting better.
  • AmykinsCatfood
    AmykinsCatfood Posts: 599 Member
    Do you tan or go out in the sun a lot without sunscreen? If not now then have you ever? Even as a child? Sun is extremely hard on skin and can do a lot of damage including pock marks, dark spots and blemishes.
  • lulabellarama
    lulabellarama Posts: 96 Member
    Hormonal issue: It presents like that's the issue, but I'm on a birth control pill that is supposed to be helpful for preventing breakouts.

    Dry skin: I don't use a lot of products on my skin. Just the face wash after working out (which I started after the problem began) then a light moisturiser with some added almond oil. I wear make up for work, but not loads, and it hasn't changed recently.

    I'm just a freak, clearly!
  • lulabellarama
    lulabellarama Posts: 96 Member
    Sun exposure: Chance would be a fine thing in the UK. I do get some dark pigmentation when I get a tan in summer, but this is actual spots, sore and lumpy. Bleurgh.
  • Cortneyrenee04
    Cortneyrenee04 Posts: 1,117 Member
    I used to have the worst acne ever!!! A lot of times people will say to wash your face MORE but really you should be gentle with it. Maybe try a milder soap and washing your face just with your hands (no rags) and use a fresh clean towel every day. You could even try washing your towels in a milder detergent. Moisturizer is important too!
  • DouMc
    DouMc Posts: 1,689 Member
    Are you sure you drink enough water? I got the same thing when I started working out and I swore black and blue that it wasn't dehydration. But then I started tracking my water and drinking a little more and my skin cleared up pretty quickly. Now when it gets bad I just make sure to drink extra water.
  • lulabellarama
    lulabellarama Posts: 96 Member
    I'm going to try the milder cleanser for a start. But without too much optimism as I only started using the antibacterial one in response to the breakouts.
  • lulabellarama
    lulabellarama Posts: 96 Member
    I'll also double my efforts with water
  • maryjaquiss
    maryjaquiss Posts: 307 Member
    My skin is ALWAYS worse in the winter and has been particularly bad recently (and I'm also in the UK). I know it sounds counterintuitive, but a more intensive moisturiser does tend to make a bit of a difference - maybe try that or get a really skin quenching facial :smile:
  • 1PatientBear
    1PatientBear Posts: 2,089 Member
    <---- trying to figure out why OP thinks crap is a bad word
  • lulabellarama
    lulabellarama Posts: 96 Member
    Ha, I swear likea trooper IRL. I just don't want to offend any sensitive folk.
  • charliex2202
    charliex2202 Posts: 4,281 Member
    Sometimes the best thing for skin is to do nothing to it...I know it sounds crazy but believe me the less i do to my skin the better it looks, i wash with just water as soap irritates my skin I use a cleanser/scrub once a week only and just face cream at night time..... this works for me and my skin stays clear...
  • alittleteapot
    alittleteapot Posts: 25 Member
    Same thing happened to me and my dermatologist recommended aloe. Not the kind you buy at the drugstore, but the actual gel from inside the plant. I have used it for about two months now, and my skin is flawless. I wash with Dove soap, and then dab on the gel all over, in place of moisturizer. My skin feels hydrated and no more bumps or dry patches from the stuff I was using before.
  • MsJulielicious
    MsJulielicious Posts: 708 Member
    Hormonal issue: It presents like that's the issue, but I'm on a birth control pill that is supposed to be helpful for preventing breakouts.

    Dry skin: I don't use a lot of products on my skin. Just the face wash after working out (which I started after the problem began) then a light moisturiser with some added almond oil. I wear make up for work, but not loads, and it hasn't changed recently.

    I'm just a freak, clearly!
    [/quote
    I was on ortho tricyclen lo for a year. It's supposed to help your skin so I didn't think that could possibly be causing the horrible acne I was getting.
    The minute I switched to a different form my skin cleared right up
  • CorlissaEats
    CorlissaEats Posts: 493 Member
    I read once that breakouts around the chin and mouth are related to hormone imbalance. Talk to your doc or ND? The added exercise might have disrupted something.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    Not a smoker correct? Cause youre right your fats look good.

    I would talk to a dermatologist the one product shown to consistently turn over skin cells is retinol or retine-A ( might be spelling it wrong). Along with some of the acids like alpha hydroxy. A little extra vitamin E especially found in oils like sunflower or peanut, and of course water and fruit (vitamin A & C).
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    Same thing happened to me and my dermatologist recommended aloe. Not the kind you buy at the drugstore, but the actual gel from inside the plant. I have used it for about two months now, and my skin is flawless. I wash with Dove soap, and then dab on the gel all over, in place of moisturizer. My skin feels hydrated and no more bumps or dry patches from the stuff I was using before.

    i like aleo too i buy a big bottle of pure aloe gel mixed w/ citric acid for preservative. I'm not consistent though :grumble:
  • gracielynn1011
    gracielynn1011 Posts: 726 Member
    May need to check your make up. For some reason, I new can not use foundation without breaking out. I can use a tinted powder, but nothing heavier than that.
  • fruttibiscotti
    fruttibiscotti Posts: 986 Member
    I used to suffer from dry skin too. Used to buy the expensive creams from France and Switzerland. Until I switched to a low carb, high fat diet. 10% carbs, 20% protein, 70% fat. Not only am I losing weight, The skin on my face cleared up and now feels like a baby's butt. I seldom use creams anymore - in fact I use them sometimes cause I miss their perfumed smell.
  • 4theking
    4theking Posts: 1,196 Member
    How has weight loss been since being on the birth control. It can and will slow metabolism. When metabolism gets slowed, one of the first things to go is the blood supply to the skin which will result in acne and dry skin. The body just does not have enough energy to take care of everything so it works from the inside out.
  • nohaynicknamesdisponibles
    nohaynicknamesdisponibles Posts: 94 Member
    I do wash my face with an antibacterial face wash once I've cooled down after my morning workout.

    Help me please.

    Yes, you probably should go and see your dermatologist because in my opinion this is coming from your antibacterial face wash.
  • TigerBite
    TigerBite Posts: 611 Member
    Have you changed your diet to include more acid/citrus fruits ... citrus and acidic fruits (pineapples, oranges, kiwis, etc.) can irritate your skin and cause a reaction ... I know from personal experience, I break out with what look of like pimples (though, they never come to a head), they are painful and red, kind of like cystic acne, all around my mouth, if I eat too much citrus ...
  • kdjfalkj
    kdjfalkj Posts: 8 Member
    Some all natural cold cream sounds like something that might help. For most people it works as a cleanser & moisturizer all in one and is great for removing makeup. Etsy has a really nice selection of cold creams, if you want to take a look.

    Or you could do what I do and just use homemade finely ground oatmeal as a daily cleanser. It removes dirt and excess oil on the skin's surface without disrupting the pH balance like soap does. I've been using this for months & my skin has never been clearer. Charliex2202 is quite right, sometimes it's best to just let your skin take care of itself for the most part. :)

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