Your skin on tx

[brown_eyed_grl]

I am in the skin care business and was wondering what happens to your skin during tx. If it gets bad, does it go back to what it was after tx? My skin has always been my best feature and would hate to see it change too much.

*Julia

[Lilla]

I don't think I have aged since starting tx.  In fact, I met up with an old friend of mine who I had not seen prior to starting this tx and she told me I looked fantastic.  Perhaps she wanted to make me feel good, but she's a pretty honest person.  I have not dropped an excessive amt of weight. Prior tx I weighed 126, and now I weigh 121/122 (fluctuates). I feel my diet is better (more fruit & water) and that's helpful for your skin.  I have always used a moisturizer w/sunscreen and at nite I always use a nite cream (always remove makeup etc before going to bed).  I've always used a satin pillow case and I think it's helpful for skin & hair.  Next week could be different, but I am trying my best to have and keep an optimistic outlook (not always easy).

[jmjm530]

Treatment dries the skin and in addition sets it up for a host of drug related conditions, including sebboreah dermatitis, psoriasis, rosacea, and vasrious "rash" type conditions, sometimes lumped together as "ribarash". I think it would be a small minority of people who treated that did not at least have some skin problems while on the treatment drugs. With no disprect to your profession, most OTC products are not the best way to go on treatment where less is often more, meaning my dermatologist recommended moisturizes that did not include any perfumes, or additives, etc. Ended up using Cetaphil Cream or Lotion and that's about it, other than the rx drugs prescribed for some of the skin issues mentioned above.

-- Jim

[brown_eyed_grl]

I can understand that jmm. Im sure OTC products fil in comparison to RX product that contain active ingredients that can actually help a condition. I am a facialist, so my biggest concern is the skin on my face. I look really young for my age and hope to keep it that way. If the facial skin ages during tx dries out and ages, does it re-hydrate and look fine after tx?

[pepelowpost]

I saw your post about the red blotchs on your forehead.I have the same problem 2 wine colored blotchs near the hair line about the size of  quater,They appeared 1 week before i was to complete tx,i am now 3 months post tx and they are now begining to fade.Any idea what the might be called?

[madbrad]

Being a dude ...LOL...I'm not all that interested in my skin.But on the other hand this tx has just done a job on it....I have some sort of weird red blotches on it around my head and face...and some wierd rashy looking stuff under the skin on my forearms......Puzzling...Because I too have had great skin.

[Lilla]

I am female and am very concerned over skin issues while on tx.  So far, what has been the most noticeable for me is the itching.  I have always had dry skin, but it has become worse while on tx.   The skin itching comes and goes, and I have found that the Gold Bond (green btl) works good for me.  My head itches and I've used Pureology products as I was told they had no sulfates.  So far (I'm on week 10) my hair and scalp are fine.  

[brown_eyed_grl]

What about the skin on your face?  Do you feel you have aged since txing?

[jmjm530]

I don't see any reason why your facial skin shouldn't return to it's previous youthful glow after treatment, assuming it may not look so great while on treatment, which often happens. Maybe some of the women here will chime in on this. One caution, should things go awry facially on treatment, try not to self medicate but rather see a dermatologist who know what is good for the face and what isn't. For example, topical steroids work short term on the face but can have negative long-term effects and that even includes OTC Hydrocortisone 1%. Therefore always a good idea to only use steroids -- especially on face -- under a dermatologist's supervision.

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

If they are near the hairline, it might be sebboreah dermatitis. If it doesn't fade on its own, best to see a dermatologist.

-- Jim

[LadyY]

Hi Julia,
This is also a concern of mine. I have noticed (4rth wk. of tx) my skin is drier and I need to use alot of moisturizer especially at night...cleaning, hydrating and then a serious night cream. My hands are also chapping and again...moiturizer...cream not lotion. The best thing we can do..I believe...it drink alot of water....which at times I find difficult. I have been told (on this site) that it helps with all sx...especially the itchiness. So drink up girl!
Bye,
Yvonne

[Pdilly]

My skin got lots drier.  It tends to be dry normally.   I went through bottles of lotion.  Drank tons of water.  My hands would crack and I would use shea butter etc on them and wear gloves at night.  That is the only thing that saved me.  Also it was winter and my skin is drier that time of year.

[brown_eyed_grl]

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I was going to tx at the end of April after my son's wedding, but I decided to wait till after my little son graduates from 6th grade in June. I want to be there for all the festivities. I know I keep putting it off but its a BIG deal, so June it is....so untill then, I'll keep asking questions and gaining more knowledge.

Happy Easter

*Julia

[jmjm530]

As long as you decided to wait until June, make sure you take a good look at the Vertex trial results being released at the Barcelona convention later this month. Don't know your statistics or anything, but if the trials so far  prove as successful as many of us hope, then it may factor into your treatment decision.

-- Jim

[orphanedhawk]

My skin and hair have gotten very dry from tx. I take omega fish oil. Once the itchies started, I had to change skin and hair products. My doc's office suggested Aveno products. I use oatmeal soap and  a coconut oil lotion. On my face I use Alba products. My favorite for extreme dry skin is supersalve( supersalve.com). If it gets really dry, I put the salve on when I go to bed and it does help.  I don't think I'm looking good. I told my husband I look like a Goth junkie but he thinks I'm nuts.    Happy Easter, renewal, rebirth, rehealth!

[brown_eyed_grl]

Jim, I am geno2. Dr said I may not have to complete 24 weeks, but possibly if my numbers aren't negative at 4 weeks. My VL is 1.62ml, so I may have to do the 24 weeks. I shouldn't complain. 24 is still not bad at all!

Would the Barcelona convention/Vertex factor into us 2's?

[rosebud57]

hi,
i am 50 my skin is pretty good for my age i was not much of a sunworshipper type. at 20 of 24 weeks, my skin is a little dryer at times. i have not had any rashes people talk about, but had a dry rudiness that was already present before tx for several years. might be a rxn to products i have used in the past. that dry flakiness is temporarily remedied with clay face mask. which i still use periodically  when i look at face in mirror i look pale around the eyes and eyes look bloodshot sometimes.  i guess the paleness is anemia.

i have been wanting to try a home chemical peel or something to smooth fine lines, but don't want to risk putting a chemical on my face.

[mauilady]

Wait until after your Tx is finished before doing anything major to your skin.  You know how prone we are to infections now.  Every little cut I get on my hands gets all inflamed.  

I've taken to using Nitrile exam gloves when I work in the dirt or clean the house.  They don't sweat as much as latex or vinyl, and if I powder them first, I can reuse them.  (Recycle!!)  

It seems my worst itchies are on my chest, where I've got a bunch of pre-cancerous stuff.  Maybe the interferon is working on it??  That'd be nice... kill two birds with one stone.  Now I have a lot more sympathy for my dog... :)  Right now I feel like I've got fleas.

[missy60051]

My skin as well, I try to take care of!

I've encountered extreme dryness since tx.  
Although before treatment I was seeing a dermatologist which Burned my skin.
that was the intension, but once starting treatment that was extreme
I had to stop immediately.

Trust me.  This product you will love and it's worth every penny.
I started having problem skin at age 33.  That stinks.
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There are infomertials of this product with Cindy Crawford.
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customer service 1-800-927-0047

you can tell them you're a first timer and you want the introductory kit,
which is a smaller version of product.
cleanser, Maintence 1(day lotion), Maintenance 2 (night), non drying mask,and
Decollete (for the neck line)
this should only cost about 35.00

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you will receive a lager amount @ 100.00 every 2 months.
there are other products you'll see in their flyer and you can replace items
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You need to try this you will be very happy with this product.

Missy

[NYgirl]

I work in the professional beauty industry and let me tell you...one of the hardest problems I had was my vanity during treatment.  Not only did about 75% of my hair fall out but I had all sorts of problems with my skin which to this day now post treatment is still so dry and scaly I go crazy using collagen and other things to no avail.

Trying to maintain a good moisture level is CRUCIAL.  We get so dehydrated it's unbelievable.  I htink I just started too late and doing 72 weeks was my skin downfall. I really ran into problems right towards the end.

I didn't even know how much vanity I did have until I started looking like an alien vampire.  Really.

So...I got a wig, used extra moisturizers and makeup and made the best of it.

If you have great skin to start you probably have a good advantage.  Just make sure you spend a little extra time taking extra care and I'm sure that beautiful skin will stay beautiful as it is right now.

[Lilla]

I am a Geno 2b also; tx supposedly 24 weeks.  I'm starting Week #10 tomorrow.  Had a bad run with first doctor.   VL was 1.8 mil; after 3 weeks it was 135.  Had a VL test at week 8 and doctor called last Friday and told me it was UND <5 IU/mL.  

[brown_eyed_grl]

You say "supposedly" 24 weeks Lila. Is that b/c you were mot undetected at 4 weeks? I'm a little confused. What kind of problem did you have w/your first Dr?  

*Julia

[Lilla]

my first doctor indicated tx for 24 weeks, but a possibility of 16; then my first doctor vanished and office he was with cancelled my appt and gave me a phone # to contact doctor---called doctor and no call was returned. Don't know where he went. Went back to the practice, expressed my displeasure of how this was handled.  Then I went on a hunt for a new doctor and finally found one.