:)
Hi, all -
Wondering if anybody has tried applying warmed olive oil to very dry skin? Any kind of cleanser/soap with olive oil in it is supposed to help moisturize, so was thinking why not try just slightly warmed olive oil and leave it on for say, half an hour or so, to see if it helps.
What say any of you - worth a try or not.
Thanks,
Sheltiemom
Hi Sheltie
My husband was recently told to use medical grade olive oil to melt his ear wax (by the GP), so don't think it would harm.
Kathyx
Sheltie sounds like a plan. My skin is so dry I am flaking off. May not be here tomorrow. haha
Is it your hands? You could put pure olive oil over your hands and wear cotton gloves to bed overnight. Very soothing and moisturising (but doesn't smell too great ;D) xx
Wonder if you could pour it in the tub? then it would get all the dry spots. All over my body!!
I'm sure it wouldn't hurt!
There are other kinds of products, especially made to put in your bath, though. (And probably not so hard to clean the tub out afterwards!!!!) xx
Be careful not to skid out of the tub!
I use Nivea Body Essentially Enriched lotion for very dry flaky skin. It doesn't seem to be irritating and helps.
I just have to be consistent, which I sometimes forget.
My routine before bed would be a comedy sketch!
Saline spray in my nose followed by Nasonex. I must keep my nose clear, or I breathe through my mouth and my mouth turns to sandpaper.
Nature's Tears spray in my eyes, followed by Restasis.
Testosterone gel on one arm
Estrogel on the other arm.
Nivea lotion on my legs, feet, and arms.
Socks, because my feet get very cold when I first go to bed.
I get hot and cold and cold and hot all night and all day long!
Sigh
Repeat the same sprays, drops and gels in the morning!
Then of course the pills.
Morning and night.
Good thing I'm patient and organized, and have a sense of humor.
Carolina
I'll have my olive oil on my Italian bread, thanks.
No, but I tried cooking spray once. It didn't work too well for the dry skin, but it was great when I was eating. Food didn't stick to my hands! (Okay, I made that last part up, but seriously, don't try cooking spray. It is too messy!)
I think olive oil would probably work. I've used it for dry hair, and it works pretty well for that, so why not for dry skin?
I'd say olive oil sure wouldn't hurt. Hair, huh, now I could try that. I don't know if the oil would MIX with water or just sit on the top and sides of the tub and make it slippery? Be ever so careful. Lucy
Jusgt last night I saw online an olive oil based body spray for dry skin. I'm pretty sure it was the web site for the Body Shop. You might want to check that out.
Wow - sounds like a plan, then. I need it for my face, because it is beyond dry. The dermatologist didn't really give me anything substantive to try, except to carry on with CeraVe which she said has "the science behind it." Maybe so, but it isn't helping my facial skin.
Thanks a lot to everybody,
Sheltiemom
Sheltie
My face is very dry but the one thing that has helped me a lot in recent years is Dermalogica Smoothing Cream. It's not cheap, but lasts a long time.
Kathyx
You know, I've tried all sorts of different creams too. The one that really works on my hands (I haven't tried it on my face though) is Bag Balm. I know, I know, its the cream that the farmers put on cow's udders. It really really works though. Your hands become as soft as anything. I also put a bit of it on my dry legs and elbows. It is also great for gardeners, that's how I came across it in the first place.
:D
Coconut oil is helpful, too. Put it on after you get out of the shower and are still damp. That's the best way to use all of the oils, because it seals in the moisture.
Coconut oil is cheap. Tere's the vitamin-grade kind that costs $20 for about a 12-oz jar, but there's also the giant 1-pound tub for about $7. You can find the Lou Ann version right by the Crisco at Walmart. It's solid, but melts at about 80F, so you can warm it up, or just scoop a bit out and rub your hands together. It sinks in instantly.
The difference between the 2 is that the expensive one is more palatable if you are eating it as a supplement. It is unbleached, so it has that coconut smell and taste.
Right now I like the Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Butter cream. Gooey delight!! And the Dove Pro-age Cream Oil. In the red bottle It has a weak AHA, which helps get rid of flakes, and also a little SPF, too.
Hello Sheltiemom, An old time treatment for dry hair,
used to be to massage warmed olive oil thoroughly into the hair.
Wrap a turban around the head for 2/3 houres.
Shampoo as normal. hey presto! Lovely silky locks..
cheers , Dolly.
I often rub olive oil into my hands when I'm cooking, but I wouldn't use it on my face. While natural products sound good, lotions and creams created in a lab are balanced to moisturize without clogging pores. If you don't have a problem with it, then there's no reason not to use the oil; I just think that you can do better in the skin care aisle at your local drugstore.
You can get unscented mineral oil in grocery store by the laxitives....does not have the strong olive oil smell....I love it on my food but not so much on my body....Just be careful tub gets really slippery after.
One of the patient panelists at the SSF conference recently said she's following her rheumy's (Dr. Fox, Scripps Clinic) advice not to dry off after her shower and to apply sesame oil while her skin is damp. She warned that she might smell a bit like a salad!
Prairie gal
I have tried Canola oil but seemed to leave a film on my hands and everything I touched. Seriously, I have no connection with this product but it is a cream I inherited from my mother for dry skin. Have tried 'new and improved' products over the years but always go back to Paquins, which is now labeled Paquins Plus for dry skin. I get it from CVS but sometimes you need to order it from their pharmacist. Not too expensive for a jar and you only need a little so lasts a long time (depending on how dry your skin is!) I always wet my skin before applying and it goes a little further but when it is really flaky I use it 'straight' and within a day or two no flakes or irritation. Doesn't leave your skin feeling greasy unless you use too much.
And as Daisy said, really wonderful for use on 'gardener's hands'.
I recently did some research into Olive Oil and using it on your skin. I found some information on using it as a facial wash. At first I thought it would be strange. Why would you ever use "oil" on your face to wash it? I have NEVER used anything but dove soap when washing my face (unless I was traveling and forgot to bring my own soap). When I was young, a doctor had suggested it and I've used it ever since.
So I thought I would try olive oil as a facial wash as well as a treatment for my hair and moisturizer for my skin after I shower. I got an oil decanter from the kitchen, filled it with olive oil and placed it in my bathroom so it would be convenient for me. I followed the one set of instructions for using it as a facial wash - place a small amount in the palm of your hands, then rub it all over your face, including your eyes so you can remove any makeup such as mascara as well. Using hot water, but not scolding, wet your wash cloth and wring it out. Place it on your face and let it sit for a few moments until the heat is gone. Rinse the wash cloth and repeat with hot water. Rinse again, but this time, you will wipe off any remaining oil from your face. It does a great job removing any makeup and dirt! And, my face does not feel oily. Just smooth. I've done this for three days so far. No additional break outs. I still have some dry spots but they are getting less.
I follow the above routine at night. In the morning, I rub it on my face and also in my hair. Then when in the shower, I put the warm wash cloth on my face few times, then wipe it off. I then shampoo my hair and condition it as usual.
After my shower, I pat myself dry then use the oil as a moisturizer on my skin. It takes very little to cover a lot of skin. This is where I'm finding fast results. I don't get those "itchy twitches" as I like to call them and I'm not scratching at my lower legs until they are raw and bleeding.
I have used baby oil in the past on my skin after showering and did not like smelling like a baby. I also found it too "oily" and that it would transfer onto my clothing. Olive oil seems to rub in nicely and does not leave the oily feel but a smooth feel. I can see the difference on the backs of my hands already.
DHC. com has some cosmetic grade olive-oil based products. All natural, really nice!
Coconut oil is a good alternative. Lou Ana brand, $6 for a large tub in the oil section of the supermarket ( at Walmart too). No scent. It has the same properties as olive oil, sinks in right away, light and not greasy.
I use the DHC olive oil cleasner on my face for years, nightime moisturizer cream, and during the day in morning splash on some water, and use velvet coat primer. All from DHC.
For my hands I have been using emu oil for amazon, use it before bed and in mid morning, love it. My hands are so soft and not dry.
You can also get Jojoba oil, almond oil and others at your health food stores, sales folks there can help tell you which are lighter etc. I use them with essential oils and apply after a bath while still wet. You could use without scent though.
I am like Caroline, I tend to be inconsistent. There is so much to do each day with eye drops, skin lotions, pills, sinus irrigations etc. that I get tired just doing my daily routines! Reading everyones posts really helps me stay positive, so thanks!
The reason I like olive oil is because I have it in my home all the time! lol
Natural oils are great...I keep olive oil in one of those clear ketchup condiment holders that has an attached cap so it's very clean and convenient...just rub it in after showers.
I bathe probably every other day and my skin stays moisturized during that time.. I DO put on socks and fleece jammies (I shower in the evening) so that everything absorbs well. I apply it from the neck down while I'm damp and it's great for me. Would never work for me if I showered before work though. : )
I go to a Sjogrens support group and they were just talking about this. Some of them use olive oil and just rub it into the skin before bed. I don't think they used it on the face.
Some of them use plain old vaseline and rub it on before bed. They used vaseline on the face as well. They said the vaseline will not stain fabric and is absorbed with a little rubbing. My mother has used vaseline on her face for years and looks much younger than her age.