ridiculously sensitive skin

Toothpaste? Just to dab on rather than wash whole face in..but not before goin out obviously.

I can't think of anything for the spots, but we use aqueous cream and oilatum when my sons skin flares up with red itchy patches. If your skin is less irritated for a while would you be able to use something for the spots later or would they go on there own?

I would lay off the cleanser or any kind of soap. I have found that the Aldi moisturiser (the £2-3 one) is very easy on the skin. I get very sensitive skin just like you describe, and going back to water and moisturiser only really helps (though I appreciate we don't have the same skin). You might find the spots calm down once you get the itchiness under control. Good luck.

Thank you all. I might go with the just water option for a few days, but doesn't that leave your skin dirty? I don't wear make-up but I still feel a bit yucky if I don't wash my face properly.

LAy off the spot creams PL, they're drying out your skin and causing irritant dermatitis by the sound of things. Get some Aveeno cream from the chemist, smoth it on like a cream cleanser, then gently wipe off with a damp warm muslin cloth or soft flannel. Then moisturise with some more Aveeno.

If the spots are still there after all that, go to your docs for some topical antibiotics - I'd go for a cream rather than a gel as the gels tend to contain alcohol and if you're skin is sensitive a cream would be better (Dalacin is what I give).

If you are not wearing make-up, water will be fine, especially with your skin as it is at the mo. For me, that 'squeaky clean properly washed' feeling is when i have stripped the natural oil off the top layer of my skin, which triggers the drynessand sensitivity. If you feel the need to give it a better going over, you could try using your existing moisturiser (which you say you are fine with) like a cleanser and wiping it off with cottom wool and then rinsing. But you really don't need to.

I'm not qualified or anything, just have a lifetime's experience of rubbish skin!

ETA - Rache typed out two whole replies to you in the time it took me to type this one. I'd say she knows best!

I second the Aveeno cream. I also use the lotion for showers for my dry, itchy skin. Also, Oilatum is fabulous and they do a face cream (available in the larger Boots). I use that as a night cream. The other thing I found good, despite my previous aversion due to the smell, is the Elizabeth Arden 8 hour repair stuff. I found that when I used the big brand names, I got spots but i don't with the above.

HTH

You must avoid soap. Use aqueous or aveeno as a soap substitute - put it on like a cleanser then rinse off with plain water. If v dry and cracked you may need some steroids but you could try something richer like emulsifying ointment as a plain moisturiser after washing your hands.

Yes it will. Handwashing is more about the way you do it than what you use. It's more important to wash every bit, like this:

Cracked hands harbour more bacteria than intact skin - so on balance (for your own comfort sa well as hygiene) far better to have intact skin and skin cleaned with cleanser, than to have broken skin cleaned with soap.

Re hygiene - if you're really worried do what they do in nurseries and do nappy changes wearing gloves (preferably non latex).

My skin has gone so sensitive, I washed my face with my usual Vitamin E stuff and all of a sudden my face was buring and my lips were swollen, I look sunburnt, awful and so painful.

I then tried my nutrogena stuff that I have used since I was a teenager and had a similar reaction, though not as severe as I had already had an antihistamine.

The only things I can use at the moment, are the johnson and johnson wipes, baby lotion, simple moisturiser or aqueous cream.

xxxxxxx

Thank you all ? I'll be off for some aveeno stuff forthwith.

MF, that sounds grim ?