skin care remedies?? help my whole body is sagging!!

I would love to hear how others are managing the skin ravaging effect of benzos.  It seems like almost overnight I have bags, dark circles, and wrinkles where I never had them before!  I use some of the Origin products which I like fairly well but would love some other tips.  Thanks!

 

Karen

Hi, I have no tips to offer here but just want to  say that I hear you with the aging thing, it seems overnight to me that I have  sagging skin, no muscle tone , bags and circles and thinning hair. I have started yoga, aerobics with weights, but the downward slide continues. Benzos and withdrawal wreak such havoc on our bodies  :'(

Muscle wasting is really worrysome, I am thinking of taking a protein supplement but am so afraid to rev up w/d symptoms.

LG

Hi Karen,

 

Good topic!!! I feel your pain!!! I have major issues with dry skin & dry red eyes.  I have the dark circles, too.  I'm thanking God for tons of Estee Lauder, Clinique & Lancome, I've become a master at minimizing these obvious symptoms of my ongoing benzo w/d.  Thinning hair, I've got a little of that going on, too.  Luckily, I have very thick hair and so far, can hide it.  I love Origin products and use the moisturizers and "Clean Energy" & "Pure Cream" facial cleansing products. 

 

Hi Ladygrace,

 

Wow....you've come so far...congratulations on being benzo free.  I have been using a protein supplement for the past couple of months and I do believe it is helping and no, it has not rev'd up my symptoms.  Whey protein is used by many during benzo w/d.  I'm using Immunocal, I order it at Amazon.com.  It's expensive but I plan to stick with it for the duration of my taper. 

 

Taz

I would love to hear how others are managing the skin ravaging effect of benzos.  It seems like almost overnight I have bags, dark circles, and wrinkles where I never had them before!  I use some of the Origin products which I like fairly well but would love some other tips.  Thanks!

 

Karen

 

 

 

Hey Karen

 

A great easy natural treatment for dry skin is to mix together some raw sugar and olive oil. Take it in the shower and gently scrub it allover, even face. Rinse it off and then gently pat skin dry. You will be amazed how smooth, soft and hydrated your skin is. Just be sure to rinse the shower floor after. I worked in a high end spa for many years and this treatment mixed with varying essential oils was used all the time and was not cheap. You can do it at home for very little $. Costco has a really nice raw organic sager.

 

All the best

Wesly

Hey Ladygrace, Tax, and Wesley,

 

Thanks for your responses!  I use the Dr. Weils mushroom serum from origins, I think it helps with the dryness and spider veins especially.  I love the suggestion of sugar and olive oil, had never heard of that combo.

 

Do others have favorite products or natural remedies that they like?  And what about hair care? 

 

Thanks!

 

Karen

Hi Karen,

 

I prefer using Biolage for shampoo and Redken for other hair products.  The thinning hair spots, I'm usually able to hide but some days I'm short on patience and have difficulty.  On those days, I've been able to quickly hide the thinning area by using the "Joan Rivers Great Hair Day" hair powder concealer.  It really does work when needed.  I have short straight baby fine hair with several cowlicks so my hair is a challenge to begin with.  Here's a link to the Joan River's site.

 

http://www.joanriversgreathairday.com/?gclid=CIb_5u7nhbICFWLDtgodu2kAOw

 

I think I'm going to try the olive oil & raw sugar.  That's a great tip. 

 

Taz

Interesting product, I've never heard of such a thing! It makes me think of an under eye concealor that I like made by the Body Shop.  It comes in a silver cylinder with a brush at the end.  The cap comes off and as you twist the tube the liquid concealor is pushed up into the small brush.  Anyway, it's very nice and goes on smoothly.

 

Other skin or hair care products that people love?

I use the joan rivers hair product on my hairline and part areas.  It does work on thinning hair.

I have the same terrible side effects. I lost half my hair and my skin looks 20 years older. It happened in 1 month!!

Has anyone seen any improvement? Is there hope? Do we heal from this?

 

Anyone with information, please respond. This is maddening!

Coconut oil is great for moisturizing.  It's just so natural.  It's good for the hair too, and even taken internally.

Just another thought for you. 

Thanks, I like your Stewie emoticon. that's what I look like when I try to sleep at night!

i know i can't believe this skin thing. i wasn't like this right before i went into the detox. it was like an over night thing.

and i've been an Esthetician for about 15 years and still i can't figure out really what to do?

 

i did get 2 of the Dr. Hauschka's rhythmic conditioner. it's this conditioner filled with some essential oils, honey, witch hazel, borage, arnica, flower extracts for skin that's been highly traumatized. that's how i am treating my skin right now.

 

i'm going to also get a new facial steamer and some facial flowers and steam my skin to draw out toxin's and hydrate the skin.

i also purchased some hylauronic acid to help trap in moisture. and i got some probiotic for a face mask.

 

that raw sugar and olive oil sounds really good too. that should draw out impurities. the bruising's i have are from my brain, so that's just got to heal up. otherwise i will use lots of arnica and vitamin K for the under eye circles and brusings.

so much to do. but i still don't look like myself and don't know when all these dark freckles appeared? so good glycolic body lotion with a natural lightening serum is in need.

i sure hope things change. and coconut oil is good both internally and topically, i think some peeps have a problem with coconut oil in withdrawals, not sure why?

i had a dream about mashing up banana's and avacado's for moisturizing the skin. really upset about my hair. feel like buzzing it off.

 

prettydaisys

Has anyone with thinning skin seen any improvement? I read that steroid creams can cause skin thinning and it's reversible. This website lists a whole slew off medications that can cause skin thinning but benzos aren't listed:http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/symptoms/skin_thinning/side-effects.htm.  I need some reassurance this will reverse!

kris,

 

it's pretty unbelievable the ravages of this benzo withdrawal. as i mentioned before on this thread i have been an esthetician for many years and i tried really hard to help this other girl who was kinda suicidal about what was happening to her skin and looks and because i too have felt that way. i just looked about myself again tonight and i better not look until this is all over.

but

i did find one amazing amazing skin care moisturizer that is really helping my skin stay hydrated and in balance. it is made especially for menopausal skin and even though i'm not there yet--it's trulu a miracle. i just ordered some more of it. it helps the skin to be soft all night and well into morning and since i've been only washing my face at night since i'm too exhausted that helps. it's not heavy.

 

here it is:

 

http://www.cosmedix.com/products/phytoharmony-balancing-moisturizer

 

and you can use it around your eyes as it's gently enough, although i've been using the opti eye believe also by Cosmedix around my eyes and that is also amazing.

i swear these two products are the only thing helping my skin to stay up during this benzo withdrawal.

 

the phytoharmony has DHEA, alpha lipic acid & L-glutathione in it and the opti crystal eye believe has  Cholesteryl,Alpha Lipoic Acid, Copper Gluconate and those are really great anti-aging ingredients. it's a little pricey and even i can't get the wholesale price right now because they want $3000.00 for an opening order but i love this stuff so i made a deal with a girl on ebay. you can get it on ebay for a little cheaper then the company.

 

i also have been on this benzo facebook group and they have all been talking about how wonderful colostrum is for immunity, anti-aging and gut issues and that it doesn't have any contraindication during a benzo withdrawal so i'm going to get some colostrum powder soon. it's supposed to really help with skin and hair too! i have the company name if anyone is interested.

hope that helps!

pretty

I'm older and my skin and hair have deteriorated badly but it's hard to tell whether it's normal ageing or the dastardly drugs 

 

After so long I think a face lift will be the only way to go but I'd never stand the anaesthetic! It's a no win situation but I'm just hoping when I'm through all this that I find I've been suffering from distorted perception so maybe I'll emerge smooth skinned and beautiful again.........I can dream.

Coconut oil isn't tolerated in withdrawal? I would really like to use it.

Aveeno cream as a moisturiser- it seems to be the only thing stopping my face from cracking

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aveeno-Moisturising-Natural-Colloidal-Oatmeal/dp/B003VZNOSG

 

Im using about a tub or carmex for my lips (but really nothing seems to help with this)

 

My hair is dry but not falling out. It has always been ridiculously thick so I am lucky there. Just plenty of the usual conditioner.

 

I have also been using bio-oil on my skin which has helped

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bio-Oil-Specialist-Skincare-Oil-125/dp/B0013G35KW

 

I also have hives EVERY morning at the moment so that really isnt helping.

A cold sore that is refusing to go also.

 

ive been using oil of olay cream.

my skin is so thin. i cant believe how much this aged me.

my hands look so old

I'm going to put my masculinity on the shelf for a minute to ask any recoverees about blotchy facial skin. Has anyone that has made a full recovery suffered permanent aesthetic issues  or does this crap all go away if giving enough time.

I've got the dark circles bad  :'(

kris,

 

it's pretty unbelievable the ravages of this benzo withdrawal. as i mentioned before on this thread i have been an esthetician for many years and i tried really hard to help this other girl who was kinda suicidal about what was happening to her skin and looks and because i too have felt that way. i just looked about myself again tonight and i better not look until this is all over.

but

i did find one amazing amazing skin care moisturizer that is really helping my skin stay hydrated and in balance. it is made especially for menopausal skin and even though i'm not there yet--it's trulu a miracle. i just ordered some more of it. it helps the skin to be soft all night and well into morning and since i've been only washing my face at night since i'm too exhausted that helps. it's not heavy.

 

here it is:

 

http://www.cosmedix.com/products/phytoharmony-balancing-moisturizer

 

and you can use it around your eyes as it's gently enough, although i've been using the opti eye believe also by Cosmedix around my eyes and that is also amazing.

i swear these two products are the only thing helping my skin to stay up during this benzo withdrawal.

 

the phytoharmony has DHEA, alpha lipic acid & L-glutathione in it and the opti crystal eye believe has  Cholesteryl,Alpha Lipoic Acid, Copper Gluconate and those are really great anti-aging ingredients. it's a little pricey and even i can't get the wholesale price right now because they want $3000.00 for an opening order but i love this stuff so i made a deal with a girl on ebay. you can get it on ebay for a little cheaper then the company.

 

i also have been on this benzo facebook group and they have all been talking about how wonderful colostrum is for immunity, anti-aging and gut issues and that it doesn't have any contraindication during a benzo withdrawal so i'm going to get some colostrum powder soon. it's supposed to really help with skin and hair too! i have the company name if anyone is interested.

hope that helps!

pretty

 

Hi prettydaisies,

 

The Cosmedix looks enticing, I may try that.  It has alcohol in it though - wouldn't that be drying?  I did buy a product that has Phytessence Wakame (a seaweed) in it which is supposed to block the action of hyaluronidase, which destroys hyaluronic acid in the skin.  Are you familiar with Phytessence Wakame?  I may see how that works before trying the Cosmedix.  Skin products can really get expensive!  This is so bothersome though I may just go ahead and order it.

 

I would be interested in the name of the company that sells the colostrum powder.  Do you ingest it?

 

I'm eating well, exercising and drinking a lot of water - I just hope this reverses.  Good luck to you with your skin care!

 

Thanks!

Kris

 

 

hi kris,

 

oh don't worry about the Cetyl Alcohol ingredient in the Cosmedix Phytoharmony--whenever you see that ingredient most of the time it's just a vehicle so the other ingredients can drive into the skin better or a preservative. and since Cosmedix doesn't have any chemicals that is probably why it's used. it is such a miracle product for my skin right now.

 

i have never heard Phytessence Wakame product but i love seaweed products. i will check it out. i am also using this Overnight Repair Complex by a company called Arcona. it's also pricey but really wonderful. it stimulate's collagen and is deeply nourishing.

it also has resveratrol and black currant oil and vitamin E. i have it on now. i alternate between that and the Phytoharmony.

 

http://www.arcona.com/page/100/PROD/2005/OCRC

 

here is the link for the colostrum powder--everyone on the "Healing from psyche Meds" on FB is talking about how great it is for immune system, gut issues, skin and hair and how it's okay to use while in a Benzo withdrawal. the way you use it is you put the powder straight into your mouth and swish it around your upper gums so it reaches your brain. it also is supposed to invoke a "healing response" as mother's milk was our first food and the brain is supposed to recognise that. i hope that is true. i have researched the best company and Synertek is the best.

 

i will definitely check out that Phytessence Wakame! here is the link for the colostrum

 

http://www.synertekcolostrum.com/

kris,

 

i googled the Phytessence Wakame but not sure where to buy the skin care product. do you have a link that i can go to?

it looks really good!

thanks,

pretty

hi again kris,

 

i have been searching around for what skin care product you are talking about that has the Phytessence Wakame in it and i only found something called Xtendlife. does that sound right? well, it has the ingredient in there and also talks about the action of blocking the  action of hyaluronidase. i love trying new stuff like this and i am going to get the body lotion since i need a body lotion. it looks good so i hope that is the company you are talking about. let me know? thanks! pretty

Hi pretty,

 

I bought the Xtendlife product Restorative Night Cream.  It has a Money Back Guarantee so it seemed fairly safe to me.  Since I ordered the product, I've seen some negative reviews about the company because of the advertising tactics they use which seem kind of shady.  Regardless, they may still have some good products.  The cream that I bought I noticed was for sale on Amazon.com and had no reviews - that didn't seem very positive.  When I initially searched for products with Phytessence Wakame in them, I did see a few other companies that included it.  If the night cream doesn't improve my skin thinness, I'll return it for my money back.  I'm still waiting for it as I ordered on Monday.  I'll report my experience with it here in a few weeks.

 

Kris