repost from aaclouti

[Guest guest]

Of course the group will benefit from your experience, Patty:

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Hi Marjorie: Were you ever able to figure out what caused your

itching? I was struck by the similarity to my itching. Even a hair

touching the face (as you said) can set off itching and sensitivity.

I am the one who also has itching, but attributed it to foods for a

long time. I was convinced that raw foods were causing it. I

recently learned that products can cause a reaction a few days after

you start applying them. I always assumed the reaction would occur

right away, and therefore assumed it was something more recent, like

food. Can you believe that?!?! What a crazy loop that got me into!!

I kept taking more and more antihistamines to supress the itching.

Anyway, I recently stopped using all products and the itching

stopped. Relief!!! Being wrong can be quite eye-opening.

I am trying one product at a time for one week at a time to figure

out what works for me. So far noritate and oil of olay foaming face

wash are fine. I have pinpointed some ingredients that I think may

be causing me problems: chemical sunscreens - just plain irritating,

and bismuth oxychloride (pretty sure), chromium oxides (75% sure). I

think the chromium oxides may be due to my allergy to nickel.

Another member with nickel allergy said her derm told her that if you

have a nickel allergy to watch out for chromium and cobalt in makeup

since they contain nickel. Have you heard of this? Perhaps this is

what is causing your itching, too? I remember you mentioned your

glasses..are you allergic to nickel?

Do you suppose the lingering itching and sensitivity could just be

the skin recovering from contact with an irritant or allergen?

You can reply to whole group if you feel they may benefit.

Patty

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I'm not sure what caused my itching last month, it went away after a

week of my doing nothing except eliminating all products off my face.

It hasn't returned after restarting Noritate.

I am allergic to nickel, so I'll be on the lookout for chromium and

cobalt -- thanks. I've got my new glasses and they are great, the

frames are half-rimless and off my cheeks. I asked for the

hypoallergic nose pads as recommended here -- they're made out of

silicon, and they do make a difference in decreasing irritation.

Less really is more, isn't it? I'm beginning to think it relates to

the skin sensitivity stuff and/or irritative contact dermatitis, as

I've shared earlier.

Good luck, Patty.

Marjorie

Marjorie Lazoff, MD