How can I restore my skin after fairly long illness?

[godfreygirl]

I haven't posted in a while.  I just recovered from a fairly long illness and my skin and complexion suffered from this.  I kept up my routine regularly before, but was not able to do this in the hospital or at home for a while.  I'm back to ME now but, when I look in the mirror, I can see I have some work to do.....it makes me want to cry. 

Can you girls tell me the best (fastest if possible) to get my complexion AND the rest of my skin back to where it was before?  I'm sure others have had this problems.  People DO get sick, have surgeries, and so on.  My face and soft skin (and being in good shape....which suffered too) has been my best asset.  Thanks for any help and suggestions you can give me.

 

[jewele]

Good to hear you are better. I've been in the hospital for about five days without food or water and my skin was awful, then when I came home I didn't have the strength to keep my routine up. When I was better I started taking vitamins and I still do. I take GNC Hair, Skin, and Nails supplement (1) at lunchtime with food then at dinner I take (1) Biotin 5000mg vitamin. Noticed a difference in hair, skin, and nails. Plus I ate healthier too... But talk to your doctor about taking vitamins. Just a suggestion that has worked for me in this situation. It's happened to me 3 years in a row and this worked every time for me. Good Luck

 

[zel18]

Usually when one gets sick dehydration takes place. You need to rehydrate your skin by drinking lots of water and moisturizers.You may try [SIZE=10pt]womens organic face cream for your skin needs.[/SIZE] Also, you need to eat fruits and vegetables to give your skin some vitamins. If you follow this 3 simple steps, I'm sure you will gain your glowing skin in no time. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> Good luck!

[SIZE=10pt][/SIZE]

 

[godfreygirl]

Hi there....thanks for responding.  Glad you're okay now also.  I do take the GNC Hair, Skin, Nails formula but need to get the Biotin.  But, the previous has 1200 mcg (400%) in it....is that not enough for us?  I noticed you take 5000mg.

BUT....also, a big thing for me is getting my complexion and all over skin back to it's radiance.  My legs are very bumpy now and are VERY dry.... need lots of lotion.  I just hope it fixes it and not just covers over the damage.  Not that it is MORE important than a healthy diet....not so, but...to be honest here....I'm on a VERY limited budget and it's NOT easy to eat as healthy as I need to.  But....thanks so much for your advice.  I'll take it and do the best I can.  I'm sure getting back to an exercise routine would help tremendously also.  Stay healthy.

Shirley in Illinois

 

[magosienne]

For the vitamins ask your doctor because the amount you take is set by your needs. Anything our body hasn't a need for will go down the drain.

For the legs, try something simple as olive oil, it's easily available and remains affordable and it's something i think we all have in our kitchen cupboards. You can also use it to wash your face, i like to use an equal amount of warm water and oil on a cotton pad, it's a gentle cleanser but it removes everything.

For the budget getting your vitamins from your food is a good way of not spending a ton of money on supplements. Try the market for fresh fruits, usually they can be less expensive and of a better quality than what you find at the supermarket. Also only buy the fruits and veggies of the season. We don't have so many in winter, but instead you can eat nuts and dry fruits, they are a reliable source for vitamins and minerals, as long as eat them moderately ( they also contain fats). Ideally if you have a garden, why not grown your own?

 

[reesesilverstar]

I'm so bad for saying this, but get some prenatal vitamins. It was the best my skin and hair ever looked so much so I'm tempted to start taking them again. That and drinking lots of water/Eat lots of fruit and veggies.

Orrrrr, you could take cod liver oil if you could get past the scent or find the lemon one. It's really good!

 

[godfreygirl]

Prenatal vitamins....what a wonderful idea!!  I'm going to get some....what can it hurt.   And....know what?   I've been using Olive Oil (The Oil Cleansing Method) for a long time.  I actually used just olive oil on my face last night.   I also made some homemade olive oil & sugar body scrub.   I also found out that COCONUT OIL is wonderful for our skin....all over.  I did a comparison test the other day.....coconut oil on left side and olive oil on the other side (of my tummy) and BOTH seemed to soften the same.  hmmmmmmm.     The olive oil is wonderful for conditioning our hair also.   SO....I think all of you have it right on target and I'm going to do the best to get my skin back to it's healthy state.   NOW all I need to do is get my BODY in shape again for summer.......AARRGGHHHH. 

  Thanks for all your help girls....if you think of anymore, let me know.  I'll do the same. 

 

[godfreygirl]

Originally Posted by godfreygirl /img/forum/go_quote.gif

........I also found out that COCONUT OIL is wonderful for our skin....all over.

I forgot to say how I do this.  I rub coconut oil OR olive oil ALL over me at bedtime after warm shower.  Then I put on my oldest, ugliest sweat pants and long sleeve t-shirt that I don't care about to keep it on my skin and NOT my sheets.  It works wonders.

 

[xjackie83]

Any chance of spoiling yourself with a spa trip?  It sounds like you've earned a nice, relaxing facial and body scrub!

 

[godfreygirl]

Originally Posted by xjackie83 /img/forum/go_quote.gif

Any chance of spoiling yourself with a spa trip?  It sounds like you've earned a nice, relaxing facial and body scrub!

Boy would I ever love to do that....I've even daydreamed about it.  But, with my very limited income, there is NO way I could do that.  I'll just have to pamper myself.  I'm sure many others are in the same boat (Titanic ya think?

) with this economy the way it is....but you have a great thought there. 

 

[katana]

I like to use Boots No 7 Pamper & Peel face mask, when my face needs to be refreshed.

I love this stuff!!!

 

[magosienne]

I prefer coconut oil to condition my lengths, just because i'm addicted to its scent /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

You could do a bath, i am partial to Lush, but you can also mix sea salt and Epsom salt, you can add essential oils in the mixture too. Then the trick is to put on a nice cd, maybe light a candle and you get a nice treat in the comfort of your own bathroom.

 

[divadoll]

Originally Posted by godfreygirl /img/forum/go_quote.gif

Prenatal vitamins....what a wonderful idea!!  I'm going to get some....what can it hurt.   And....know what?   I've been using Olive Oil (The Oil Cleansing Method) for a long time.  I actually used just olive oil on my face last night.   I also made some homemade olive oil & sugar body scrub.   I also found out that COCONUT OIL is wonderful for our skin....all over.  I did a comparison test the other day.....coconut oil on left side and olive oil on the other side (of my tummy) and BOTH seemed to soften the same.  hmmmmmmm.     The olive oil is wonderful for conditioning our hair also.   SO....I think all of you have it right on target and I'm going to do the best to get my skin back to it's healthy state.   NOW all I need to do is get my BODY in shape again for summer.......AARRGGHHHH. 

  Thanks for all your help girls....if you think of anymore, let me know.  I'll do the same. 

If you are still on medications, please consult with your doctor regarding what suppliments you can and can't take.  I was listening to the radio, a father was on the radio taking about his daughter.  She had died because she was on a particular medication and it had reacted with grapefruit juice that she also drank.  Apparently, there are many reactions such as this.  You can have a bad reaction from too much vitamins and minerals.  Some your body will just flush but others become toxic in your body.

Coconut oil on the body is really nice.  It also makes a wicked hair deep conditioner.  I had a bad reaction when I applied coconut oil on my face however.  It is every high on the skin clogging scale.  I buy the coconut oil at my local East Indian grocery.  I also buy sweet almond oil there too. 

 

[godfreygirl]

Thanks for the heads up on the vitamin/medication reactions.  I do drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruits....which ever I have.  Funny you talked about the coconut oil for hair....I just finished giving myself a good conditioning with this.  I warm it a bit in the microwave and run some through my hair.  I put on a shower cap, heat it up with my hair dryer and leave it on for about a half an hour.  Works wonders in keeping it healthy and shiny.  Like you, I don't use it on my face however.  I use olive oil for that....or do the OCM.  I love it.  It's better than expensive moisturizers....but I also use a moisturizer too.  I also make my own body scrub with olive oil and sugar....white or brown....depends on how much exfoliation I need.  Just put on some old workout pants and long sleeved t-shirt overnight and the next morning my skin is soft as a baby's bottom.  LOVE it!!!

 

[divadoll]

That scrub sounds wonderful.  While I was at my local soap store, the lady at the till was purchasing stuff for her salt scrub.  I made some pumpkin peel so I'm using that every week as an exfoliator.  I put coconut oil in a squeeze bottle and throw the bottle into a cup of hot water to melt.  I find it easier to work with that way.  In the summer, it's in a liquid state usually.  How's it going with all that you are trying?

 

[godfreygirl]

I've heard of the Pumpkin Peel online before but haven't tried it.   Things are already looking better with my complexion and the rest of my skin.  I've been using the "Aspirin Mask"....with aspirin and honey....I don't put anything else in it....at least twice a week.  I used the Oil Cleansing Method about twice a week and olive oil alone almost (almost) every night.  After my shower I rub in olive oil all over, put on the old sweat pants and old long-sleeved t-shirt and that's making my skin improve tremendously.  So far everything is going well.  Now all I have to do is try and get myself back in shape before spring.  I've gained 20 pounds over the winter and during being sick and that may be the hardest thing to do.  I hate (and I DO mean HATE) to workout....but I've got to try and MAKE myself if I want to get in shape for spring and summer.  My tummy bothers me the most.  If I could just 'slice it off', I'd be fine with just toning up the rest.  The tummy is the hardest part to lose...AARRGGHHHH!!!!

 

[magosienne]

Try yoga or pilates, they make you work without looking like exercise /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> Especially the abdominal pilates is fantastic to tone everything.

 

[reesesilverstar]

Why is it that coconut oil makes my eczema flare up and dries out my hair? What's wrong with me?

 

[divadoll]

Originally Posted by reesesilverstar /img/forum/go_quote.gif

Why is it that coconut oil makes my eczema flare up and dries out my hair? What's wrong with me?

 Mine too on the eczema but not on the hair.  Nothing wrong with you unless there's also something wrong with me :/

 

[SecretStopsAcne]

It is hard to keep up our routine regularly after a long illness. You should include vitamins and rich protein food in your diet. Beta carotene, vitamins C and E, selenium, zinc and essential fatty acids contain nutrients that help you regenerate skin cells and antioxidants to maintain a fair complexion.Surgery is not a good idea to get skin complexion.