Alternative skin issues

This is not one of my blunt discussions... There are the skin issues as in "hanging skin", "flapping skin", "sharpei skin", and the old "broomstick skirt skin". But who out there is having other skins issues? My skin appears very thin. Perhaps some of it is less fat but the back of my hands are almost translucent. Actually they remind me of my mother's hands when she grew older. Ouch! Then there is the winter dry skin. I usually get this but man this is 100 times worse. My poor calves look diseased from scratching. The itching drives me NUTS! I try to use lotions but it doesn't seem to help. On top of that there is my hair texture. It is very coarse and almost brittle looking. I have a feeling that some of this comes from the malabsorption of fats in the body. Anyone else have that thought? I take my B complex and other vitamins so I have to lean towards fats. I do eat healthy fats but I suspect they aren't absorbed so they do not help. I noticed that if I lightly scratch my abdomen or hips I end up with very fine almost cat-type scratches. Ugly! I am going to add emulsified fish oil into my diet. It is basically fish oil that have been pre-processed into a paste. We don't absorb the benefits from fish oil tablets that contain the oil or from the oils themselves. I've heard the emulsified fish oil is the only type we can absorb from. Plus my back surgeon suggested fish oil because we cannot take NSAIDS. Fish oil is a natural anti-inflammatory. The emulsified stuff is called Coromega. Vitalady sells it but I got mine from vitacost.com I believe. Had it for months but never got it into the vitamin regiment. It is a paste (orange flavored) in a foil pouch. One dose isn't much. It doesn't taste horrible. We'll see if that helps! I'll keep you posted! Kathy

Yes!!! I am constantly building my case to my DH about Plastic Surgery!!!! I'm having a hard time about the skin issues. I didn't know about the fish oil. Glad to know about it! Take care! Shawna

Shawna, The rashes I'm discussing are not between bulges on my belly so they wouldn't help me with plastics at all. This is on my calves - no flaps there! LOL! I do get a rash under my breasts sometimes. Guess I'll have to see the doc when I have it sometime to get it documented. Kathy

My skin is extremely dry, too... This coming from a 30-year old with teen-age level acne... Now, I actually moisturize my face every single day. Before WLS that would have guaranteed a disaster-level outbreak... The skin on my stomach and inner thighs is very crepey looking from the dry skin... Doesn't seem overly thin, though... My hair... ACKK!!! The loss has stopped but like you, it is very dry and brittle... I only wa**** about 3 times a week, use a very good conditioner, plus leave-in conditioner/smoother every day, but it's still awful... I feel like a scarecrow. I've been thinking about adding a fish-oil too, although I didn't think about the malabsorbtion of the capsule form... Thankfully, I have you to count on to tell me what's what!

Hello... My skin sounds just like yours! Scratches all over...legs, stomach, sides....my butt is the only thing that doesn't itch!! My hair is okay....still shiny. I didn't lose much....but I didn't start with much so that is a good thing! I have lost 100 pounds so far and feel great. I read the message boards everyday but haven't written much so far. The boards have been so helpful to me!! Yvonne

I'm joining the club ... I too have hair and skin issues. Lotion does seem to help the skin (lotion with shea butter), but my hair situation is pitiful. The loss is slowing down, but it is so thin and lifeless. I splurged last week and got a good cut and a Malibu treatment and of course after the hair stylist played with it, I looked like a million bucks. But alas, that was short lived after I washed it the next day and attempted to style it myself. Of course my mother got the hairbrained idea to have a family portrait taken tomorrow. I wish I could just slap on a wig. At least I'll be thinner, right? Diane ... Who's once pride and joy is now a bone of contention (my hair).

Yep, I can relate to that dry, brittle hair issue. Some days it's like a rat's nest! I don't do the fish oil but that's a great idea! Thanks Kathy.

Kathy, I've been taking 1000 mg of Omega 3 Flaxseed Oil for the last several months in capsule form. It has worked wonders for me! My skin and hair are in great shape. I really don't seem to have the absorption problem you are talking about. Lori 384/267/168

Man am I the odd one out! My skin is usually solid white this time of year because it is sooooo dry, but this year it is great. I am still losing hair but it is softer than ever. My only explanation is how much water I now drink compared to pre-wls. I guarantee I don't eat fish anything - yuck! Good luck to you, I hope it works. Oh - did you find the Enjoli? Seven

Yes, yes, and yes. All of the above. Kathy, where is a good place to find information like the emulsified fish oil thingy? Becky Jean ...who wishes all of you a Merry Christmas!!