Question:
Are any other Post-Op's having a problem with Dry Skin?

My face is one huge dry patch and I have recently started a Mary Kay skin care program to try to help, but I was wondering if anyone else has this problem. It seems to only be my face. I am 4 months out, have lost 78 lbs. Oh, and also what begining weights are considered to be 'light-weights'??    — Peggy B. (posted on June 14, 2003)


June 13, 2003
I also have a really bad problem with dry skin. I'm four months out as well. The dry skin is mostly on my arms and legs - my face isn't too bad. I have to use a lot of moisturizers. I was definitely a lightweight. I started at 5'3" and 215. But I had quite a few co-morbidities.
   — kathyb

June 14, 2003
Once your at goal try adding some fat back in your diet. Mine was really dry too but olive oil on salads and pads of real butter helped this to go away. Rememnber RNYers dont absorb all the fat we eat. BTW this helped my constipatuion too. I was plugging up the toilet:(
   — bob-haller

June 14, 2003
As for the dry skin here's what I've done: 1)Water, and even more water. I drink at least 80oz a day, plus 2 protein shakes. 2)Vitamin E (dry) & Zinc, as well as making sure you're taking your multi (2) and calcium, B12 & iron if necessary. 3)Moisturize! Twice a day minimum! Using a good moisturizer all over will help that saggy skin bounce back better as well.
   — Anna L.

June 14, 2003
Try fish oil capsules! They will also help your hair.
   — Linda M.

June 14, 2003
If you have cut most of the fat from your diet, add some. You don't have to go overboard, but we need a certain amount of fat. I have never used low fat cheese or fat free salad dressings and I lost 181 pounds in about a year. I am at goal and maintainin nicely. Also, eat peanut butter, nuts, salmon, tuna - those foods have natural oils that are good for us. And be sure to drink plenty of water.
   — Patty_Butler

June 14, 2003
Yes,my skin got so dry...I was a wreck. I do the dry vitamin E, good vitamins, evening primrose, eat a lot of salmon, drink at least 80oz of water....still, very very dry. Finally I started using a small amount of oil on my skin right after the moisturizer. I use a good moisturizer on my face and Keri on my body. Then I use some Keri body oil on top...it feels a littly oily at first, but very quickly absorbs right in. That seems to be the only thing that keeps my skin from being dry. On my face I use a little vitamin E oil on top of the moisturizer...neutrogina, Healing Gardens and Keri all make a nice body oil. Again, it feels really oily for a few minutes, but once it absorbs...my skin looks and feels so much better. Don't know about everyone, but this really works for me.
   — Maureen R.

June 14, 2003
Water, water, water! I had very dry skin on my hands and my legs. I really didn't take the dry skin, water issue seriously until at 10 months post op I fainted on the train on my way to work. Since then, I've cut out caffeine and make sure I get my water! My skin has improved tremendously! Good Luck, Lisa open rny 4/26/02 -147lbs
   — LisaTaz

June 14, 2003
Lightwieghts are usually those folks who have surgery with less than 100lbs to lose or a BMI between 35-40. Are you taking any prescrption medications? I was on Synthroid for 6 months and tried to deny to myself that I was having an allergic reaction to it! My face (only) was so dry that by afternoon it was flaking off, especially around my mouth! I tried all kinds of moisturizers, and nothing helped. I finally asked my doc if I could switch to a different thyroid med, and within a week of switching, the dry skin was gone! This happened with Synthroid, but I would imagine it could be the case with other meds or even vitamins, since it was the fillers that were causing the problem!
   — koogy

June 14, 2003
I noticed that when I was an early postie and the weight was coming off quickly that my skin was really dry. Since about 8 months out, the weight-loss has slowed down and my skin has never been better! Maybe it's that I can tolerate fats better now and eat some or maybe it's slower loss...not sure which came first. Good luck and congrats on 78 in 4 months!
   — [Deactivated Member]

June 14, 2003
Yes, I must have EFAs in my diet otherwise I look like a dried prune (my skin is historically oily so this is brand new since surgery). I use Udo's Choice Blend (I get mine from netrition.com but you can probably find it in a lot of places on the net). I put it in my morning protein shake but other people tell me it is tasty enough to put it on salad with some vinegar. It really helps in a lot of ways. I know the page on netrition (http://www.netrition.com/udos_choice_page.html) gives you a lot of information on these types of oils but you can also type in EFA or omega 3 into a search engine and a lot of information should come up. I find EFAs to be essential for those of us who are on restricted calories/fats/carbs or whatever restriction you're on. If I forget to use the essential oils for a few days I notice the dryness returns so fast.
   — susanje

June 15, 2003
TRY APRICOT KERNEL OIL FROM THE HEALTH FOOD STORE,IT'S VERY GOOD ALL OVER YOUR BODY EVEN YOUR FACE. BERT'S BEE'S APRICOT BABY OIL IS ALSO VERY GOOD.
   — LORI STINSON




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