Why do I shed?

January 15, 2006 12:12 PM

Why do I shed?

I know you are not medical doctors but this is not something I really want to pay to go to a dermatologist about. Just asking for anecdotal evidence. The last couple of months after a sauna and/or a shower all it takes is scratching myself even lightly in order for skin to start to shed. It just comes off, especially in my feet, arms but kind of all over.

Any ideas what might be causing this? It is mostly an annoyance but still I have sort of become obsessed trying to get rid of the dead skin cells. And this is not something I've had before. Any similar experiences or fixes on how to do away with it?

posted by keijo to health & fitness (5 comments total)

Because your skin is dry? Exfoliate in the shower. Moisturize when you get out.
posted by duck at 12:15 PM on January 15, 2006

I don't know what the cause might be, but I highly recommend body brushing. I use a natural bristled body brush I found in the bath care/"spa" section of the drugstore, every day, before getting in the shower. You just start with the soles of your feet, then the tops, then up your legs and then from your hands up your arms, followed by your torso, front and back. Brush in long, gentle strokes toward your heart. This sloughs off dead skin cells and increases blood circulation. I've found that in just a couple of weeks, my dry skin has been pretty much cured.

If you don't much like using lotion after your shower, you can try an in-shower moisturizer, such as the one made by Oil of Olay. Be mindful there is a scent, though I'm not sure if they sell an unscented version.
posted by justonegirl at 12:31 PM on January 15, 2006

You probably just built up a lot of dead skin (as we all do) and the sauna loosened it up for you.

Ditto on grabbing a loofa or a brush and scrubbing yourself down every so often. Your skin may feel softer if you do this regularly, too.
posted by PurplePorpoise at 1:13 PM on January 15, 2006

Thanks duck, justonegirl and PurplePorpoise. I'll take that all up. Was still wondering why that would change all of a sudden since I've been going to a sauna all my life. But suggestions appreciated and will try.
posted by keijo at 1:19 PM on January 15, 2006

The skin on either side of my nose sometimes gets a little cruddy. I can exfoliate it but about one time in ten it's enough that the area gets a little red.

When I asked the derm about it she said that some people, me in this case, develop a bit of sensitivity to the yeast cultures that live on everyone's skin. She prescribed a little tube of somedamtingoranuther and I put some of that on to kill the bacteria in that area. Even just a tiny amount once a week and the issue goes away. Till I forget to use any for a few weeks, then it comes back up.

Based on how blase she was about it I would assume this is a common cause. Perhaps this is a similar thing for you.
posted by phearlez at 7:38 PM on January 15, 2006