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newperspective , 30 Mar 2012

wounds are HEALING and scars are FADING------> PLEASE READ!!!!!

I've mentioned calamine lotion on this site many times before but I want to scream it out for everyone to hear and to understand that IT REALLY DOES WORK! My skin has seriously never looked better. Being that I'm still in active recovery from CSP, I relapsed a bit yesterday and went to town on my chin. I was so angry with myself but instead of spiraling out of control, I just took a deep breath, washed my face with my antibacterial face wash and applied a thick layer of calamine lotion all over my chin and let it be. This morning, the wounds were already healing over and the swelling and inflamation had subsided immensely! After washing my face in the shower, I applied another thick layer and left it on for about 4 hours. When I washed it off, they again looked even better than when I first woke up this morning. My hopes are that they will be completely healed within the next few days... I will keep everyone posted. My chin aside, the rest of my skin looks INCREDIBLE! I've been using calamine lotion consistenly for the past month and the results are AMAZING! My scars have faded about 50% and my skin actually looks NORMAL. I don't feel so ashamed walking around without makeup on in front of my husband and kids, and when I am wearing makeup, my complexion has never looked better. To achieve the same results, you have to be consistent and use it every night. After washing my face at night, I apply a THIN layer (apply a thicker layer ONLY on the areas where wounds are present) all over my face and leave it on overnight. In the morning I wash my face and apply a zinc-based moisturizer before applying my makeup and then go about my day. I've done this for a month straight and I can honestly say that I am a believer. Calamine lotion has helped with healing my self-inflicted wounds, fading my scars, and evening out my overall skin tone. The best part about it is that it's dirt cheap. I spent $1.44USD on ONE bottle! PLEASE give this a try... I promise you won't regret it!

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newperspective
October 17, 2012
I definitely recommend using the witch hazel before bed. I use it both in the morning and at night. :) Thank you for your kind words. :) I only hope that the advice I've given has helped. Stay strong and it WILL get better!
SpottyFace
October 10, 2012
Hi newperspective! Thanks for replying to my post a few days ago...went and got some witchhazel too! I got a question for you if you don't mind..Have you ever had hard skin devlop around a healing sore. It's so weird because I'm not sure exactly why this happens. It's not exactly a scab or dry skin. My skin almost looks slightly bubbled up around the healing wound, except that the skin is hard and almost has a grainy or maybe rubbery feel to it and it forms a perfect raised circle around the circumference of the wound. It's so frustrating because my sore would be pretty even with the rest of my skin and it wouldn't look indented at all if it weren't for this hard grainy/rubberish raised skin. Do you know what this is or if it will just scab up and fall off like normal? Thank you so much for all of your kind advice and help, it really means so much because I don't know who else I could ask.
newperspective
October 10, 2012
Hi SpottyFace! I would have to see it to know for sure, but if I had to guess, my guess would be that's it's scar tissue that has developed overtime due to excessive picking. I have a similar scar to what you are describing on my chin. Now that I've left it alone for a significant amount of time (6 months), It's not as noticeable as it used to be. Do your best to not mess with it and it should even out a little more overtime. I really hope you notice a positive change in your skin from using the witch hazel and please keep me posted on how it works for you. As always, thank you for your kind words and confidence in me. :)
SpottyFace
October 11, 2012
Hey Newperspective, Thanks for your quick response! It's so reassuring to know you are there, a big heart-felt thank you for that. It might be scar tissue ( I thought about that too) except that the wound is healing and in the process of scabbing over and its very tender (but I don't think infected at all). So I didn't know if scar tissue could form that fast? Also, when I put calamine on the raised skin, it definitely has a scabbed over feeling...which is good because that helps me heal faster than keeping it moist. (I know people say that keeping wounds moist speeds healing but I'm not sure that works for me). So I'm just layering on the calamine and hoping that the whole thing scabs up, heals, and somewhat evens out! I'm going to see my husband in about a week and half for my 30th Birthday and I'm sooo hoping that I will look a little bit better!! Thank you again for everything, you're a good friend:)
newperspective
October 11, 2012
You're so sweet! :) I check in everyday and I try to be here as a support system for everyone and anyone who needs it. You could be right about it just being part of the scab, only time will tell. :) Also, I'm with you on needing my wounds to dry up as opposed to keeping them moist - they heal faster for me when I dry them out (even if it means a scab forming). If you continue using the Cetaphil Antibacterial Cleansing Bar, Calamine Lotion, and now the Witch Hazel, you'll be healed up in no time! If you need a substitute acne medication to replace your Salicylic Acid toner, at night I've been using Wal-Mart's Equate version of Proactive's repairing lotion. It's light and surprisingly soothing and it allows my skin to breathe at night while preventing acne breakouts AND it doesn't clog my pores! It contains 2.5% BP. I don't know if your skin is sensitive to BP, but I find that BP works better for me than Salicylic Acid. This lotion has also helped my wounds to heal really fast without causing any irritation. If you use the Calamine lotion during the day as a mask and then use this moisturizer at night, you'll see a HUGE difference. The moisturizer is super cheap too - I think you can buy it for under $5, but it can only be found at Wal-Mart. Let me know if you decide to try it :) Hang in there! You can beat this and your thirties are going to be FABULOUS!
SpottyFace
October 15, 2012
Hey Girl! (sorry for being so informal..but I can't help but feel like we're friends:)!! I saw on another post that you're actually younger than me..lol...I just assumed you were older because of how much wisdom and support you offer. You always support others, but how are you doing with this? My skin isn't going to be perfect for this weekend, but I have hopes that I'll at least pass for decent:) I meant to ask you, what kind of calamine do you use? I have bought two different brands and they are surprisingly different. The walgreens brand is a light pink and almost a little watery and a second brand is darker pink and extremely thick with much more of a medicine smell to it. Have you come across this and if so, which would you prefer? I think I like the more watery kind a little better. It seems to dry out the wounds better. Something else that I have come across that's pretty good is curad silver solution. Its not oily or greasy like neosporin, it's a gel and dries pretty quickly. Sometimes I put it on first and then apply the calamine and that seems to work pretty well..just wanted to pass that along. Hope you're doing well..and just remember that we are here for you too!!
newperspective
October 16, 2012
Haha! I love it! ;) Thank you so much for the compliment! I've been told I have an old soul. :) I use the HUMCO brand from Wal-Mart. The one from Walgreens would be the most comparable to the one I use consistency-wise. If I remember correctly, the one I use has the exact same ingredients as the one from Walgreens (so I would stick with that one). I've actually been doing fantastic! I've come a VERY long way this past year. I DID pick 3 spots a week ago, but they're almost completely healed. I've learned not to beat myself up over it and to just roll with the punches - no pun intended ;) I think it's helped that I've FINALLY found a skincare regimen that works for me - both for my wound-free AND wounded skin. I love being here and helping others through the ups AND downs of CSP. Even though I still struggle every single day with this disorder, I've learned how to cope with it by learning from my mistakes and bettering myself for it. I feel like I've learned a lot and I want to share my knowledge with others so that maybe I can help make coping with this daily struggle just a little bit easier. Offering advice and support to others has been the best therapy I could've ever hoped for and for that I have all of you to thank. By giving me the opportunity to help you, you've helped me :)
SpottyFace
October 17, 2012
I've been told the exact same thing!..That I have an old soul and that I was born way after my time. I'm normally a very common sense oriented person. I'm not perfect by any means, but I'm a responsible, mature,and reasonable person. However, this is one thing that has taken a hold of me, but I'm determined to stop this Now! These are my last days in my twenties and I think by Saturday (the day I turn the big 3-0) my terrible sores will be just pink spots on my face (even if they are slightly indented..I do hope they fill in a bit). This last month has been the worst its ever been and I stayed in my apartment every weekend because I was ashamed of my own face. Going to work and dealing with the stares was almost more than I could handle. Even though I'm sure I'll make a few slips, I never want to go through this again, but I never want to forget how it felt either. My goal is to use this opportunity to begin my 30s on the right track. I hope that I can help others the way that you and others on this site have helped me. You, and all the others on this site, are incredible people.
newperspective
October 18, 2012
You're pretty incredible and special too! Don't ever forget that! ;) Sorry I haven't responded sooner... yesterday was pretty hectic for me. My husband and I are in the process of buying a house and we close on it in 2 weeks! It's both exciting and stressful (my skin has been paying the price lately :( ) I've been lathering on the calamine lotion like crazy. Yesterday was the biggest picking session I've had in months. Now it's time for me to take my own advice and just leave my skin alone and allow it to heal. PATIENCE+CONSISTENCY=HEALING ;) I'll keep you guys posted on how long it takes my skin to heal this time around. I'm not perfect and I want you guys to know that slip-ups happen and it's OK, just as long as once you relapse you are capable of picking yourself back up and continue moving forward. I hope you are doing well and that your skin is healing up nicely. XO
lovingme
October 11, 2012
Before I came to your site, somehow I have found out on my own about calamine lotion for brightening the skin and healing acne. But I have never tried it, so for the very first time last night I used calamine lotion which I had in my bathroom cabinet for years to use for my grandsons excema and I tell you over night within 24 hours my skin was lighter, I was so amazed! I had to put a testimonial here on this page. I have used a product that is all natural and plant based on my skin. Each day I apply it twice a day morning and night, and my skin is getting brighter each day with this product. I am brown skinned and by end of next year I will be almost closest to being very very light brown toned skin.
Breeamaro
October 15, 2012
Okay does calamine lotion work when the wound is open? Or just when it has already scabbed over? PLEASE ANSWER ASAP
butterfly
October 16, 2012
Hello, I have always picked at my face since I started getting acne. What happens Is I get a pimple and, I pop it. I know, I know..It bad for the skin..but when It a white head, it's virtually inpossible for me to not pop it. Anyways, After popping the pimple the very top layer of the skin peels off... :(.. after washing my face it form a layer of skin that i white the heal making it impossible to cover with make up. I actually have one right now.. i keep messing with it at night when I get home from work and it seems to be flat without a scab after peeling for hours.. still very red of course. Then I put nivea dry skin lotion on it, fall asleep and, when I wake up the layer of skin has come back to play. Today I just left it, applied coverup (even though it looks horrible) and am tryign to not touch it. I have not peeled it again since last night. The place where it is on my face is very annoying, It's on the skin right next to my lip in the place that creases when you smile :( ..so it is dried up and cracks if i open my mouth to big or even smile slightly. I need help. Could this help with what I'm experiancing?
newperspective
October 16, 2012
Hello Butterfly! The calamine lotion will definitely help. While there are certain products that can help speed up the healing process, the key is to not touch it or pick at it anymore. If you can apply calamine lotion to the spot and avoid picking at it, it will heal in no time! :)

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