For all the guys who care about their skin!
Thank you for writing (and the compliment)! Here are some ideas. When you or anyone else are persistently having problems with skin care products, there is a very high likelihood that you have become allergic over time, to one or more of the chemicals often used in skincare products – not the active ingredient.
Most skincare companies put a lot of chemicals – preservatives, fragrances, formaldehyde releasers, etc – in creams, gels etc. AND…….it can sometimes be devilishly hard to identify which ones might be bothering a patient.
So what now?
Try to find a dermatoolgist in your area who specializes in allergic contact dermatitis and does what’s called “patch testing.” These are small discs put on your back for 72 hours and will help identify which specific things might be causing the problem
In lieu of that, another strategy is to do an “elimination” diet for your skin. Find a very bland cleanser and one cream that you know you tolerate well. See the sensitive skin section here for ideas. Stop ALL products (yes even the sunscreen), for 3-4 weeks and let your skin rest until it’s good again. Once you are back to normal, then add products back one at a time a week apart so you can identify which specific ones are bothering you.
Hope this helps, Dr. I