Korean Job Discussion Forums

[boogiet]

Hey guys,
I have been getting dry and very itchy skin since early December.
I have never had allergies or other itch problems, and I am wondering whether anyone else has had anything like this.
I'm guessing that maybe it has to do with the ondol heated floor system; maybe the dry heat is behind the madness?!
Can you help me with any advice or experience with this?
Thanks alot,
B.T.

[ChuckECheese]

Yep. The dry air causes your skin to get very dry and itch sometimes. Get yourself some moisturizing skin loation or a humidifier.

[newintown]

my boyfriend gets really bad eczema, especially behind his knees, it becomes much worse with central heating, and the dry heat of our room is driving him mad (and me, he insists on leaving the window open all the time!!)
we speak zilch korean, but were able to gesture to pharmacist who gave him a really effective cream.
try to keep your heating on low & stay warm with loose clothing.
if it continues, maybe you should see your doctor.
get well soon

[Chamchiman]

I had this maddening problem during my first winter in Korea.

Now, I use a three-pronged attack against the dry, itchy skin:

1. Rather than wash and rub off essential skin oils by taking long showers every day, I take a shower once every two days, and pat myself dry rather than towel off.
2. Neutrogena body moisturizer - every day or so.
3. A humidifier runs all night, every night.

No worries since the new regimen.

(I can't see how ondol would have anything to do with the dry, itchy skin - to my mind it's air- and shower-related.)

[happygirl]

Aveeno Stress Relief Moisturizing Lotion works better for me than anything esle I've tried. Has lavender, chamomile and ylang-ylang. A fresh, clean scent not all perfumey. Always had the itchies in winter at home, but it's so much worse here.

[corroonb]

I have this exact problem too and I was thinking about getting a humidifier. Is it worth it and how much do they cost?

[oneofthesarahs]

If you can find creams with cortizone in them, it really helps with itchy dry trouble spots.

I get stress-induced rashes (always on my inner elbows, for some reason), and cortizone cream does the trick!

[Qinella]

[Trumpcard]

i recently posted in a related thread about sensitive skin, I believe. I currently am suffering from the major itch and yesterday went to my English speaking pharmacist with "cetirizine" written down on some paper, which is an antihistamine know as zyrtec. Hasn't really helped much, but I'm looking to get some moisturizers and really soak for n hour or so til I become a wrinkly prune in my local bathhouse and sauna. Hopefully these will add some relief!

[the saint]

[wings]

I have horrible dry itchy skin all the time, so here are my best tips, from doctors and from experience:

When you get out of the shower don�t rub yourself dry, just pat off the excess water.

NEVER use soap, use a non faming cleanser instead (like spectroderm, or cetaphyl)

on really dry spots put on moisturiser 30 minutes BEFORE you shower, and again right before you get in then avoid scrubbing this spot (I find this is THE key to not going mad from dry skin)

don�t scrub dry spots ever, you might think that if you scrub off the dry skin that there will be nice new skin underneath, there isn�t. You will just irritate the dry skin and be really itchy.

don�t use things with lots of fragrace, eg, shaving cream that smells nice, or perfume on skin (spray on clothes instead)

Check your laundry detergent and fabric softener. They can cuase a lot of irritation. Wash your clothes with A LOT less soap (apparently so much soap residue stays in them that you can wash them evry now and again without soap) and soak them longer before you start the wash cycle, that way they wll get just as clean but leaving fewer irritants behind.

Dont use fabric softener unless it is for sensitive skin

[OiGirl]

[kat2]

I have the same problem. After visits to doctors in 2 countries and trial and error, here are my tips.

1. Use the Green Laundry Powder soap. At E-Mart it is a special section, with other Green produts. I think it also says GCAME on the label. It seems to have a lot less irritants in it.

2. Use a fabric softener. I use Pijon Yellow. I have sensitive skin, but it hasn't bothered my yet.

3. Get some cortizone cream from home or from the local pharmacist.

4. Put on lotion EVERY morning on your entire body, and again at night if needed. Currently I'm using Vaseline Extra Moisture in the white bottle. I've also used Nivea in the dark blue bottle (for some reason, Nivea in the white bottle makes my skin break out badly though).

5. If it gets really bad, go to your doctor and ask for a 10-day cortizone shot. (I once had my eyelids turn to scales and swell up so I could barely see).
ALso, ask for 30 days of zyrtec and 30 of allegra (don't get the "D" kind, though. Thats for decongestion). Take a zyrtec in the morning and an allegra at night. Using two different pills is mor eeffective than using the same pill twice as much.

6. Buy a humidifier

7. Drink at least 2 liters of water a day.

8. Avoid the sauna during winter. Soaking in hot water will only make your skin dryer.

Good luck!

[Boodleheimer]

[krats1976]