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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!

251 Answers
newperspective
October 05, 2012

In reply to by justtiredofit

I know the feeling! But I promise IT DOES GET BETTER! It's not a habit that can be subdued overnight but it is a habit that can be changed over time. I first learned that compulsive skin picking was an actual condition about a year and a half ago and it has taken me this long to be able to look in a mirror and not obsess over every tiny little "flaw". My skin looks a million times better than it did a year ago, or even 3 months ago! I have to credit a lot of my progress to this site and calamine lotion. I've had a lot of slip-ups and relapses throughout this long journey to recovery and both this site and the calamine lotion have helped me to pick myself back up and face the world another day. I wish you the best of luck and hope that the calamine lotion is as effective for you as it has been for me. XO - newperspective :)
goal orientated
October 08, 2012
Does calamine form scabs? Because scabs make me pick in order to applu make up smoothly...
newperspective
October 08, 2012

In reply to by goal orientated

Hi goal orientated! If the calamine lotion is applied to freshly picked skin it does not form a scab - it just dries out the wound and stops it from seeping/oozing. In fact, calamine lotion has actually helped to smooth out my wounds, making it easier for me to apply makeup over top of them and conceal them easier. If you apply calamine lotion to a scab that has already formed, it has the same effect. It just smooths out the scab so that it's not as noticeable under your makeup, thus allowing your skin to completely heal until the scab is ready to fall off on its own. I hope this helps!
olivegreen
October 08, 2012
Hi guys, I wondered if any of you have asked your Doctor about the safety of long-term calamine lotion use? Or drug interactions? Or if it's safe during pregnancy/breastfeeding? I am always leery about using any product that's considered an OTC drug over large areas or for a long time.
newperspective
October 08, 2012

In reply to by olivegreen

Hey olivegreen! Calamine lotion is completely safe to use. It's actually the #1 recommended go-to product for pregnant women who suffer from skin ailments, such as exzema. :)
micah400
October 09, 2012
this is sooo freaking amazing the calamine lotion works for me i used it and my wounds and picky spots dried up and are fading away another product i recommend everyone should get is hyper cream it is very good is helps blend your skin and in one day bring out the beauty of your skin hyper cream and camaline lotion use camaline lotion every night hyper cream for morning time when going out and stuff which ever way you feel like
micah400
October 09, 2012

In reply to by soembarrassed

i have used it for a week now the calamine lotion generates a new skin for you and also takes your skin back to its normal sensitivity and hyper cream which am currently using is like the ice-in on the cake perfects your skin brighten and gives it a glowing look best explanation i can give you
soembarrassed
October 09, 2012

In reply to by micah400

Ugh a week. Dang i was hoping for sooner. I have used calamine before and i was thinking it worked faster. I just want this gone my life has stopped because of this
micah400
October 09, 2012

In reply to by soembarrassed

depends on how you use it if you can stay indoors for 3 days and use calamine lotion and sleep i believe it can happen before a week but you gotta but your all in it. as soon u wake up wash face apply again do whatever u do get some sleep and just like you see changes
newperspective
October 09, 2012
Hey everyone! Just a quick note - I only use the calamine lotion if I have wounds to heal. I don't recommend using the calamine lotion if your skin is wound-free. The calamine lotion can be very drying if used too often and ESPECIALLY more so if you are using it in combination with other drying agents/acne medications ie. Salicylic Acid, BP, etc. When using the calamine lotion, I DO NOT recommend using it with other acne skincare products because it will not only irritate your skin, but it will also dry your skin out, causing the oil glands in your skin to work in overdrive to compensate for the lack of moisture and this can cause your skin to become oily and create new breakouts. A lot of us (not everyone) pick because we have acne breakouts and I would hate for the misuse of calamine lotion to be the cause of any further skin-picking episodes. Calamine lotion IS truly effective IF used properly. Good luck and I hope this tip helps! :)
Needhelp
October 11, 2012

In reply to by newperspective

Hello I was wondering if you could help I've had a wound on my face and it will not go away its flat and very red and trendier but not seeping it forms Like a new layer of skin scab over it which makes it look worse with make up on so I rip the skin o and the process stars again I have a family party in 10 days time please give me some advice thanks x
newperspective
October 12, 2012

In reply to by Needhelp

Absolutely! When I first started using calamine lotion, I would wear it as a mask all over my face all day and then wash it off and apply another layer at night to sleep in. I would NOT recommend going this route. It clogged my pores and caused new breakouts. The best way to do it is to apply three layers at a time (allow each layer to fully dry before applying the next) all over your face. If you have all day to hide indoors, then it becomes a little more of a process, but so worth it! Be sure to wash your face with a gentle facial cleanser. I'm preferential to Cetaphil's Antibacterial Cleansing Bar because the Triclosan in it helps prevent breakouts AND because it's an antibacterial, it also helps prevent infections. After washing your face, PAT dry and apply the first layer of calamine lotion. After that layer has completely dried, apply the second layer. Once that layer has dried, apply the third and final layer. Let it sit on your face for no more than 2 hours (I personally only keep it on my face for an hour at a time), and then wash your face GENTLY with your facial cleanser of choice. NO SCRUBBING! Pat your face dry and repeat process. You'll notice that some of the calamine lotion will stick to the wound and not fully come off when you wash your face, THAT'S OK! :) Before repeating the process, make sure your skin has fully dried from washing your face before applying a new layer of calamine lotion. At night, before bed, wash your face one final time and if you have it, follow with an application of witch hazel all over your face. Allow the witch hazel to dry and follow with a LIGHT moisturizer of choice. I personally use Wal-Mart's Equate brand of Proactive's Repairing Lotion. It's super cheap (less than $5) and it's surprisingly soothing. It contains 2.5% BP to help prevent new breakouts AND it really helps speed up the healing process WITHOUT clogging my pores OR irritating my skin. :) I hope this helps and I'm here if you need me - good luck!
Needhelp
October 15, 2012

In reply to by newperspective

Hello I re picked the scab of now it's red again I think I was out of frustration I'm going to stick with the calamine loition would you say it's worked for you and also how long does it take for your skin to heal using it and would I sleep with it ?
newperspective
October 15, 2012

In reply to by Needhelp

It depends on how deep the wound is... If it's a surface wound, I would say it takes around 3 days. If it's deeper, I would give it a week. No, I do not recommend sleeping with the calamine lotion on your face - it will only clog your pores. Do you have a Wal-Mart close by?
Needhelp
October 15, 2012

In reply to by newperspective

No I live in the uk so I don't what would you reccomend as I could order it on eBay :) and thanks for your support your really helping me feel positive I hope you can keep this topic active :) at the minute I brought a witch stick contains witch hazel and I also put on differin ? I'm unsure what to use
newperspective
October 15, 2012

In reply to by Needhelp

What cleanser are you using at the moment? If you can purchase the Cetaphil Antibacterial Cleansing Bar, it would help A LOT with the treatment of acne AND it's really gentle so it also helps a lot with the healing process. If you could refrain from using Differin for the time being, that would also help speed up the healing. Wash your face, preferably with the Cetaphil Antibacterial Cleansing Bar and follow with an application of calamine lotion. After you've washed the calamine lotion off, apply the witch hazel to your face. Once that has completely dried, apply a light moisturizer of your choice (whatever works for you and your skin). It'll be safe to continue using the Differin AFTER your wound(s) have completely healed. If you use a combination of the products listed above, it will bring a good/even balance to your skin so that it doesn't become too oily or too dry. I hope this answers your questions and remember, if you need me I'm always here :)

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