Skin Irritations, Acne, Infections

For about 20 years I was treated in various ways for chronic acne -- eliminating certain foods in my diet, washing my hair daily with a special shampoo, and, finally continual intake of tetracycline.  In my mid-thirties, I repeatedly suffered with yeast infections, which had never happened before.  After several occurrences, I decided to go to a female gynecologist to see if a woman-to-woman experience would come up with a solution. 

Within 5 minutes after reading through a list of products I normally used -- soaps, laundry detergents, fabric softeners, shampoos, perfumes, body lotions, make-up, toilet paper, etc. --  the doctor smiled and said the answer was quite simple -- I was sensitive to perfumes and fragrances.  Back then, there were not as many perfume/fragrance-free products on most store shelves, but by keeping my eyes open, I was able to find everything I needed.  Today those products are extremely easy to get everywhere. 

I cringe at how much people spend on products claiming to reduce skin irritations, acne, yeast infections, and other such annoyances.  Many times, they contain the very thing that is the original culprit -- fragrance or perfume.  Get in the habit of reading the labels.  Remember that ingredients are listed according to the percentage level in the product -- highest is listed first.  I have no problem with some products that contain only a slight amount of perfume or fragrance (listed as the last or next-to-last item in the ingredients), if used sparingly.

For myself, I threw out all my tissues, make-up and hair products (they touched my face), bath soaps, lotions, deodorant and laundry soaps/softeners (they could irritate my skin), and toilet paper (that and clothing could stimulate yeast infections) and replaced them with the same products that were perfume/fragrance free.  Within days, I was A-OK.  I have not taken tetracycline since, nor have I had a yeast infection -- or any kind of infection -- since. 

Before going a more expensive route to find relief/cures for skin irritations, acne, and other infections, try using perfume/fragrance-free products for a few weeks, and see if that might be the answer for you, too!