skin - dry????

[topsy]

Ok it must be my day for asking questions - since my op the skin on my arms and legs feels horrible almost scalyish. Is this normal? do i need to moisturise plus plus plus? will my skin feel normal again? And the other thing is my skin is SOOOOO itchy especially at night why is this????? Am i turning into reptile lady??????

 

[quetiapina]

Hi Topsy, firstly well done on yr weight loss. Second of all, I would be interested to know about dry skin as well. My legs also have gone a funny sort of mild scaly consistancy also. The backs of my hands also x

 

[WeightlossWannabee]

I have very dry hands and get some moisturiser on prescription. It's called Doublebase. It's really good - see if your GP will prescribe it xx

 

[topsy]

That's it we're turning into reptile women - they'll be sending us to Torchwood!!!!!!

 

[Postop]

Not uncommon at all. In the first few mos. there are often a lot of skin changes: dry skin, acne, etc. Most, if not all, resolve within 3-6 mos.

However, if the itching persists or you see any kind of bumps it could be a sign of a zinc deficiency. However, since you're so early out, it wouldn't be that.

 

[WeightlossWannabee]

Not uncommon at all. In the first few mos. there are often a lot of skin changes: dry skin, acne, etc. Most, if not all, resolve within 3-6 mos.

However, if the itching persists or you see any kind of bumps it could be a sign of a zinc deficiency. However, since you're so early out, it wouldn't be that.

Hi, Postop,
What sort of bumbs? Can you elaborate? x

 

[cazbandy]

Hi there,

Dry skin can be caused by malnutrion and dehydration.

It's probably just another side effect of WLS.

 

[Postop]

Hi, Postop,
What sort of bumbs? Can you elaborate? x

Sure. They can be red, or white or clear. They can look like a rash or not. They can itch or not.

Zinc deficiency can also cause loss of sex drive, changes in taste and/or smell, difficultly in wound healing, skin dryness, acne, more colds, hair & nail issues and a ton of other things. Sometimes WLS patients find they're low b/c they poop more than they did preop.

You might be able to guess I've had a lot of experience w/this mineral (since my DS) and have become very familiar with supplementing zinc & copper.

 

[thinkbethin]

Since having my op I've found I'm needing to moisturise more often on arms and legs. My feet have also gone really dry on top so they're getting extra treatment too.

 

[j.u.s.t.l.i.z.]

this comes from dehydration keep the fluids up ladies 2 litres a day, fill up an empty coke bottle with water which is 2 litre capacity and put in the fridge to chill if you clear it in 24 hrs then you have enough water intake x

 

[Meggie]

That's it we're turning into reptile women - they'll be sending us to Torchwood!!!!!!

I could live with that..........MMMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!

 

[topsy]

ok will push more fluids x

 

[Caroline101061]

think its the trauma to the body as well - sends everything haywire for a bit. Keep drinking and give your body a chance to readjust!

 

[Snowcrystal]

Hi there,

Dry skin can be caused by malnutrion and dehydration.

It's probably just another side effect of WLS.

Was just going to say too that dehydration causes the skin to dry out.

Hope it goes soon.

(((hugs)))

 

[phatgirl]

The causes of post-op dry & itchy skin are multiple:

1. Dehydration
2. Reduction in fatty acids Omega-3 in diet (found in nuts & fish)
3. Skin shrinking
4. Reaction to antacid
5. Reaction to supplements
6. Vitamin/mineral deficiency

As you are early post-op you can probably rule out the last one. Drink more water and as soon as you can go on purees/soft foods add fish back in. I know that a couple of people (Hopelesscase) had to switch from lansoprazole to another antacid because it was making them itch. If you have started any supplements you can try taking them one at a time for a couple of days, if the itchy goes away then you can blame that supplement and ask your doc for an alternative.

HTH,
Nic

 

[Lisa J]

i seemed to shed a whole layer of skin from my feet to my head!!! all fine now though

 

[SarahSez]

I do have very dry skin on my legs but I put it down to those horrible surgical stockings lol

 

[iinklii]

I've always had very dry skin and use bucketsful of E45 to glue my face and skin back on, and oilatum or balnium after a bath (not in cos that's too slippy).

So dryness hasn't been overly noticable, however, Itching!!!!!!!! OMG my hand and feet seem to get into a tizzy over nothing and itch like the devils own, so I have piriton at the ready