Any help for skin that gets sticky when it gets wet?

Hi again! Thanks so much scf500 for your continuous suggestions, always a huge help! What a great discovery with the sponges Diane, thank you! Besides paper towels containing pine tree sap, I'm starting to think we also need to watch out for certain ingredients in soaps that we use to wash our hands. Scf500, you are so lucky that shampoos & conditioners aren't giving you trouble! I've been trying different brands & some of them make my scalp itch and my face/lips stickier if the soap runs down while I'm rinsing my hair. To verycurious: If you started getting the stickiness after taking the new medicine, there must be something in it that you're allergic to. I agree with scf500 and I would stay away from any products containing the word benzo. You might want to call the manufacturer of Accutane and find out the exact ingredients to help narrow it down. I would also try taking a different medication if possible. Now that I know I'm allergic to Colophony (aka Rosin/Celluose) & Thimerasol (aka Sodium Benzoate), I'm trying to eliminate all products with those ingredients to see if I can get some stickiness relief, but it's difficult as Cellulose is in almost everything! I have to find new probiotics, new toothpaste, etc. I'm in my mid 30's, and I just found out that my thyroid is low so I'm going to start taking Levothyroxine (T4). After reading about hypothyroidism, it seems as though the body runs at a slower pace, and even causes less blood flow to the skin. I never used to have any of these allergy problems in the past... does anyone think sticky skin could be linked to the thyroid hormone?? Just a thought, thanks!

Hi everyone, It's Diane from L.I. (a recent discovery)... I called the company who makes the o-cello- sponges that i wash dishes with. The sponges are made from wood pulp from pine trees. Thus, another source of pine/colophony. Just raising awareness that sponges can contribute to our problem. If you are using sponges either in the shower or in the kitchen you probably should find another alternative. I don't think sponges are entirely the cause but a contributor. I feel this dilemma that we all suffer from has multiple causes.

Okay...take two...I guess my last post...didn't post. Anyway, sorry for the late response. Life keeps getting in the way : ) I use sure solid. I've pretty much stay with Sure. I don't want to risk the discomfort of testing out new deoderants...I'm good with Sure. As for shampoos, I 've pretty much ran the gambit of all different types of shampoos with no notable issues. I think maybe because shampoo is a wash-on-wash off process. The shampoo's contact with the skin isn't on long enough to do any serious damage. Whereas deoderant is applied to the skin and stays there to be absorded and react to the skin. Whether is food or cosmetic items, it's probably the "dosage" applied and the length of time exposed are the main contributing factors.

I started getting sticky palms this summer and I didn't really pay much attention to it until yesterday, when it was stickier than usual. This summer I switched shampoo, conditioner, and hand soap, so I looked at all the ingredients today and the closest thing to sodium benzoate that they all have is benzophenone-4. I also have mousse that I use once in awhile that has sodium benzoate. Since scf500 mentioned that it could be other "benzo" things, I was wondering, does anyone else who has a problem with sodium benzoate have a problem with benzophenone-4?

New here, I have the EXACT samn thing. I am 41 yrs old and I am taking ACCUTANE, 60 mg for acne. Have been on it for 5 months and started realizing stickiness about 4 months ago when geting out of shower and washing hands. Hair is sticky as well. I am convinced this drug is the culprit, as it inhibits the sebaceous glands from producing oil, thus a logical side effect...no other reasoning. I have no mold live in a relatively new building etc. Perhaps people are taking certain similar medications or vitamins that are interfering as this is. It is definitely an internal disorder and manifesting externally. The skin is overly dried out, the question for those in this thread is what may contribute to that internally??

a_sticky_mess - The Skin Deep Cosmetics database may be helpful to you, and to others on the thread. It's a safety guide to cosmetics and personal care products from researchers at the Environmental Working Group. If you try it please let us know what you think. Thanks, Pat
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/

Now that I'm aware of these allergies, I discovered a new one last night. My face and hands became more sticky after getting out of the shower, and my scalp has been itching after using my Nexus Shampoo & Conditioner! I need to find a new shampoo & conditioner ASAP that doesn't contain Sodium Benzoate or Colophony. Any suggestions????? I just called the company who manufacturers the probiotics that I take daily so I could verify my allergies, and they said one of the igredients 'Cellulose' is made from Pine Trees, yikes! What a discovery lately!!

You're welcome Diane. I'm so glad we can all brainstorm ideas and help each other figure this out. That is very helpful about the pine trees, and it sounds like the pineneedles in your pool could be a contributing factor. We have to think outside the box and help ourselves because most doctors aren't familiar with this sticky skin issue. I thought I was safe going back to 'Secret Roll On' deodorant that I used years ago with no problem. I thought my sticky armpits were getting better lately, but now I don't think they are. I didn't see any 'benzo' or 'rosin' ingredients when I cross referenced the ingredient list with my list from the doctor, but there must be an issue. I noticed when I went deodorant shopping that all brands are made with 'Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex' so I picked Secret Roll On because it didn't contain that. I'm going to try SURE brand and hope it's a-ok for me. Hey scf500, do you use the roll on or solid?? Please keep me posted if you find any additional information. Thanks a ton!