Dancey sorry to hear about your skin troubles. I cannot speak to the menopause and hormone issues (though I remember my older sister telling me her skin became super-soft following hysterctomy hormone therapy) - but I have lived with dermatitis, exzema, and fussy skin allergies all my life and over the years have found these helps: 1. To the extent you can, try to reduce the total chemical load in your environment - do not use dryer sheets, fabric softener, room fresheners, hair creme rinse (or minimize it at least); put your clothing through a double rinse cycle; use gloves/other barrier to protect your skin from harsh detergents, etc. 2. Add evening primrose, flaxseed, tocotrienols, and more fish to your diet (the inside-out approach). 3. I have fussy impossible skin, and my red-head spouse has his own set of skin troubles (sun damage, pre-actinic keratoses, etc.). We're both in our 50s now, and though we're fit, free of health problems, and comfortable with our ages, we wondered if we might improve the appearance of our sun-damaged faces. Together we read Perricone's Cosmeceuticals book, and decided to try some of his recommendations. We found the author's products to be way beyond what we considered reasonable to spent, but we have had stunning results with similar products we found online through Amazon.com from Reviva Labs: Alpha Lipoic Acid Vitamin C Ester and DMAE Cream (for the face and neck day and night); Firming Eye Serum (night-time eye cream); and their hand lotion from the same line (sorry my bottle is out in the car so I can't give you specific name). My skin responded immediately (thank god I was getting a little worried about lip creases and papery eye and throat). We're both looking a lot clearer and more well-rested, with much-improved skin texture - that's as much as we can expect because we'd never go for elective surgery - only a natural approach... and no, we have no financial interest in the above-noted products. 4. Two other creams that settle my skin, as well as seeming to change the texture, are Nivea Skin Firming Lotion with Q10 plus Biotin, and Aveeno Stress Relief Moisturizing Lotion with Natural Colloidal Oatmeal, Lavender, Chamomile and YlangYlang. You can find these at any of the larger drugstores (I am on West Coast) - they're a bit more expensive than, say, Jergens, but I have been thrilled to find them. Sorry for the rambler, but I hope you'll try any or all of the above. So nice to have happy skin. Good luck!

jemdanyd...that sounds like the same treatment that I had last week. I was surprised by the itching and the dead skin is now peeling off in big sheets. I look like I have dandruff but it all from my face. It's a little strange. But on the up side, the skin under all the dead stuff is soft and normal. I hope it accomplishes what it the Dr. wants. jeff...good luck and it will all be fine. The treatment itself was not painful. It was very warm and I felt some stinging while the light was on but nothing I could not tolerate. Do exactly what they tell you to do when you leave the office and you will be fine. A cool compress helps on the day of the treatment, some Ibuprofin (sp) and some moisturizer. You might want to clear your calendar; my treatment was one week ago today and today is the first day that I feel comfortable enough to go out in public. Still not back to normal but today is the first day that I will not frighten small children. Good luck and let me know how it goes. Sooey

I'm wondering now if these actually are the same as what I've been using for years. I use my Salux style cloths daily and do not experience skin layers peeling off . Could it be because I've been doing it for so long I just don't have that much dead skin to slough? My towels also come in varying degrees of coarseness and they soften up over time. They look like the the same material, and that article linked above mentions long ones for your back. I guess I'd need to see them in person to tell for sure. But I always use body wash with the exfoliating towels. I wonder if I didn't, would the results be similar? Perhaps it's because there's no soap involved to break up and disperse the dead skin?

Jim. Oh dear. You could try putting a basket muzzle on Gracie. She can still drink and you could give her (and Savannah...that's important that they're both fed treats) treats for being good. For example. Get them to sit apart (8 feet) from each other. Both would be on leash. If it's too close (Savannah is trembling, etc.) then move further apart. Gracie would be on leash with you holding (loosely...no tension) a short leash (maybe a foot of leash between you and her). Jerk the leash and say no if she moves towards Savannah or if she growls. She can look at her though. If Gracie is good, give her a cookie saying "Gentle, good gentle). If Savannah is not affected, give her a cookie. You don't want to give her a cookie when she's nervous. Then about 15 minutes later (after separating them), move them back to (7 1/2 feet) from each other...if they did well at 8 feet apart. Otherwise, go back to 8 feet. They should be on leash (when you are both home). Shake it up with not just you holding Gracie's leash. If you want some time away from them, put one in a crate or a different room. This may go on for months. Any time that they're calm around each other...give a treat and say good gentle.