I have been thinking some about this... When I would take a STRONG alkalizing bath AND not rinse off afterwards in cold water (self experiment), I used to get a few days of a mild jock rot flare up... I am thinking the bath and strong alkaline pull in the skin, brings this acidic condition to the surface and neutralizes it.
I wonder if the internal reaction you were experiencing is something similar to this.
If I rinsed off in cold water afterwards, I did not seem to have the problem.
The baths have really improved the condition of my skin. I never did have a problem with wrinkles, however my skin used to be dry. It is now getting very supple yet strong... do not know exactly how to describe it. Of course the Alkalizing drinks and everything else I do have had something to do with that too I am sure. However the baths make a difference almost immediately.