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Chemistry ruined my face - somehow?

  • Despite using mostly products on my face that I've used before, I have a horrid red blotchy rash all over my face. Is it a particular combination of ingredients that's made this happen? And how should I make it better? So here's what I used on Wednesday night. I'll try and link to INCI lists as best as I can on a tablet! -http://www.cosdna.com/eng/cosmetic_279011268.html to remove make-up. I've been using this for years without any issue. - http://www.cosdna.com/eng/cosmetic_e9e3141411.html Not had a problem with this before. - Apple cider vinegar diluted 50/50 with filtered water. Tried this as the whole interweb seems to recommend this as a toner, and I've been OK with AHA exfoliators before and found them more gentle than physical scrubs. I'd used it a couple of days before for the first time and noticed a very small amount of redness and a couple of extra spots, but nothing too unusual. I felt a bit of stinging in application but assumed that was just the couple of spots I had.Applied on a cotton pad to face and not washed off. - http://www.cosdna.com/eng/cosmetic_2da062920.html Again, used this a few times before and not had any reaction at all. - If relevant, the previous evening, I cleansed the same way and used a sample of Kate Somerville http://www.cosdna.com/eng/cosmetic_6911127115.html - no ACV toner, no serum. I haven't tried a retinol product before and wanted to see if I was one of the people who struggle with it. No reaction when I woke up on Wednesday. I believe this contains 0.7 retinol! So on Thursday morning, I nipped out quickly to get milk - it was overcast - and spent the rest of the day indoors. No sun. My face was red as though I was sunburnt, and I had a mask like redness all over my face that felt warm to the touch. Washing it carefully made it feel hotter. This morning, I noticed I'm covered in tiny whiteheads and my face looks like cheese on toast that's been left under the grill to bubble up. I've put on a little bit of sunscreen just to protect it, and even that made things hot and stingy. I look like I have severe acne. I'm a quite pale Caucasian so it looks very obvious. Any idea what's happened? I know the standard answer is 'see a derm!' but a) I'm in the UK, we have to see our GP to get referred to any kind of specialist person, and this takes time and is rare b) it's a four-day bank holiday weekend. Sigh.

  • Answer:

    My sympathies. I understand the impulse to find something to fix this, but your skin is feeling deeply insulted (like cats, skin is weird) and needs to sulk and heal on its own. I would NOT recommend putting any sort of product on top of it unless it's strictly necessary. Don't even wash your face. If the itch gets bad, gently splash your face with tepid water. Take an antihistamine and see if that helps, but avoid all topical products unless a dermatologist recommends otherwise. I would suggest just relaxing and staying home over the holiday weekend. As you will not be going outside, you won't need sunscreen or makeup. This also means that you will have no need to wash your face at all. No moisturizer. Nothing but tepid water if and when needed. When you skin feels better, start with very simple skin care -- mild cleanser and moisturizer, sunscreen when you go out -- and consult a derm about adding anything else step by step.

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I just checked and Olay regenerist is a chemical exfoliation product, too. It contains glycolic acid. I think that plus a retinol plus another exfoliator is most likely to be the problem.

internet fraud detective squad, station number 9

I've had this reaction before a few times, and I don't believe it was because of any product I used, since I only use 1 thing on my face and there was nothing new applied to my face. So maybe it's unrelated to product and has something to do with what you ate or another allergy type response. In my case, it went away on its own after a day, so watch it closely. If it decreases, you're fine. If it gets worse, then seek a doctor. In the meantime, stop putting stuff on your face and irritating it! Maybe try some hydrocortisone on a small-ish section of the face to see if it helps. But also, why are you using so much stuff on your face?? Does your face really need all those serums and cleansers and oils and rinses and toners? I highly doubt it. I hate how the beauty industry convinces women to buy all this crap and put all these chemicals on their face, when there is usually no benefit from any of these, health-wise, or aesthetic-wise. Just keep your face clean and leave it alone. I promise you, no one but you notices any slight effect that these products might potentially have on your skin, because no one buy you scrutinizes your face so close.

never.was.and.never.will.be.

I think the combo of vinegar and retinal did you in. You look like you might be allergic to one or both of them. If you haven't already, take Benadryl. Drink plenty of water and avoid touching your face with anything for a few days. If it gets worse or you start to feel breathless, go to the emergency room. If your face hurts enough that you can't sleep, go to the emergency room. Stay out of the sun.

myselfasme

My favorite skin soother is pure aloe vera gel. Sun burns, mild burns, dry skin all love aloe.

carrioncomfort

Also, are you sure you need this amount of products? Try cutting back, like way back, for a few weeks. You might just need a mild cleanser like a bar or cream (foaming cleanser can be harsher) and a moisturizer.

Neekee

Unless your skin has makeup, sunscreen or axle grease on it right now, you do NOT need to wash it right now. I agree with the suggestions about some alternate cleansing routines for you, but that's best kept for when your skin recovers.

maudlin

Adding to myselfasme's cautions, please also get medical attention if you develop a fever, if any painful boils/cysts/whiteheads appear, if there's swelling in your lymph nodes (neck, armpits, groin), or if the rash spreads anywhere other than your face. (That said, I agree that it's likely a temporary bad reaction to the retinol and that you should be as gentle as possible with your face until it clears... and probably thereafter! Do stay well-hydrated as well. I hope it calms down quickly for you.)

argonauta

Yeah, I too would guess it's the retinol and vinegar together. I'd use nothing but aqueous cream for cleansing and splash rinse with warm water (i.e. no abrasion or exfoliation at all, not even hot cloth cleansing) and moisturise with a few drops of non-perfumed oil (e.g. culinary almond or olive oil) until your skin's back to normal.

EXISTENZ IS PAUSED

If you absolutely insist on putting something on it, maybe try cortisone cream. By I nth the recommendation to give it a rest.

Neekee

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