Allergic reaction to meds or face wash?

[nlights]

HI,

Just wondering, I've seemed to have a horrible allergic reaction to either Neutrogena face wash OR Rosasol (perscription for Rosacea). So bad in fact that I needed to go to the emergency room yesterday morning. My skin, from my chin to my eye brows is burning, red, itchy and my face has swelled like crazy, especially around my eyes. So, my question is this...

I was just RX Rosasol last week, used it all last week with no problems. I also ran out of my normal Neutrogena face wash, went to buy some more. They didn't have any, so I bought Neutrogena Deep Pore wash. The day after using Neutrogena (Tues morning), my face started reacting. Now, about 4 months ago, I had used an Avon product (Deep cleansing) and my face did almost the same thing, without the swelling). The common ingredient is Salicylic Acid! I'm sure to avoid those ingredients in the future.

So, now I'm on Prednisone, Benadryl and not using any creams, RX or otherwise. My eyes still haven't come down from the heavy swelling (my left eye was almost swelled shut). Skin is still burning and very tight.

Was wondering if I'm maybe mistaken about the cleansing products causing this reaction or if it's the Rosasol? (I had been on Metronidazole a few years ago, with no problems... same ingredient as Rosasol) Should I also be wary of taking aspirin now, since that's a salicylic acid as well?

Oh well, just hoping the swelling goes down fast and the itching/burning subsides fast... my face hurts!

thanks for reading this  

Lisa

[nlights31]

Hi everyone,

I am the original poster of this thread.  It's now 5 years later and I've still not been successful in clearing up my skin.  

Since the original reaction 5 yrs ago, I've had 2 more reactions, both worse than the first.  Eyes swollen shut that I had to have someone drive me to the emergency room, red, burning face, sand paper like feel to the skin, burning almost underneath the skin, tingling, etc.  One seemed to be from an Avon product and one from a cleanser with those little beads in it.

I was put on prednisone for these reactions, told to use witch hazel to soothe/cool the skin and avoid those products.  

I've basically been living with acne and redness all this time... well, really, since my teenage years.  I'll be 44 this month and having menopausal symptoms, which affect my skin as well!  Grrr... so frustrating.

So, I had forgotten that I had written this 5 years ago, and I was googling for "allergic reactions to face wash/meds" and then found my original post.  to my surprise, there are 68 replies from men and women like me who suffer from this.  I certainly don't feel alone, however, still perplexed over having acne well into my adult years.

The reason for my googling this is because I've signed up for clinical trials for rosacea with acne at my local dematologists' office.  I hopefully will be meeting him in the next week or so.  I was hoping to talk to him about previous reactions I've had so as to avoid similar problems with this trial.  

**I secretly can't wait to be done menopause as I've heard it dries up your skin and hopefully that'll work for my acne.... even though I'm hating the hot flashes. LOLOL

Lisa :)

[luvnmt]

I am having a reaction to what I assume is the Neutrogena oil free face wash.  I have had the break out where my eyes get all puffy, my skin turns red and gets very dry where it peals like a sunburn.  I have been having this issue every couple of months and finally realized that it happens after I get home from traveling and I keep that brand of face wash in my travel bag and use it when I am on the road.  I don't have the problem at home where I use cetaphel face wash.  I wear the same make up so know that isn't causing it.  I am going on day 4 now and my face is finally starting to get back to normal except with dry red skin.  My eyes had swelled shut and got really puffy with bags under them.  I am hoping that is the culprit, I can't figure out anything else that causes it.  

[firebird945]

I am also having an allergic reaction. I used Neutrogena On-the-Spot Treatment  (with benzoyl peroxide) ONE TIME, and in the morning my face was bright red, bumps all over, very itchy and painful, and it got progressively worse throughout the day. I am going to buy some aloe vera gel right now, and hopefully that will help.

[Random_commentor]

Hey there! I used to use Firebird945 as my username when I was a kid and I decided to google it just now for no particular reason. Anyway, this comment was the only non-gibberish result, so I thought I'd leave you a comment and say nice username! You probably won't see this, but if you do, I hope it brightens you day (or at least makes it more interesting).

[Pinkpixxi]

I also found this link to be interesting for lovers of Dermalocica skin care:
http://www.****.com/reviews/details_Dermalogica_2.htm

[Pinkpixxi]

I have used Dermalogica products for a long time, but for my specific skin needs - I was given a sample of Dermalogica Multivitam thermafoliant:

Warning - it contains the devil!
Yep it has Salicylic Acid as an ingredient and I believe that after using this prouct only once - my face blew up, espeacialy around the eyes and cheeks with hives, pimples you name it - on fire, very tight and itchy not to mention  extremely alarming - I immediately took antihistame but with no effect. It has been 5 days since the onset. Whilst it has stabalized it has no sign of going away. Off to the Dr in the morning!

I have found organic Rose hip oil to be calming 1-2 drops gently applied to the face, bathing the face with soaked oats and also mashed up cucumber, (not all at the same time though!!)

Thank-you for all who have posted, it is very helpful.

[Melaniejayne]

I am pretty sure my reaction may have been to a dermalogica product too.. not 100% sure, but I used 2 testers- one "calming facial serum" and one "anhydrous barrier" just the tiniest amounts, and my face has swollen up on my eyebrows, forehead and around my eyes- I look like I have been beaten and it is red in some patches. It happened a few hours after I put the stuff on while I was at work, and it is the next morning now and it is actually worse! I have never had anything on the face like this happen to me, I have no idea what is going on or how to make it go down before I have to go back to work. Also I don't know how to pinpoint for sure what I am reacting to, I don't want to try that cream again that is for sure. I took 2 zytrecs, and still my face just went nuts- I hate to think what would have happened if I didn't take anything. What the he?? should I do?