Face Irritation

[courtneygailey]

I put this mask on my face yesterday for 10 minutes to help my dry skin. i rinsed it off after 10 minutes like it said to do but when i did i got red splotches all over my face and my face became even more dry. i can't even touch my face without it hurting, and i need a way to make this rash, or whatever it is, on my face go away. i have really sensitive skin, which could be one of the reasons this happened. thanks so much!!

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
The symptoms are suggestive of irritant contact dermatitis. Irritant dermatitis, the most common type of contact dermatitis, involves inflammation resulting from contact with acids, alkaline materials such as soaps and detergents, cosmetics, or other chemicals.

Avoid using any lotions and creams over the face for the meantime. Wash your face with a mild cleanser with moisturizing properties like Cetaphil. Pat your face dry. Then apply a good hypoallergenic moisturizer over the area and see if this improves. If the symptoms still persist then you can apply mild steroid like dermacort.

If the irritation persists then please get it evaluated from a dermatologist.
I hope it helps. Take care and regards.

[Angebelle]

What type of mask was it?  What were the ingredients?  

If you have sensitive dry skin, you need the most mild products void of alchohol, sulfur and acidic properties.  Cetaphil and Purpose make really good OTC facial cleansers that may help calm the redness and dryness.  Remember to rinse with cold water, too.  Also look for a toner and light facial moisturizer with aloe vera (The Body Shop has a really good line that I use, along with the pricier Epicuren Pure Aloe Vera).  It may take 1-2 wks. for your skins pH balance to return to normal.  Hope you find relief soon.