Rash After 15% TCA peel

[SaveFerris]

Hi I put up a pic in my profile so you can look at it (note the brown spots around the rash are moles and not related to the rash). Pic is as clear as I could get it. Click to enlarge.

I`m a male and I recently had a full face 15% TCA peel (I've had peels before that went fine) and I didn`t take care of it that well after by shaving too soon after the peel. It seemed to heal fine all around my face for the week after all the skin the peeled but then around that time, I woke up and my chin was feeling itchy and irritated, I stupidly shaved and then it was really irritated, red and itchy (Note: These are not 'shaving bumps'). I borrowed some of my wife`s foundation because I had to go to work and that made matters even worse. Then when I got home my area was red, inflamed and very itchy. Anyway, I stopped shaving the area and put moisterizer on it and a couple days later it was not looking or feeling as bad after the initial rash breakout, but since that point it does not seem to be getting any better and has not budged. It`s been 10 days and has shown  no improvement since day 3. The rash seems to have stayed in the same places and not spread, but some times it looks redder than others. The rash is basically reddish/pink spots and blotches, mostly flat maybe the more pronounced ones are very slightly elevated, and some of them have peeled a few times, and it`s still a little itchy. It`s not seeming to go away. I tried some .5 % cortizone a for a bit and it did nothing positive.  What does this sound like to you ? I would also like to add that I have never had a facial rash before, but I have had cold sores, shingles on my back and a staph infection on my legs all years ago. I have no current medical conditions.


Thank you

[Jasmina Jankicevic, MD, MSc, CCRP]

Welcome to the Dermatology Expert Forum! Thank you for your question.

Reddish/ pink macules and papules with some desquamation (scaling) and mild pruritus (itch) on the chin area after being exposed to multiple chemicals with irritant potential could easily be Irritant contact dermatitis. Main differential diagnoses are perioral dermatitis and fungal infection (damaged skin is excellent entering point for microorganism), especially with information that applications of topical corticosteroids did not lead to regression of lesions.

Bottom line, try to have your skin evaluated by a dermatologist as soon as possible (in order to establish diagnosis and start with optimal therapeutic strategy.

In the meantime, try to spare facial skin form exposure to physical and chemical traumas.

Thank you for posting a picture. However, we tried but were not able to see much on that photograph (it was rather blurry).


Wishing You Optimal Health,
Dr. Jasmina Jankicevic

[SaveFerris]

Hey what about my question? I paid 15 bucks lol

[SaveFerris]

Also I would like to add there is no signs of pus or infection.