Red rash from Moisturizers

I have sensitive skin. 5 months ago I had a Perm one day, then a Facial the next day using Dermalogica products. I think I was allergic to a new cream she put onto my face. Apparently I had a toxic reaction to the combination of all those chemicals absorbed, the Perm and the new cream, and my face was swollen, flaming red, and painful, including the lips. Lipstick causes a bad reaction any time I try it now.The only thing I could use was Vaseline.  I couldn't get an appointment with a Dermatologist for 3 months, so internist had been helping.   (Dermatologist finally saw me, but not helping much) My face is still so sensitive, the only thing I can use is Vaseline. All other products I have tried, (Dermalogica, Cetaphil, Aquaphor,& Eucerin ) all cause red rash and pimples. The Phamacist mixed up a moisturizer using Stearyl Alcohol, White Petrolatum, Propylene Glycol, Mineral Oil,Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Methyl Paraben,& Propyl but got a rash from that. I still have a swollen, sore spot on the corner of the bottom lip. Treated it for Herpes, Fungus, and with Cortisone injection into the swollen area, it improved 50% only after the Cortisone injection, but I tried lipstick again, and I am back to zero, still there. My Dr. is reluctant to do another Cortisone injection. He put me on Valtrex, thinking it was Herpes, for 5 days.  After the 4th day, I had a very bad reaction including a horrible burning sensation all over my face and mouth, had to take Benadryl 50 mg. bid for 3 days.  Took another 10 days for the burning  to go away. Tried stopping toothpaste,  the lip a little better but face still inflamed. Cloderm cream 0.1% will help, but can't use that forever. I am now allergic to all sunblocks and moisturizers. Had Microfine Zinc Oxide mixed up by a Compounding Pharmacist, but I am allergic to that. I am getting eruptions like pimples all over my face now, and enlarged pores, because I can't clean it properly, I am using Dove soap,unscented for sensitive skin
to wash with. I am using Flaxseed Oil on my lips for moisture.

Question;  Am I going to be like this the rest of my life? Is it not good to use Vaseline every day on my face?  (Everyone says don't use Petroleum products on your skin.)  What can I use for a Moisturizer? Can I continue to use Cloderm? How can I deep clean my face?  Is if safe to get another Cortisone injection directly into the swollen area on my lip ( which I think is Allergic Cheilitis, either from the toothpaste or the lipstick, NOT Herpes or Fungus ) ?  What can I use for a sunblock? I use an umbrella and big hat now, and a surgical mask in the car to avoid the glare from the street.

I am a young 67 years old, an RN, and used to have beautiful skin, very fair and fine with small pores. I did have a chemical peel 8 years ago, and cold pulse Laser to some red spider veins on my face 1 year ago, a series of 3 treatments. After the Laser, it did seem like I had more trouble with allergic problems on the face.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

It's very hard to interpret this bewildering array of sensitivities.  Reactions of the sort you describe may leave the skin sensitive for a time, but not forever.  

I advise you to avoid further steroid injections, because you really don't need them and they can leave the skin indented for a long period.

Vaseline is perfectly fine as a moisturizer--no need to fear "petroleum products" in a blanket way.  Another option to try is Aquaphor.

I would in general avoid all active medications like Cloderm.  I suggest using only bland, nonmedicated products.  You ought to give Ceptaphil another chance--perhaps the pimples you say you got were coincidental, because Cetaphil is inert and generally good for even the most sensitive.

Over time (3-6 months, I'd guess), your sensitivity should subside.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[Mollan]

I wonder if this could be from a Virus fromm the Facial.

[Mollan]

Has anyone else had any problems from Facials?  Could bacteria and viruses be transfered from one client to another from the Facial Aesthetician, such as using the same sponges to wipe off the face after a mask has been applied? I had a Pedicure and "foot soak"  once and had a red itchy rash on my legs and feet afterwards for a week. I didn't repeat that again. Has anyone else had problems like that?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Bacteria and viruses cannot be transmitted from the esthetician (or of they can, I've never seen or heard of it.)

Dr. Rockoff

[Mollan]

Thanks, Dr. Rockoff, you made my day !
My husband ( a Physician) looked at the ingredients in some of the products I've been using, and he said that some of those chemicals are preservatives....the ones with " paraben" in the name. I know I am allergic to preservatives in eye drops, I buy preservative-free eye drops.
I am going to try Cetaphil again, and will continue to use my treasured Vaseline, which saves my face every time. In fact, I am going to try to mix up a concontion in my Cuisinart, my husband's idea again, using Vaseline, Mineral Oil, and Glycerin, maybe it will work. I juiced some raw beet to use as lipstick, I am desperate you can see.

[thebreez]

Hi I have had something similar happening to me. I make soaps & lotions, have never had any problems with anything I make, however I did receive a cream from someone else in a swap, I used it a few times then my daughter hid it, I found it & used it again right before Memorial Day..the next day my face was itching around my eyes (which was where I had put the cream)almost like when you have really dry skin, I didn't think about it & put some of my own lotion on it steadily got worse started burning & turning red, I then put some boo boo balm I had made on & it was still burning/itching/red & the skin felt like it was kind of scabbing it got rough feeling...finally the holiday was over so I called the dr. & he had me put some ointment on it (dipropionate .05%) i used that for several days but it still wasn't going away so he started me on benedryl...still not going away so he put me on prednisone finally the redness & burning started to go away. Trying to figure out different things causing the flare ups...besides using the cream from the swap, my lotion & boo boo balm (which all contained emu oil & lavender) I had also been painting & staining in the house & using a new bathroom cleaner ...smelling any fragrance oils that came made my face burn & turn red, going in the cleaning aisle at the grocery store caused my face to flare up again ....so the dr. told me to avoid all chemicals, fumes, perfumes etc for a couple of weeks which I did, my face felt better but from the dirpropionate ointment it started to break out in red bumps & white heads, also because of hormones (and not following the candidas overgrowth diet because I have been too miserable to mess around with cooking) right now I started to break out down my neck one thing that is good for break outs is emu oil dries the zits right up...i did a patch test on my arm ....no reaction waited a couple days did it again....still no reaction so I figured the plain oil would be safe put emu oil on my face & neck it immediately started to tingle & itch .....i washed my face several times with a plain castile soap the next day still tingling....started taking benedryl again ...it just keeps tingling....not getting all red like last time but the tingling is driving me crazy! Why would just my face react but not my arm, is this just an irritation of the skin on my face & not an allergic reaction like the dr. thought? will this go away eventually? The reason this concerns me is I make stuff to use & I can't sell my stuff unless I test it out...right now I can't make anything or test anything. Is there anything else I should be doing or taking? How am I to know what will cause a reaction if I do a patch test on another part of my body & it doesn't react but my face does? Will I have to avoid everything, makeup, sunscreen etc & probably for how long? & if this will only be for 3-6 months after that time do I still completely avoid everything that was in that cream I received or how do I know what to avoid & what is ok? (hopefully this made sense I am really upset right now as this has been going on for a month & I am completely at a loss)
Thank you
Patty

[thebreez]

oh I forgot to add the cream was made with no preservatives since was an all oil product...is it possible for a contaminated cream (if it somehow got contaminated) to cause a reaction like this...I was thinking of sending it out to be tested just so I could find out if it was contaminated what I might be dealing with
thanks
Patty

[Mollan]

Only my face and head are allergic to things, too, not the rest of my body.  Maybe the skin on our faces is thinner. I found that I am indeed allergic to anything that has the name "paraben" in ( Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Butyparaben) They are preservatives put in products to extend their shelf life.  I checked the ingredients of everything I own, and
EVERYTHING had paraben in it, even my Shampoo.  My head and ears had been red and itchy, and felt tingly and burning too. So those products are now in my husband's bathroom. He has tough skin.  I have found a place on-line, allnaturalcosmetics.com, who use absolutely no preservatives, animal products, or chemicals. I have ordered some things from them.  I think we build up toxins and reach a saturation point when our skin says " no more" and reacts.
Even all the Cortisone creams I had been ordered by my Dr. to put on my face have Parabens in them, no wonder I continued to have a burning, tingly, red ,blotchy, pimply face ! I detoxifying now, drinking "Juiceman" juice, and water, and using only Vaseline on my face for a few days.

[Mollan]

Here are some more things that can cause skin reactions in products: BHA, BHT, Bronopol, Propylane Glycol, Quarternium 15.
DEA, Diazolodinyl Urea, FD & C colors,  Imadazolidinyl Urea, Polyethelene, PVP, and Triethanolamine ( TEA).
( from " Cosmetics without Synthetics )