face rash for 3 months

3 months ago I used a new face exfoliator on my face (birthday present) and within a few days my face broke out in large rash, red, itchy, flaky - looked like a reptile. To try and calm it down I used E45 cream but within a week and with no improvement I realized the E45 (mineral oil in it) was adding to the problem. Since then I have tried all sorts of other sensitive products (with a couple weeks in between each one)  and they all have reacted to my skin -  cetaphil, avenue for intolerant skin, organic products, botanics range, the list goes on. Worried that I was making things worse and that even warm water now brings on a reaction  I have now not put anything on my skin for almost a month. The reaction has gone down and is not so noticeable but my skin still looks slightly red, with different texture and more ingrained appearance. It also can look worse some days even when I am now not putting anything on it.

Question- Is the best option to leave it for another month in  hope it will go down before trying cetaphil again and then use shea butter. Girlfriend tells me my sensitized skin needs time to calm down and that cetaphil will prob be ok when this happens.  Also worried that summer is upon us and sunscreen will just react and I am then looked indoors.

[Jasmina Jankicevic, MD, MSc, CCRP]

Based on description provided, it is very possible that you have developed an allergic contact dermatitis on one or more ingredients in that cosmetic formula. There are elements of skin irritation in your story as well.  

In such a case, it is recommended to stop the use of any cosmetic products, especially on affected areas, until skin changes are completely resolved.  Short-term treatment with topical nonfluorinated corticosteroid cream (e.g., hydrocortisone valerate hydrocortisone probutate or mometazone furoate) could be prescribed by your physician to speed up recovery.

Long-term, it is best to find out which compounds are you allergic to before using any new cosmetic products. Patch tests are still the golden standard for diagnosing skin sensitivity.

Yours in optimal health,
Dr. Jasmina Jankicevic