Do I have sunburn ... or something else?

[Epox]

Hi all.

I have been visiting South Carolina over the past year, I just completed my 3rd trip down there from Ohio.

While down there the 2nd time I awoke one day with both of my eyes nearly swollen shut! It took like 2 days to get the swelling to go down significantly, then I had bags under my eyes for another ~2 weeks! I didn't look nor feel like myself in the face. I had no good idea what was causing the problem but kept icing and sleeping to try to get the bags to go away. Never seen a doctor either. I speculated that I either had an allergic reaction to something or got some type of eye infection.

I went back again for a 3rd visit just last week. Unsure of what caused my problems last time, this time I took some precautions: *cleaned face with only bottled water, *kept hands sanitized, *placed a personal towel from home over the hotel pillow which I used, *took Claritin-D everyday I was visiting. Also my daily facial moisturizer has an SPF 15 rating, but I mix it 1:1 with coco lotion before applying to my face. Even after doing those things I awoke on my last day with swelling/bags under my eyes and the skin around my eyes on parts of my face somewhat sore and maybe even kind of red (?).

Anyway I am back home in Ohio now with these wrinkly bags under each of my eyes and a lot of my facial skin no longer looks smooth and toned as it did bore. The central regions around my eyes, nose, and above my mouth feel sore like they are dry. Applying creams like lotion BURN/Stings! Even Aleo Vera gel stings too (at first). Some online research pointed to the possibility that I may have sunburn, so I have been treating myself as such by cleaning my face with cold water and applying cold Aleo Vera gel afterwards. It feels a bit better but I still do not look nor feel like I did before I left in my face. I have also restarted my multi-vitamin, increased water intake, took some Asprin (for discomfort and help with swelling) and plan to stay inside today to help my skin recuperate... I guess.

Does this sound like sunburn?
What proven things can I do to help move the healing process along?
Why do I have these bags under my eyes? What can I do about them?

Meanwhile I will keep treating as sunburn and get some extended rest... I think when I fall asleep (haven been to sleep since coming back from SC this morning) me eyes may swell up a bit and be heavy to open later!

Any advise (short of seeing a doctor, which I will do if this does not resolve itself within reasonable time) you can provide would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Epox]

Why are you talking about Lips?

This is mainly about my Eyes, I said nothing about my lip(s)...


Thank you for your response.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Unexplained swelling of the lip without any predisposing disease is frequently caused by allergies. An allergic reaction can occur suddenly, even in a person with no previous history of allergy. This swelling is called angioedema. It is the rapid swelling (edema) of the dermis, subcutaneous tissue, mucosa and submucosal tissues. Diagnosis is by clinical examination and complete blood tests, electrolytes and renal function tests. Treatment is by antihistaminics and steroids.

Other possibilities of swelling of lips may be acromegaly, Crohn’s disease, herpes and myxedema. It is very difficult to make a diagnosis without examination. So please get yourself examined by a physician and the diagnosis confirmed. Also sometimes angioedema can be life threatening when it involves the larynx and airways.

I hope that helps. Take care and please do keep us posted in case you have any additional doubts. Kind regards.