Help me find out what Im allergic to!

[leachesobrien]

I went to have a flash exfoliation today (its a 20 minute treatment done with prof. dermalogica products to help sluff of dead skin cells and brighten the skin) I was told over several treatments, it would also help with the appearance of my scaring from old acne. The gal removed my makeup and cleansed my skin, then cleansed with a cleanser from the medbac line, the second cleanser tingled a lot but wasnt too awful. Then she put on the exfoliator (IDK what it was called but I know it had  salicidic and lactic acid in it) It started burning SO SO badly. I have very sensitive skin and I know this skin therapist has done this treatment on some of my friends who are sensitive without these results. She removed it immediately and the stinging sensation stopped within a few minutes. but the redness continues.

At home I put a dab of spot treatment with salacidic on my arm without a reaction, IDk what else has a high concentration of lactic acid in it that I could do a spot test with...Has anyone experienced something similar, what did you end up finding the problem was? I thinking its an allergy but Id like to figure out to what, any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! PS - Im sure the redness and irritation will go away soon, so Im not concerned with that. Im wondering if this is how it feels to everyone and maybe Im just a big baby or what?! Should I "man up" and try it again or is there something I can do to figure out an alternative so that I can get rid of this disgusting pitted scaring?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
You had irritant contact dermatitis to the facial treatment and any of the ingredients can be responsible for this. 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. It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[Angebelle]

Are you currently using or did you recently stop using topical or oral acne medications?  If so, this can increase sensitivity to these types of acidic treatments.  Rather than using acidic-based exfoliators, seek out an aesthetician that performs microdermabrasion treatments.  It's a treatment that sprays miniscule round pellets at the skin surface and then vacuumed away all in one tube.  It can feel like a cat licking your face, not painful at all.  Also, there are many treatments that use plant enzymes to correct skin imperfections that you may want to look into.  If the scarring is more recent, good ol' 100% aloe vera can help.  If the scarring has been around for years, then a more significant treatment by a dermatologist will be necessary, like laser treatments.  But whatever you do, don't do the same treatment again!  Listen to your skin.  Good luck!