Redness/Irritation on Face

[lamortreve]

I've always had eczema, allergies, very sensitive skin.  However, it was never really a problem until about two years ago.  I'm 22, female, made no changes to my routine, diet, laundry detergent, or surroundings, and yet I developed a troubling problem with my face.  Generally, 5-6 days out of the week, I'm plagued by some combination of these symptoms:

- splotchiness or all-over redness of my face/neck (When I say "all-over redness," I mean that literally my entire face/neck/forehead is a very bright red)
- itchiness
- feelings of tightness
- dryness/flakiness
- burning/stinging
- a "puffy" look
- poor texture to the touch

It will normally start as patches of irritation on my cheeks one day, and by the next day, have engulfed my entire face.  It tends to go in cycles of one day where I'm fine, a day of minor irritation, a day of MAJOR irritation, a day or two of cool-down, a day where I look and feel normal again, and then the next day, it's back to the irritation building.

I've changed the products I use on my face so many times, to try and counteract this.  I've probably used every treatment in the drugstore, for sensitive skin, rosecea, allergies, or general redness of facial skin. NOTHING helps.  Not only does this condition put me in constant discomfort, but it's mentally fatiguing as well, because it produces a feeling of helplessness, and at LEAST once a day at work, a customer comments on it and basically asks What's Wrong With You?, which is humiliating.  I used to enjoy wearing makeup for fun, and no longer can.  I used to simply enjoy, you know, being a fairly pretty and carefree girl.  Now I'm constantly concerned about my appearance, uncomfortable, and attempting to draw attention away from myself for both of those reasons.  It feels like I've become trapped behind someone else's face.  My boyfriend and I are planning to become engaged, and all I can think about is whether or not my face will be the color of a tomato on the day I get married, and if, consequently, my ability to enjoy that day will be hampered, and the photos ruined.

I tried keeping a diary of my symptoms and behaviours for a few weeks, to see if I could find any patterns that might tell me what's causing this.  I couldn't.  It seems totally random, or just totally constant.  There was no particular location in which it was always worse, no food I always ate near the time I would get the symptoms.  The ONLY pattern I saw was that if I overslept or took a nap that was too long, my symptoms would be terrible upon waking up.

If you've ever experienced anything like this, please, please give me any advice that you have.  I need this to stop.  It's robbing me of so much

[Kathy636]

Update since Jan 20.  I finally convinced the dermatologist to do a culture on my skin.  It turns out I had a staph infection!  I'm currently on Dicloxacillin and Mupirocin and my face is no longer red and is cool to the touch.  Halleluiah.  It doesn't hurt, feel puffy, or flake anymore.  For more information, research cellulitis on the web.  It's caused by staph and can plague those with eczema due to the open skin.  If you suspect cellulitis, you'll need to get a skin culture.  I'm also using Locoid Lipocream to control the eczema.  Good luck!  I hope I was able to help.

[Kathy636]

I have the exact same thing you do.  I've had it around 10 years now.  The only thing that helped somewhat is that I stopped taking Celexa (an anti-anxiety med, which ironically I still need due to my face!); it made it much worse, but the problem hasn't gone away.  Most days I feel like hiding.  Maybe a burkha would be in order?  (lol)
I've been to allergists, I'm on my 5th dermatologist and have used every product there is.  I've had every allergy test there is as well.  I've tried every medicine there is, including Desonide.  I even went to a holistic healer!  Right now I'm on a heavy dose of Prednisone to see if it will help.  No one can figure it out.  I think I need Dr. House.
My suggestion would be to go to a good dermatologist and get a patch test.  Go to an allergist and get an allergy test.  Get a blood test to see if the problem is internal or an external irritant (they decided mine was external based on the level of antibodies fighting the irritation).  At least you can rule things out.
Good luck to you and congratulations on your impending engagement!

[AriesDestiny]

Alright I myself was diagnosed with Seboreic  dermatitis and i dont know if youd tried the following. When i was diagnosed with it i was given a lotion to use called Desonide lotion. However that was only to use to get the inflammation down should they suddenly come up. I had what you describe above my eyebrow scalp line aswell as my one cheek. What I really recommend you do and then tell me if it works like it did for me is buy Selson blue shampoo or the generic walgreens brand. They both contain Selenium sulfide and i think thats what you might need. What i do is when i wash my hair i take whats still on my hands and put it all over my face and i stand there for about 3-5 minutes and upon getting out of the shower you will already see the redness heavily improve within minutes if not instand. Ive found that scrubbing the areas makes it WAY worse so just lather it and be gentle washing it off. Ive been doing this for months now and ive gotten everything about 90% under control. The one cheek still feels itchy irritation at times but the redness is still controlled. please let me know what happens. Try this you have nothing to lose =D

[hondeaux]

When I read your question, I thought it was me asking....i have had the same problem, my neck is like one big whelp.   Do you also have swelling in one of your calves or any tightness?  Good luck on your recovery and keep in touch