rash/and bleeding from retinol

[jb777732]

My mom which is 86 has used retinol on her face and she has a very bad painful rash all over. And a bloody mouth. What should she do?

[jb777732]

Thank you for your response . We finally got to 2 Dr.s as her mouth wouldn't heal. He gave her a antibiotic  internally , and one for her face.  It is better. The dermatologist  felt it was hard to diagnose , and that it could have been impetigo. It wasn't itchy, but it hurt a lot. And seeing she was in the hospital  just before this , she might have caught  something there.
I did tell her cool compresses like you suggested..I think it all helped.
Thank you for your time.
Jennifer

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It can be due to contact dermatitis to retinol. Oral antihistamine, such as Benadryl can also be used. Your mother should take a comfortably cool bath and stop using retinol. Covering the affected area with bandages and dressings can help protect the skin and prevent scratching. You should choose mild soaps without dyes or perfumes and apply calamine lotion on the rash.

Please take a second opinion from a dermatologist if the symptoms persist.

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.