I had an awful rash on and off for years...letter i determined it was a reaction to mango. I would have a piece every now and then but never drew a connection as the rash developed the next day. It could be environmental exposure or food allergies. I would do a three day apple fast. apple pectin helps rid the body of toxins. Do a search on it. See if your symptoms don't improve. check out a website www.knowthecause.com might offer some helpful tips. I'd also suggest a suppliment beta glucan http://www.nsc24.com/reports.htm
best of luck!
best of luck!
Hello! Me again!!! Okay, I'm still taking my Singulair and Pepcid AC daily; however, for the last few days, that allergic reaction has been coming back. My face has been itching, and I can tell my eyes are starting to swell just a tad. I can see the extra wrinkles around my eyes because of this. I also noticed that my forehead sure was breaking out with acne.
With my forehead breaking out so badly, I immediately wondered about the hairspray I use. I've been using this brand for years! However, since I'm a teacher, I haven't been using any hairspray for weeks since I've been out of school and hanging around the house. I did use this hairspray a few days ago though.
I looked at the hairspray ingredient list tonight. Do you know that the third ingredient listed was acetone!?!!?!! ACETONE!!! I reached under my cabinet and grabbed my emergency bottle of this brand of hairspray. It was an older bottle and acetone was not on this bottle's ingredient list at all.
I'm really thinking this could be the problem. I mean, acetone is used to take off fingernail polish!!! That can't be good for spraying around your face. Check your hair products and see if acetone is on the list. I'll keep you posted what I find out.
With my forehead breaking out so badly, I immediately wondered about the hairspray I use. I've been using this brand for years! However, since I'm a teacher, I haven't been using any hairspray for weeks since I've been out of school and hanging around the house. I did use this hairspray a few days ago though.
I looked at the hairspray ingredient list tonight. Do you know that the third ingredient listed was acetone!?!!?!! ACETONE!!! I reached under my cabinet and grabbed my emergency bottle of this brand of hairspray. It was an older bottle and acetone was not on this bottle's ingredient list at all.
I'm really thinking this could be the problem. I mean, acetone is used to take off fingernail polish!!! That can't be good for spraying around your face. Check your hair products and see if acetone is on the list. I'll keep you posted what I find out.
Hi
I've been reading these posts for about a month. My girlfriend had all the same symptoms you did and we did not know why. After a month of searching we found that it was an ointment she had made which is fairly common. Vitamin E and Vasiline.
It turns out Vitamin E is a very toxic substance if used too much.
See if you have any vitamin E that could be causing the problem
Anyways good luck in your fight :-)
I've been reading these posts for about a month. My girlfriend had all the same symptoms you did and we did not know why. After a month of searching we found that it was an ointment she had made which is fairly common. Vitamin E and Vasiline.
It turns out Vitamin E is a very toxic substance if used too much.
See if you have any vitamin E that could be causing the problem
Anyways good luck in your fight :-)
hi WoW !!! You would think that if there are as many of us on here, with all the same symptoms, something should really be done about this.
After reading all msg's, I noticed one thing was not mentioned.
Has anyone been using steroid creams? Could any of you be suffering from steroid induced roeacea? Has anyone tried using tacrolimus? I also have done a lot of research and found that any sterioid use, causes adrenal problems, ie. the msg about the adrenal treatment.
If you are using and steroid or cortizone as a topical, you need to stop now! It only makes the symptoms worse. Stopping treatment will cause you to flare up for a couple months, but with tacrolimus and tetricycline, you should start to clear up after 7-10 days. After which, all this should go away " For-ever " as long as you dont go back to steroids.
Look up " steroid induced rosacea " on the web
Good Luck to us all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After reading all msg's, I noticed one thing was not mentioned.
Has anyone been using steroid creams? Could any of you be suffering from steroid induced roeacea? Has anyone tried using tacrolimus? I also have done a lot of research and found that any sterioid use, causes adrenal problems, ie. the msg about the adrenal treatment.
If you are using and steroid or cortizone as a topical, you need to stop now! It only makes the symptoms worse. Stopping treatment will cause you to flare up for a couple months, but with tacrolimus and tetricycline, you should start to clear up after 7-10 days. After which, all this should go away " For-ever " as long as you dont go back to steroids.
Look up " steroid induced rosacea " on the web
Good Luck to us all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hi! i developed this same eye condition when i was extremely upset and stressed. it happened in the end of march, so i thought it was just allergies and that it would go away. 4 months, many doc visits and antihistimines later i have come to the conclusion that it has more to do with my LIVER (i am not a drinker, but our livers must process everything) than anything. i was diagnosed with a gallbladder polyp and have concluded that it has to do with my eyes. i believe my gallbladder is making my liver sluggish and therefore my liver is unable to handle it's usual load and it is identifying things as allergens that it never has in the past. i also think that all of the drugs i have taken to relieve this condition have only contributed to the problem. Additionally i too believe there is a CANDIDA and CAFFINE overload connection and i have just cut out caffine, cigarettes, sugar, yeast and also dairy, soy, wheat, corn. I have also just started an herbal cleanse which will lead up to a liver/gallbladder flush in a few more weeks.
my guess is that the only real relief will come through lifestyle and diet changes and that the meds will only cover up the symptoms, but it will never go away.
i will let you know what type of results i get. after 12 days mys still itch like hell, but for the first time in four months they are the same color as the rest of my skin (!)
my guess is that the only real relief will come through lifestyle and diet changes and that the meds will only cover up the symptoms, but it will never go away.
i will let you know what type of results i get. after 12 days mys still itch like hell, but for the first time in four months they are the same color as the rest of my skin (!)
Interesting.......that's about when my symptoms flared. In what part of the country do you live?
I have the same exact thing. Went to western doctor who said it was probably stress or an allergy and without extensive testing there wasn't a lot that could be done and that it would eventually go away. It hasn't it has got much worse and it has been on and off for 6 months now. So I went to a Kiniesiologist to get muscle tested and it turns out that skin, eyes etc are a result of unprocessed, unreleased toxins and that Liver and in my case kidneys and matrix (the Lymph glands, little blood vessels and capillaries) are not getting rid of toxins. I have a very sedentary job, do not eat particularly well, having a lot of wheat products and quick snacks because I am not exercising it is the old catch 22 no exercise makes me to tired to exercise. I am changing this and also am taking homeopathic medicing called DETOX-KIT-HEEL which cleans toxins out of Liver, Kidney and Lymphatic system. Only started yesterday so will let you know what happens.
I am a 22 year old female and am expierencing the same thing, except on HALF of my face. It started about a week ago with just my left eyelid being itchy. I figured a mosquito bit me and didn't think twice. Since then, my entire eyelid has ballooned and swelled up. In addition, the entire left side of my face is puffy and red. I look horrible and can't seem to stop crying. I don't know what is causing this, as I have done nothing new. I've been to my family practioner and he prescribed me some steroid medicine and an antiobiotic, in case there's an infection "brewing" under my skin.
I have an appointment for an Opthamologist in two days, since the problem began on my eyelid.
I'm so desperate for a solution. I've been crying non-stop today, since I woke up with my face so puffy. I'm now scared every morning to look in the mirror, as I don't know what I will see.
I really hope you guys find a solution and do keep us posted, I will be sure to do the same.
I have an appointment for an Opthamologist in two days, since the problem began on my eyelid.
I'm so desperate for a solution. I've been crying non-stop today, since I woke up with my face so puffy. I'm now scared every morning to look in the mirror, as I don't know what I will see.
I really hope you guys find a solution and do keep us posted, I will be sure to do the same.
I'm so relieved to know there are other people out there with the same problem. I truly feel for all of you who are dealing with this on your entire face. My problem started under my left eye and has spread only slightly in the past month or so. I'm going to a derm on Tuesday, but honestly don't know if I can wait that long because it just burns so bad...and feels hot. That is what it's doing tonight, but earlier today it was in the wrinkled up/flaking off stage. IMMEDIATELY after the dead skin had flaked off, the hive-like swelling and itching returned tonight. It's been this cycle for a few months now. I did go through a mentally stressful time a few months ago that may have triggered it, but it won't go away. I know I shouldn't have, but I put cortisone ointment on it, and it would help, but as soon as I stopped, it came back. So as an experiment, I put absoulutely nothing on it, and it still did the same cycle of peeling and swelling. Sometimes when the skin peels off, it feels like there was fluid in there??
I have had eczema as a child on my knees and elbows that the dr. said was caused by stress even back then, but never had any rashes all over. I am 27 and have had health problems for the past five years or so, but never anything like this. I was diagnosed with CFS or CFIDS (chronic fatigue immune dysfunction) about five years ago, and still struggle with fatigue somewhat. I'm very scared after reading everyone's posts that I'm dealing with something permanent. I hope that is not he case. I think mine is possibly immune related? Ironically, a month before this started I was tested for allergies, and food allergies by my new doctor. All were negative. I've continually had elevated cortisol levels for the past six years or so, but not high enough for anyone to do anything about.
I'm rambling on and on, but I've had a lot of exeperience with "weird" health issues.
My last suggestion...one that I myself will try starting tomorrow, is cutting out diet soda or anything else containing aspartame...sweet and low, a lot of low-fat or low-cal cookies, yogurts, juices, etc. all have aspartame. I don't know if any of you even drink diet sodas, but I say this b/c of the formaldehyde (spelling error) comments I've read. I once had a holistic dr. tell me that aspartame contains formaldhyde, which is what nail polish is made of! That should've been enough to turn me off from it, but I'm addicted to diet coke!
One last suggestion, I just read in a fashion magazine about summer skin issues, and one of them was a rash under the eye caused by sweating. I think Selson Blue was recommended, but I was waiting till I went to the derm before trying it. The article did say once you have it, it most likely will return the rest of your life!!:-( I did start working out a lot more around the time it started, then went to Paris in May where it was unusally hot and I sweat all day everyday, and now I'm working out and sweating everyday. (Its summer in Florida..it's inevitable.)
I have had eczema as a child on my knees and elbows that the dr. said was caused by stress even back then, but never had any rashes all over. I am 27 and have had health problems for the past five years or so, but never anything like this. I was diagnosed with CFS or CFIDS (chronic fatigue immune dysfunction) about five years ago, and still struggle with fatigue somewhat. I'm very scared after reading everyone's posts that I'm dealing with something permanent. I hope that is not he case. I think mine is possibly immune related? Ironically, a month before this started I was tested for allergies, and food allergies by my new doctor. All were negative. I've continually had elevated cortisol levels for the past six years or so, but not high enough for anyone to do anything about.
I'm rambling on and on, but I've had a lot of exeperience with "weird" health issues.
My last suggestion...one that I myself will try starting tomorrow, is cutting out diet soda or anything else containing aspartame...sweet and low, a lot of low-fat or low-cal cookies, yogurts, juices, etc. all have aspartame. I don't know if any of you even drink diet sodas, but I say this b/c of the formaldehyde (spelling error) comments I've read. I once had a holistic dr. tell me that aspartame contains formaldhyde, which is what nail polish is made of! That should've been enough to turn me off from it, but I'm addicted to diet coke!
One last suggestion, I just read in a fashion magazine about summer skin issues, and one of them was a rash under the eye caused by sweating. I think Selson Blue was recommended, but I was waiting till I went to the derm before trying it. The article did say once you have it, it most likely will return the rest of your life!!:-( I did start working out a lot more around the time it started, then went to Paris in May where it was unusally hot and I sweat all day everyday, and now I'm working out and sweating everyday. (Its summer in Florida..it's inevitable.)
Hi to everyone again. This is the 22 year old female, two posts above. I figured I should create an account, since I have a feeling that I will be posting alot.
The status of my face is that it's about 95% back to its normal state, thank goodness. All that's pretty much left is some skin peeling and redness, other than that, things look normal again.
It seems the steroid pills worked but I've been reading all of your posts and it seems that the puffiness comes back after you are done with the last dosage. Like the poster above, I really hope this isn't the case for me.
I can't imagine going through something like that time after time. I'm already so emotinally drained, I couldn't handle my face swelling up again. I'm praying and hoping that this was just a one time thing.
Lulu, we seem to be having similiar expierences. The problem started on my left eyelid and then spread onto the top of my cheek. It immediately puffed up within a few days (the left side of my face was so swollen that my eye was physically shut) and now that it's gone down, I am left with dry, flaky skin. I was starting to pick at it but I figured that I should just leave it alone.
At first, I tried Nizoral, which is also a dandruff shampoo. All this did was burn my eye. I also used Benadryl ointment to help with the itching and that was about it.
Like you said, I can't imagine dealing with this issue on your entire face. I'm so saddened that these things are happening to us and doctors don't have an explanation or solution.
I do happen to drink alot of Diet Coke but have always my entire life so wouldn't my body be immuned to this?
I really hope that in my case, a bug bit me and that's it. The only skin issue I had was my left knee swelling up about 4 years ago. I was given antiobiotics and and ointment for the itching and it was gone within a few weeks and never came back. That is all I can think of, as far as my history with my skin.
I have two more days of the steriods to take and then I'm going to keep my fingers crossed and hope that this "reaction" is gone for good.
I will keep everyone posted.
The status of my face is that it's about 95% back to its normal state, thank goodness. All that's pretty much left is some skin peeling and redness, other than that, things look normal again.
It seems the steroid pills worked but I've been reading all of your posts and it seems that the puffiness comes back after you are done with the last dosage. Like the poster above, I really hope this isn't the case for me.
I can't imagine going through something like that time after time. I'm already so emotinally drained, I couldn't handle my face swelling up again. I'm praying and hoping that this was just a one time thing.
Lulu, we seem to be having similiar expierences. The problem started on my left eyelid and then spread onto the top of my cheek. It immediately puffed up within a few days (the left side of my face was so swollen that my eye was physically shut) and now that it's gone down, I am left with dry, flaky skin. I was starting to pick at it but I figured that I should just leave it alone.
At first, I tried Nizoral, which is also a dandruff shampoo. All this did was burn my eye. I also used Benadryl ointment to help with the itching and that was about it.
Like you said, I can't imagine dealing with this issue on your entire face. I'm so saddened that these things are happening to us and doctors don't have an explanation or solution.
I do happen to drink alot of Diet Coke but have always my entire life so wouldn't my body be immuned to this?
I really hope that in my case, a bug bit me and that's it. The only skin issue I had was my left knee swelling up about 4 years ago. I was given antiobiotics and and ointment for the itching and it was gone within a few weeks and never came back. That is all I can think of, as far as my history with my skin.
I have two more days of the steriods to take and then I'm going to keep my fingers crossed and hope that this "reaction" is gone for good.
I will keep everyone posted.
the person mentioning b-vitamins is right, try biotin. it helps.
Well it's been two days since my last steroid pill and so far, my face is showing no signs of swelling up (knock on wood). I still have no idea what made the left side of my face swell up but like I said before, I'm hoping it was a bug bite. With that said, I did numerous things to prevent this from happening again and although I have no idea if it had/has an effect on my health, I'd like to share with ya'll:
-Steam cleaned my carpet.
-Took my glasses apart and "disenfected" everything with rubbing alcohol.
-Started cleaning the cat litter with latex gloves. Sprayed Lysol on every doorknob and toilet in my house.
-Washed my covers, pillow cases and sheets with All Hypo-Allergernic soap.
-Gave my kitchen countertops a good wash down.
Now let's hope that I don't ever expierence swelling like that ever again! Good luck to everyone and I hope you all get better!
-Steam cleaned my carpet.
-Took my glasses apart and "disenfected" everything with rubbing alcohol.
-Started cleaning the cat litter with latex gloves. Sprayed Lysol on every doorknob and toilet in my house.
-Washed my covers, pillow cases and sheets with All Hypo-Allergernic soap.
-Gave my kitchen countertops a good wash down.
Now let's hope that I don't ever expierence swelling like that ever again! Good luck to everyone and I hope you all get better!
hi all, i am SO glad to have found this thread and to know that there are others out there with the same problem. my symptoms have cleared and i have not taken any medications or seen a doctor/dermatologist. i have some personal insight on what may have triggered our flare-ups and how to combat it.
i am 22 and female and started having the same symptoms the middle of june. i thought it was an allergic reaction at first because my eyes were also very irritated, dry, and red, and they would produce tears involuntarily. one night, i tried to put eyedrops in before going to bed, and woke up the next morning with the most swollen eyes that i could barely open them. the skin on my face (cheeks and around eyes) was dry, scaly, red, irritated, itchy, caused me a lot of emotional stress, and affected my natural sleeping habits. the only places i did not have a reaction was my t-zone (forehead and nose). i had spent the entire day prior sunbathing by the pool with some friends.
I THINK THE CULPRIT IS FROM OVER-SUN EXPOSURE!!! which irritated my skin to a degree that i thought impossible. it has caused me a lot of stress & money, and i have not been able to wear make-up or have the confidence to even run every day errands and spend time with the ones i love.
i am not a big believer in using drugs as i believe our bodies will only grow immunie to them, so i practice a lot of home remedies/alternative medicine. these are the products i tried after my face incident:
- using the oil in vitamin e gel tablets - did not work
- exfoliating my skin daily - probably did more damage than good
- home made honey/egg yolk/oatmeal mask - didnt work for me
- extra virgin coconut oil (you can find at any health foods grocer) - may have worked over time.. must be patient
- a shielding lotion such as SkinMD or Gloves in a Bottle - did not work but i was not patient and stopped using after a week.
- vaseline - still use, but i like aquafor better
- aquafor - WORKS!!!
- apple cider vinegar - WORKS!!!
- eucerin redness relief night calming creme - WORKS IN A WEEK!!!
- aveeno anti-itch oatmeal lotion - WORKS by relieving irritation/itch immediately!
- ice - WORKS to stop swelling/itching!!
- drink A LOT OF WATER. - ABSOLUTELY WORKS!!!! NO QUESTIONS ASKED!!!
so it took over a month for my skin to repair itself. and right after i recovered, i immediately saw that my skin looked even more radiant, smooth, soft, and supple than it was prior to the flare-up!! it will take time, but this is what i did:
- first 4-5 days: coated my face with a layer of aquafor before going to bed. (especially helps if your skin is still flaking from the scales). you can also dab as much aveeno anti-itch oatmeal lotion as you need so it doesn't itch. as the aquarfor stays on your face, it will loosen the top layer of dead skin and make it easier to exfoliate it off.
- eucerin redness relief creme: use as both daytime and nightime moisturizer if you have redness.
- coconut oil: lightweight alternative to the aquafor for the daytime (will keep your skin from feeling dry & tight, although it doesn't really help with loosening up the dead skin)
- until your face gets better: apple cider vinegar: make a mixture of 3 parts water to one part apple cider vinegar. use a cotton ball and swipe your whole face with it. it will be sensitive and sting a little, but leave it on for 15 mins and wash off with cold water.
- until your face gets better/even after it gets better: one tbsp of apple cider vinegar into an 8 oz. glass of water. drink it. it is said to help eliminate toxins, improve your overall skin complexion, and help promote weight loss.
- MOST IMPORTANTLY! the one thing i noticed i did that VISIBLY helped my skin turn back to normal the next day was by drinking TEN GLASSES (80 oz.) of water in one day! probably also in less than 4 hrs.
keeping hydrated is especially important when you are stressed, and your skin is very dry.
and also, STAY OUT OF THE SUN!!!! i did not listen to this, and about 4 or 5 days ago, i started getting another flare-up again due to being outside for the whole day playing volleyball and tennis with friends. i started seeing tiny little blemish like bumps all over my face that were skin colored, and within 12 hrs, my face started becoming dry, rough, and red again. thankfully i caught it early and have already begun my regimen hoping that it will heal sooner than the last time. don't forget that it's most important to drink more than the recommended dosages of water every day, and keep both your body & skin hydrated!
lastly, i think that it adds even more stress to be so stressed out. surround yourself with things/ppl that will only add serenity to your life. make this an excuse to stay home and pamper yourself with a bath (maybe even make it a soothing oatmeal bath, or put in a few drops of witch hazel). watch movies at home. call friends that have become distant or live in another city (so you don't actually have to see these people face to face until your skin clears up).
i thought that i was allergic to dust, mold, down feathers, makeup, my lotion, beer (from the wheat), dogs & cats, laundry detergent, hairspray, even an ex-boyfriend (most likely out of anything). it might just be a combination of all those things.
good luck everyone, and i am hoping with the rest of you that we will once again be able to feel AND look fabulous! i'll be back from time to time to see if anyone else has any findings or if i have any to add.
...and is it strange that we are all women that have posted? is it because females are more prone to seek out help, or maybe it has to do with a woman's anatomy/hormones?
i am 22 and female and started having the same symptoms the middle of june. i thought it was an allergic reaction at first because my eyes were also very irritated, dry, and red, and they would produce tears involuntarily. one night, i tried to put eyedrops in before going to bed, and woke up the next morning with the most swollen eyes that i could barely open them. the skin on my face (cheeks and around eyes) was dry, scaly, red, irritated, itchy, caused me a lot of emotional stress, and affected my natural sleeping habits. the only places i did not have a reaction was my t-zone (forehead and nose). i had spent the entire day prior sunbathing by the pool with some friends.
I THINK THE CULPRIT IS FROM OVER-SUN EXPOSURE!!! which irritated my skin to a degree that i thought impossible. it has caused me a lot of stress & money, and i have not been able to wear make-up or have the confidence to even run every day errands and spend time with the ones i love.
i am not a big believer in using drugs as i believe our bodies will only grow immunie to them, so i practice a lot of home remedies/alternative medicine. these are the products i tried after my face incident:
- using the oil in vitamin e gel tablets - did not work
- exfoliating my skin daily - probably did more damage than good
- home made honey/egg yolk/oatmeal mask - didnt work for me
- extra virgin coconut oil (you can find at any health foods grocer) - may have worked over time.. must be patient
- a shielding lotion such as SkinMD or Gloves in a Bottle - did not work but i was not patient and stopped using after a week.
- vaseline - still use, but i like aquafor better
- aquafor - WORKS!!!
- apple cider vinegar - WORKS!!!
- eucerin redness relief night calming creme - WORKS IN A WEEK!!!
- aveeno anti-itch oatmeal lotion - WORKS by relieving irritation/itch immediately!
- ice - WORKS to stop swelling/itching!!
- drink A LOT OF WATER. - ABSOLUTELY WORKS!!!! NO QUESTIONS ASKED!!!
so it took over a month for my skin to repair itself. and right after i recovered, i immediately saw that my skin looked even more radiant, smooth, soft, and supple than it was prior to the flare-up!! it will take time, but this is what i did:
- first 4-5 days: coated my face with a layer of aquafor before going to bed. (especially helps if your skin is still flaking from the scales). you can also dab as much aveeno anti-itch oatmeal lotion as you need so it doesn't itch. as the aquarfor stays on your face, it will loosen the top layer of dead skin and make it easier to exfoliate it off.
- eucerin redness relief creme: use as both daytime and nightime moisturizer if you have redness.
- coconut oil: lightweight alternative to the aquafor for the daytime (will keep your skin from feeling dry & tight, although it doesn't really help with loosening up the dead skin)
- until your face gets better: apple cider vinegar: make a mixture of 3 parts water to one part apple cider vinegar. use a cotton ball and swipe your whole face with it. it will be sensitive and sting a little, but leave it on for 15 mins and wash off with cold water.
- until your face gets better/even after it gets better: one tbsp of apple cider vinegar into an 8 oz. glass of water. drink it. it is said to help eliminate toxins, improve your overall skin complexion, and help promote weight loss.
- MOST IMPORTANTLY! the one thing i noticed i did that VISIBLY helped my skin turn back to normal the next day was by drinking TEN GLASSES (80 oz.) of water in one day! probably also in less than 4 hrs.
keeping hydrated is especially important when you are stressed, and your skin is very dry.
and also, STAY OUT OF THE SUN!!!! i did not listen to this, and about 4 or 5 days ago, i started getting another flare-up again due to being outside for the whole day playing volleyball and tennis with friends. i started seeing tiny little blemish like bumps all over my face that were skin colored, and within 12 hrs, my face started becoming dry, rough, and red again. thankfully i caught it early and have already begun my regimen hoping that it will heal sooner than the last time. don't forget that it's most important to drink more than the recommended dosages of water every day, and keep both your body & skin hydrated!
lastly, i think that it adds even more stress to be so stressed out. surround yourself with things/ppl that will only add serenity to your life. make this an excuse to stay home and pamper yourself with a bath (maybe even make it a soothing oatmeal bath, or put in a few drops of witch hazel). watch movies at home. call friends that have become distant or live in another city (so you don't actually have to see these people face to face until your skin clears up).
i thought that i was allergic to dust, mold, down feathers, makeup, my lotion, beer (from the wheat), dogs & cats, laundry detergent, hairspray, even an ex-boyfriend (most likely out of anything). it might just be a combination of all those things.
good luck everyone, and i am hoping with the rest of you that we will once again be able to feel AND look fabulous! i'll be back from time to time to see if anyone else has any findings or if i have any to add.
...and is it strange that we are all women that have posted? is it because females are more prone to seek out help, or maybe it has to do with a woman's anatomy/hormones?
hi all, i am SO glad to have found this thread and to know that there are others out there with the same problem. my symptoms have cleared and i have not taken any medications or seen a doctor/dermatologist. i have some personal insight on what may have triggered our flare-ups and how to combat it.
i am 22 and female and started having the same symptoms the middle of june. i thought it was an allergic reaction at first because my eyes were also very irritated, dry, and red, and they would produce tears involuntarily. one night, i tried to put eyedrops in before going to bed, and woke up the next morning with the most swollen eyes that i could barely open them. the skin on my face (cheeks and around eyes) was dry, scaly, red, irritated, itchy, caused me a lot of emotional stress, and affected my natural sleeping habits. the only places i did not have a reaction was my t-zone (forehead and nose). i had spent the entire day prior sunbathing by the pool with some friends.
I THINK THE CULPRIT IS FROM OVER-SUN EXPOSURE!!! which irritated my skin to a degree that i thought impossible. it has caused me a lot of stress & money, and i have not been able to wear make-up or have the confidence to even run every day errands and spend time with the ones i love.
i am not a big believer in using drugs as i believe our bodies will only grow immunie to them, so i practice a lot of home remedies/alternative medicine. these are the products i tried after my face incident:
- using the oil in vitamin e gel tablets - did not work
- exfoliating my skin daily - probably did more damage than good
- home made honey/egg yolk/oatmeal mask - didnt work for me
- extra virgin coconut oil (you can find at any health foods grocer) - may have worked over time.. must be patient
- a shielding lotion such as SkinMD or Gloves in a Bottle - did not work but i was not patient and stopped using after a week.
- vaseline - still use, but i like aquafor better
- aquaphor - WORKS!!!
- apple cider vinegar - WORKS!!!
- eucerin redness relief night calming creme - WORKS IN A WEEK!!!
- aveeno anti-itch oatmeal lotion - WORKS by relieving irritation/itch immediately!
- ice - WORKS to stop swelling/itching!!
- drink A LOT OF WATER. - ABSOLUTELY WORKS!!!! NO QUESTIONS ASKED!!!
so it took over a month for my skin to repair itself. and right after i recovered, i immediately saw that my skin looked even more radiant, smooth, soft, and supple than it was prior to the flare-up!! it will take time, but this is what i did:
- first 4-5 days: coated my face with a layer of aquaphor before going to bed. (especially helps if your skin is still flaking from the scales). you can also dab as much aveeno anti-itch oatmeal lotion as you need so it doesn't itch. as the aquarfor stays on your face, it will loosen the top layer of dead skin and make it easier to exfoliate it off.
- eucerin redness relief creme: use as both daytime and nightime moisturizer if you have redness.
- coconut oil: lightweight alternative to the aquafor for the daytime (will keep your skin from feeling dry & tight, although it doesn't really help with loosening up the dead skin)
- until your face gets better: apple cider vinegar: make a mixture of 3 parts water to one part apple cider vinegar. use a cotton ball and swipe your whole face with it. it will be sensitive and sting a little, but leave it on for 15 mins and wash off with cold water.
- until your face gets better/even after it gets better: one tbsp of apple cider vinegar into an 8 oz. glass of water. drink it. it is said to help eliminate toxins, improve your overall skin complexion, and help promote weight loss.
- MOST IMPORTANTLY! the one thing i noticed i did that VISIBLY helped my skin turn back to normal the next day was by drinking TEN GLASSES (80 oz.) of water in one day! probably also in less than 4 hrs.
keeping hydrated is especially important when you are stressed, and your skin is very dry.
and also, STAY OUT OF THE SUN!!!! i did not listen to this, and about 4 or 5 days ago, i started getting another flare-up again due to being outside for the whole day playing volleyball and tennis with friends. i started seeing tiny little blemish like bumps all over my face that were skin colored, and within 12 hrs, my face started becoming dry, rough, and red again. thankfully i caught it early and have already begun my regimen hoping that it will heal sooner than the last time. don't forget that it's most important to drink more than the recommended dosages of water every day, and keep both your body & skin hydrated!
lastly, i think that it adds even more stress to be so stressed out. surround yourself with things/ppl that will only add serenity to your life. make this an excuse to stay home and pamper yourself with a bath (maybe even make it a soothing oatmeal bath, or put in a few drops of witch hazel). watch movies at home. call friends that have become distant or live in another city (so you don't actually have to see these people face to face until your skin clears up).
i thought that i was allergic to dust, mold, down feathers, makeup, my lotion, beer (from the wheat), dogs & cats, laundry detergent, hairspray, even an ex-boyfriend (most likely out of anything). it might just be a combination of all those things.
good luck everyone, and i am hoping with the rest of you that we will once again be able to feel AND look fabulous! i'll be back from time to time to see if anyone else has any findings or if i have any to add.
...and is it strange that we are all women that have posted? is it because females are more prone to seek out help, or maybe it has to do with a woman's anatomy/hormones?
i am 22 and female and started having the same symptoms the middle of june. i thought it was an allergic reaction at first because my eyes were also very irritated, dry, and red, and they would produce tears involuntarily. one night, i tried to put eyedrops in before going to bed, and woke up the next morning with the most swollen eyes that i could barely open them. the skin on my face (cheeks and around eyes) was dry, scaly, red, irritated, itchy, caused me a lot of emotional stress, and affected my natural sleeping habits. the only places i did not have a reaction was my t-zone (forehead and nose). i had spent the entire day prior sunbathing by the pool with some friends.
I THINK THE CULPRIT IS FROM OVER-SUN EXPOSURE!!! which irritated my skin to a degree that i thought impossible. it has caused me a lot of stress & money, and i have not been able to wear make-up or have the confidence to even run every day errands and spend time with the ones i love.
i am not a big believer in using drugs as i believe our bodies will only grow immunie to them, so i practice a lot of home remedies/alternative medicine. these are the products i tried after my face incident:
- using the oil in vitamin e gel tablets - did not work
- exfoliating my skin daily - probably did more damage than good
- home made honey/egg yolk/oatmeal mask - didnt work for me
- extra virgin coconut oil (you can find at any health foods grocer) - may have worked over time.. must be patient
- a shielding lotion such as SkinMD or Gloves in a Bottle - did not work but i was not patient and stopped using after a week.
- vaseline - still use, but i like aquafor better
- aquaphor - WORKS!!!
- apple cider vinegar - WORKS!!!
- eucerin redness relief night calming creme - WORKS IN A WEEK!!!
- aveeno anti-itch oatmeal lotion - WORKS by relieving irritation/itch immediately!
- ice - WORKS to stop swelling/itching!!
- drink A LOT OF WATER. - ABSOLUTELY WORKS!!!! NO QUESTIONS ASKED!!!
so it took over a month for my skin to repair itself. and right after i recovered, i immediately saw that my skin looked even more radiant, smooth, soft, and supple than it was prior to the flare-up!! it will take time, but this is what i did:
- first 4-5 days: coated my face with a layer of aquaphor before going to bed. (especially helps if your skin is still flaking from the scales). you can also dab as much aveeno anti-itch oatmeal lotion as you need so it doesn't itch. as the aquarfor stays on your face, it will loosen the top layer of dead skin and make it easier to exfoliate it off.
- eucerin redness relief creme: use as both daytime and nightime moisturizer if you have redness.
- coconut oil: lightweight alternative to the aquafor for the daytime (will keep your skin from feeling dry & tight, although it doesn't really help with loosening up the dead skin)
- until your face gets better: apple cider vinegar: make a mixture of 3 parts water to one part apple cider vinegar. use a cotton ball and swipe your whole face with it. it will be sensitive and sting a little, but leave it on for 15 mins and wash off with cold water.
- until your face gets better/even after it gets better: one tbsp of apple cider vinegar into an 8 oz. glass of water. drink it. it is said to help eliminate toxins, improve your overall skin complexion, and help promote weight loss.
- MOST IMPORTANTLY! the one thing i noticed i did that VISIBLY helped my skin turn back to normal the next day was by drinking TEN GLASSES (80 oz.) of water in one day! probably also in less than 4 hrs.
keeping hydrated is especially important when you are stressed, and your skin is very dry.
and also, STAY OUT OF THE SUN!!!! i did not listen to this, and about 4 or 5 days ago, i started getting another flare-up again due to being outside for the whole day playing volleyball and tennis with friends. i started seeing tiny little blemish like bumps all over my face that were skin colored, and within 12 hrs, my face started becoming dry, rough, and red again. thankfully i caught it early and have already begun my regimen hoping that it will heal sooner than the last time. don't forget that it's most important to drink more than the recommended dosages of water every day, and keep both your body & skin hydrated!
lastly, i think that it adds even more stress to be so stressed out. surround yourself with things/ppl that will only add serenity to your life. make this an excuse to stay home and pamper yourself with a bath (maybe even make it a soothing oatmeal bath, or put in a few drops of witch hazel). watch movies at home. call friends that have become distant or live in another city (so you don't actually have to see these people face to face until your skin clears up).
i thought that i was allergic to dust, mold, down feathers, makeup, my lotion, beer (from the wheat), dogs & cats, laundry detergent, hairspray, even an ex-boyfriend (most likely out of anything). it might just be a combination of all those things.
good luck everyone, and i am hoping with the rest of you that we will once again be able to feel AND look fabulous! i'll be back from time to time to see if anyone else has any findings or if i have any to add.
...and is it strange that we are all women that have posted? is it because females are more prone to seek out help, or maybe it has to do with a woman's anatomy/hormones?
This post is re to the people with swollen eyes. My dad came home from work one day and his eyes were so swollen you could barely recognise him. I was determined to find out the cause. Several days later, I woke with eyes from out of this world like his. Wracking my brain out I FINALLY figured it out. You see, we had a fire place and burnt logs in winter, I remember poison oak, ivy vines clinging to some of the logs. Bingo, Yep that was the cause of it. I hope this helps SOME of the people out.
Thanks for your time. Cheers,, tompaul
Thanks for your time. Cheers,, tompaul