Itchy red rash on face, swollen eyelids and under eyes on and off for month

Hello again,

i'm still struggling despite finding the various chemicals, but I think triethanolamine (TEA) needs to be added to my list of things to omit too (it's in Old Spice shaving cream). My poor boyfriend is getting the brunt of all my rashes as I'm making him change everything, but let's hope there'll finally be a solution!

I hope this previous poster's allergist is able to do a patch test for chemicals b/c my allergist was not saying that there are too many chemicals for it to be worth doing a test. He said I should go to a derm, but not sure what she'll be able to do for me since I've seen her before. But specific ally you should ask about "contact dermatitis" or "atopic dermatitis" or "eyelid dermatitis."

Also, here are a couple links too that list various chemicals that are very common in all types of beauty products and the various reactions to them. Maybe it will help some of you all figure out the source of your reactions!

stason.org/articles/wellbeing/health/Glossary-Of-Chemicals-Synthetics-To-Avoid-In-Personal-Care-Products.html

health-report.co.uk/ingredients-directory.htm#silicone

Good luck again!

In Summer I went to India and came back after 4 weeks. I was in Jelag and slept in the day time. On 2nd day after wokeup, I saw that my eyes are swollen and itchy.

I took Claritin but didn't go away until 3 days.

After couple of weeks, I took IrishCream wine in a party.

In the morning I see that only right eye lid is swollen with itch and dry skin around the eye.

I am thinking I am allergic to wine, or something wrong with my brain connect to eye...

I will watch some more days and see the doctor.

I cannot believe I stumbled onto all this today. Thank you all so much for sharing.
I started experiencing the red, itchy swolen eyelid thing we've all been going through almost 9 months ago.
It started on the inside of my eyelids, which turned bright red for no apparent reason. They didn't itch or swell at first. Gradually the outside of my eyelids (top and bottom) turned red and swelled. They don't always itch either.
At first I attributed this to the make-up remover I was using because I had just bought a new brand and thought for sure that's what had caused it. I stopped using it and stopped wearing make-up, but this stuff just kept getting worse.
This rash is dry and scales off in white flakes.
One thing I haven't read out of all of these accounts is that anyone's eyes are runny. Mine are some days. I sometimes wake up with my eyes glued shut! (I know... that's nasty) Has that happened to anyone else?

I have developed the same type of rash on my forehead, a little spot under my nose, behind my ears, spots on my neck and under my mouth. It's recently spread to my bottom lip too. There is one spot on my neck that looks so bad sometimes, it looks like a cigarette burn or something.
I live where it's always hot out, and I spend most of my days at work outside. When I get hot, these spots get redder. I look awfullll!

I've read that many of you were tested for Lupus thinking this could be the cause.
I was diagnosed with Lupus when I was eighteen years old. (38 now) I've been mostly lucky with the disease. This stuff going on now isn't the same as the Lupus symptoms I've dealt with in the past. I've been putting off going to see a doctor, because I know Lupus will get the blame and I don't believe it is the problem. (and I don't have insurance right now) My immune system is not what it should be because of the Lupus, but I really don't think it's what is causing this.
I've been on steroids before due to the Lupus and really don't want to get on them again. They cause me to gain wait rapidly and they make me grumpy! I hate them! From what I've read, it's only a temporary fix anyway.
I can't tell you how many times a day I get asked "What's wrong? Allergies? Why are you crying?" It's embarrassing and I'm tired of trying to explain it.
I'll go to the doctor eventually, and I won't accept Lupus as an answer. I'll get to the bottom of this! I'm tired of wearing sunglasses inside and keeping my hair long to hide my neck.
I'll come back with anything I find out. I think I just needed to vent a little!

I have been having this same thing go on since May 08 - it is just awful.
I have been to family dr and he says contact derm gave me steroid cream and a kenalog shot - cream does help but not for long.
went to see allergist - he doesn't think its an allergy - he thinks eczema - he gave me a week of presidone ( i looked awesome for that week) but now its back worse than ever...i wake up with my eyes almost swollen shut - super red (like a raccoon) then flakes and starts all over again.
i have stopped and then switched EVERY product in my life...including food, drinks and have gone so far as to stop using my cell phone.
I am at my wits end...i am becoming super depressed....
I use aveeno now and this seems to help with the flaking..
any advice is greatly appreciated. I live in Norheast, PA. I go to a dermatologist next week...i will keep you posted.

Hello everyone! I am very glad to see that I am not alone in this mystery. I am 24, a male (odd that this seems to affect women more often?), and living in college conditions. It started as a seasonal red patch on my left cheek, that was sometimes itchy/flaky, but mostly just red. It would disappear after a few days. Then it started happening longer/more frequently, which leads me to my current situation. It has spread across my left eye completely, almost as if I can feel it going in to my eyelids (my eyelash folicles itch like crazy!). It then spread across my forehead and down to the other cheek. It also appeared in patches behind my ears, which get EXTREMELY raw and dry. It's very frustrating, and in my three dermatologist visits I have gotten no answers. I tried elidel for a week, but really hated putting that awful cream on my face, and had to stop. It didn't seem to help anyway. My biggest concern is that I've been using hydrocortisone to control it, and apparently that's a big mistake? I recently realized drinking an absurd amount of water helps dramatically. I'm going to try an apple-cleanse and the b-vitamin supplement to see if that helps. Bust mostly I just wanted to post to say thanks to everyone. It feels great to know I am not alone in this.

you may be light sensitive, mine was brought on my initial treatment of antibiotics. stay out of sun and fluorescent light wear glasses and hats and use domeboro soak. it helps alot

I must say I was somewhat relieved, but sympathetic, with all who have written about symptoms that I, too have been having for months! I have never been a "rashy" person, until last December, when I developed itching and swelling of my eyelids and area below the eyes. The swelling eventually cracks, and peels, and the cycle starts again. It got to the point where my lower lids were pulling away from my eyeballs. Dermatologist gave me a shot of steroids, and put me on all hyoallergenic lotions and hair products. This worked for a while, but now I have the same thing again, but with reddened, flaky patches on my forehead. I've self-treated with topical cortisone, but the skin started getting thin and I stopped. I'm now trying an antifungal. Curiously, my symptoms started when I began a new job. Looking around my office, I'm sitting right under a ventilation duct. I'm thinking that it's mold exposure that's causing the problem. They found black mold in the buildling. I plan on getting some allergy testing regardless. Has anyone been diagnosed with skin rashes/allergies due to black mold exposure? How were you treated? How did you get rid of the problem? Thanks!

Wow, these postings are a huge relief! I felt like I was suffering alone from my bizarre eye & lip rashes. I am currently 28. About a year ago, I woke up one morning and the skin under my eyes was so swollen, I could barely open them. This was followed by excessive under-eye peeling and redness. The next week, my lips became itchy, swollen and started peeling. Also, I developed painful cracks at the creases of my mouth. I went to the doctor that day, and he diagnosed me with seborrheic dermatitis and made me shampoo my face with selenium sulfide (a dandruff shampoo). This did not help at all, but the condition eventually cleared up after a few weeks. Since then, it has been re-occurring 1-2X/month and can last up to a couple of weeks, which means that I have it more or less all of the time (including right now). It usually starts in the evening with intensely itchy skin around my eyes (this now includes my eyelids) and lips, and by the next morning, the skin is red, itchy and peeling within a few days. I have had eczema on my elbows and knees for the last 10 years, but never on my face. Against the advice of my doctor, I tried using a tiny amount of fluocinonide cream 0.05% (a steroid) around my eyes, which appeared to work (although it clearly states on the tube "not for ophthalmic use"). I've been warned that this can thin your skin, so putting it under my eyes is especially risky. Since then, I've started applying triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% cream, which is another steroid, but not as potent (and as such, it doesn't work as well). My dermatologist thinks that my eczema has spread to my face, and although it's very unpleasant, it's probably also benign. I already take a ton of micronutrient supplements including the B vitamins, so I don't think that I need to be taking anything else. I've tried switching cosmetics, but even hypoallergenic products seem to result in the rash. I have tried going without cosmetics altogether, but it's a Catch-22 situation when you have a strange rash on your eyes and lips, so you naturally want to conceal it. Also, I'm not sure if this is a coincidence or not, but I have extremely dark under-eye circles that have plagued me since I was a child. Anyway, thanks for the postings. Just knowing that I'm not alone makes me feel a little better about this.

Got bitten last Thursday on my leg, very large hard lump that evetunatley went down, meantime on the Monday i woke up with a swollen and very red, sore face around the eyes especially under the eye plus sore around my mouth and chin. Never had any skin problems, i only use Dermalogica and Bare Escentials make up so, both fine no addatives in either. Went to the doctors Tuesday and was given fexofenadine as piriton makes me fall asleep standing up...Monday can't remember it lol...today Friday face very very dry and scaly full of tiny spots and very tight can't open my mouth without hurting. I'm still living in hope this clears up tommorrow, but after reading these posts not that sure....using my daughters eczma cream (Aveeno - oatmeal cream) to stop the flaking...and must stop touching the face to get rid of the spots lols

As I read over the last 9 pages of posts from fellow sufferers I began to wonder where the CDC was!javascript:emoticon(':$')

Thank you! to those of you who were so precise in what you have suffered and tried to do about this. I am 46 and am waking up some mornings with very swollen eyes and face over the past two weeks. I itch...sometimes that is all that I can think about. Haven't gotten to the point of having it peel and recur yet, but it sounds like that is what I have to look forward to.
As yet I have tried nothing, thinking it was just a passing reaction to something because my immune system is compromised from too much long term stress and I have developed other allergies that I never had before. (Like to peppers, what's that all about?) I don't wear make-up or nail polish and very rarely if ever put anything on my face. Believe it or not, I never actually wash it with anything because I've been so lucky with my skin. Until now.javascript:emoticon(':'(')
The posts about the candida(sp?) yeast I found interesting, it's on page 3 of these posts, because it listed causes of the symptoms.
javascript:emoticon('?') I was wondering if anyone has pursued that route and whether or not it has helped. Is there a test that the doctor could give to find out if this is the cause?
javascript:emoticon('?') also, could someone tell me what an 'apple cleanse' is?
Think positive fellow sufferers, there is more to us than our faces and together we will work this out!!!
javascript:emoticon(';-)')

I have the same thing that everyone else is talking about. I have been experiencing this for the last month. I am a 38 year old female. I am under alot of stress raising three kids and working as an office manager. I live in the northwest.

I have the puffy red eyes that crust after a few days of the red. I also have been experiencing alot of itchy redness on the side of my face. I have it on my forehead. My lips feel dry but the symptoms aren't like the rest of my face. Right now my skin feel smooth but very red. Before this is was very dry and flaky. The itching drives me nuts and I know I need to keep my hands off my face.

I just started taking the vitamen b complex and will try the pepcid ac. I am also going to stop using my shampoo and see if that helps. Someone had mentioned baby oil and salt. Think I will try that too. I will let you know what happens.

I hope that some of the other get back and let us know what works.

Hi everyone! I guess I, too, feel better knowing that others are suffering from some of the same symptoms I seem to have, however, I still HATE it! As I said to my boyfriend, even for those of us who are not vain (which I am, and I think most of us are), where is the first place people look when they talk to you...your EYES! So, when this recurs, it's just awful.

My symptoms started back in early August, I think, I noticed it when I would wash my face and my lower eyelids just burned. Like everyone else, I figured it was time to change all of my eye makeup as a start (not cheap, by the way!) The skin under my eyes would dry, and peel then be fine for a day or so, then start all over. The worst reaction happened in late August when the area just under my lower eye puffed up to the point that I could SEE it in my view. Ice made things feel better, but did not help the swelling. Within about 24 hours it was gone. Like some others, I was facinated with the idea of yeast, as that has plagued me in 'other areas' in the past--why can't it move to other areas? So...I have also been using some triamcinolone/nystatin steriod under my eyes in very small amounts (though, again, it clearly states not for use around the eyes--oops).

I am wracking my brain with what the causes could be. [Knock on wood] my eyes have been 'okay' though not perfect, for a few weeks now, but early this week, I woke up with the area all the way around my hairline pink and slightly swollen as well as very itchy! I am now thinking perhaps it is an allergy to alpha-hydroxy acid--but again, that's just my LATEST thought--and why around my eyes before? I have always used Dove soap to wash my face, typically followed by witch hazel--fairly benign, one would think...

I could ramble on, but I won't for now...I think I will just keep checking back to see what everyone else says. The last thing I will say is that it is MOST FRUSTRATING that we put so much trust in doctors and they all say the same freakin' thing...which doesn't seem to be helping. It's always the 'quick fix' they want to provide. They are all human, so therefore not perfect, but what the heck!!??? Stay strong everyone!!!

I think what's making this so hard for many of us to diagnose is that there likely isn't just 1 thing causing our symptoms. Let me preface the rest of my response by saying that for some people, the cause could be smthg simple like a bacterial or fungal infection, but I don't believe that this is causing my symptoms. I think that it's probably a combination of certain genetic predispositions that we may carry (i.e. mother with autoimmune disease, father with asthma + allergies) and environmental triggers (detergents, medications, pesticides etc...) This situation is especially ironic for me, since I'm a grad student in nutrition minoring in immunology (specifically autoimmune diseases), and I still have no idea what's happening to me. The one thing that I have observed is that my eczema acts as a barometer for stress. Whenever I'm really upset about something, I can actually feel the eczema spread up my arms and legs. Since I started grad school a few yrs ago, my stress level has shot up considerably. During this same period, I started experiencing the strange swelling and peeling of my eyes and mouth. For those people who have brought up the possibility of lupus, I just want to clarify by saying that lupus tends to produce a very distinctive butterfly rash across the bridge of the nose (search for images of malar rash to get a better idea). In my last few years of taking nutrition and immunology courses, I have tried searching for anything in the literature that could explain my symptoms, but haven't had any luck yet. My best guess at this point is that whatever combination of genetics + environment that is causing this to occur is definitely being exacerbated by STRESS! One person posted that they noticed these symptoms after starting a new job, and while this could be the result of chemical exposure from the new work environment, it may also be triggered by stress that comes from a new job. Also, while other people seem to respond to various homeopathic treatments, this could also be a placebo effect (although, believe me, I study alternative and complementary therapies and there is definitely hard science to back SOME of these treatments up). I guess what I'm trying to say is that I may never figure out what is causing my symptoms since the route of all this could be very complex, and resolving it may therefore require more than an additional dose of B vitamins or a steroid cream (which will treat the symptoms since it's anti-inflammatory, but doesn't resolve the underlying problem). However, since I firmly believe that stress is making my rashes worse, I plan on taking steps to reduce my stress load including limiting procrastination and beginning yoga and meditation classes. I will update you guys and let you know if this is helping me at all.

I have also sufferred from this mysterious eyelid problem (the cycle- red and itchy, swolen shut, reduced swelling, dying and flaking of skin, recovery?- seems to take about ten days or so before it starts again). Possible related issues i also have: frequently swolen glands and eczema. I've noticed that all these things affect my right side more prominently.
After finding traditional docs and med to be of little help (tried hydrocortizone, elidel, etc.), i have been seeing a naturopath. She immediately thought it might be a food sensitivity and took me off wheat and dairy for 6 weeks. no difference, the cycle kept on going. She wanted me to do a Candida Cleanse, but the timing wasn't right, so she put me on a natural cleansing pill called Biocidin (I'm in Canada--she ordered it from the states). I was on a fairly intense dose of six pills a day. This is meant to kill off all the toxins (she seemed to think that i have an overgrowth of yeast). It worked! I experienced one last flare-up and then experienced no symptoms for months.
After I went off the pills, I continued to be fine for several months. However, I recently could feel that my eyelids were starting to itch more, and all of a sudden now the cycle has begun again. This time, I am pregnant so cannot take the Biocidin. Very depressed about it, and still hoping for a solution. I don't feel myself when peering out from behind these crazy swolen eyes...

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