Itchy red rash on face, swollen eyelids and undereyes - part 2

I too have suffered from this. I got relief with using Clariton for 30 days and applying steroid cream as needed.

The main cream I finally found useful is a calendula cream "The Rub" from my natural foods store. Now I feel hesitant to use anything else, since I don't know what actually caused at least 2 of the breakouts.  Aveeno sounds like a good idea also.

I've had this condition for 8 months.  Swollen eyes- red, itchy under my eyes.  Hot rash on face.  Huge purple bags under my eyes that drain down into a really hot red face.  I look like the c**p has been beat out of me every day.  I've lost all my confidence, I got fired from a job because I had to call in sick constantly because my eyes were swollen shut.  I've become so depressed that I can't leave the house except for dr's appt's- and no one can figure out what is wrong with me.  That's not like me- I have never called in sick for a job n 20 years- and this cap hits me and I can't function.

 

I've seen specialists, an internal guy, dermatologist, opthamologist- and no one can figure it out.

Things keep getting ruled out- but no solutions to what is wrong.  I'm borderline anaphalaxis constantly- have to carry an epi-pen.  MY symptoms don't present in a respiratory manner- only skin reaction.  Meaning, I'm swollen, eyes shut, horribly red and flushed from my chest up.  People I know see me and don't recognize me- because my face is so distorted.

 

It gets so bad that I faint sometimes.  I go to the Dr. and they give me prednisone.  It goes away for a little bit, I discontinue the prednisone and it comes back without fail over and over again.

 

So frustrating, I stood on my balcony the other day and considered jumping off.  So disheartening to read all these posts and no one has an answer- yet so many of this are experiencing the same thing. 

 

I live for the moments of temporary respite living from prednisone to prednisone flare ups.  I flare up- get prednisone, calm down, feel so great for a week, taper off- and immediately develop symptoms again and have to bug dr's to help me.

 

I do so much self monitoring- and can't figure out what is wrong, what I do differently to make matters worse or better.

I lived with something like this for 8 years and also was planning my demise since normal life was not possible. Prednisone provided some relief, but the issue would return when I was no longer on it. The professionals suspected lupus and I was tested a few times. Negative. Not a single doctor could give me any help other than Prednisone. I had one tell me that it was just an immune issue and I would just have to live with it.

I spent thousands on doctors and testing and alternative healing methods. I even tried colonics, suspecting leaky gut. Many professionals will tell you that health and healthy skin begin in your digestive tract. Accupuncture and meditation helped somewhat, too. Excercise was out of the question because any sweating was painful.

So long story short, I tried everything. What I think helped me to get to the point where I can control it: Get tested for food allergies. They may try to tell you that it's contact dermatitis, but for me it just looked like it. Eat a very, very controlled diet. Eat all natural, nothing processed and eliminate the foods that you are sensitive to or allergic to. But this is not all.

1-I MUST everyday work to keep my lymphatic system moving. It seems to stagnate and my issues return if I don't do the following:

2- I must drink minimum two quarts of water everyday. At least one of them has to have electrolytes in it or my body just pees it out. If I miss this quota, I almost immediately will feel my face issue returning, my brain getting foggy and my joints begin aching and my digestion slows to a crawl.

3-I must exercise lightly for a half hour at least.

4-I must sleep well. I take magnesium before bed.

5- I must relax, so I've taken up yoga or meditiation once a day. Look on the bright side to make yourself stronger. Watch funny movies and choose to be light and not dramatic. It matters. Stress totally f*(^%$^s me up!

6-I must get a massage once a week. Not lying here. It's totally therapeutic and it keeps things right. Have your therapist do lymphatic massage.

7- Do something enjoyable, hobby-like to entirely remove your mind from obsessions.

My issue started almost immediately after my divorce. I believe that stressful event was like a war in my body and my body was worn out. Even though it showed up as a swollen, itchy red rash around my face and sometimes my neck, it was an immune system thing. Perhaps I will never really know what causes the flare ups. I know with certainty that what I wrote up above supported my system enough to help it heal. 

It's not entirely gone and it has aged my face mercilessly. But I now see it as a blessing. It keeps my eating healthy and doing the right things for my body while others try to do so without any repurcussions which is much more difficult.

I sure hope this helps. It really is hell to have to hide yourself because you feel and look so awful and you begin not to trust your brain because it feels like pudding. 

Nothing I wrote is new; but it works for me. Detox, clean out, and maintain. And kiss the ground you stand on when you see that it works and you have done it all yourself with no meds.

Good Luck! Let me know if this works for you, too. It may take a while but don't give up.

I also wanted to recommend being cautious with the steroid cream because it thins your skin and makes you look old. You would just have to look at my eyes to see the result of that.

Also, I have been using an infra red sauna which helps at the onset of a flare up.

I thought I was alone!! I have had the same issue for a year, 26 years old and live in Australia. I always seem to wake up with puffy itchy eyes and it progressivly gets better during the day, however every morning without fail it will be back and is slowely spreading to the rest of my face and neck 

I have recently changed washing powder and bought new pillows with dust covers so will see if it makes any difference. Will update if this improves anything.

The last few weeks I have been using coco island paw paw ointment with honey and applying (alot) of it to my eyes before I go to sleep. Athough I dont think it cures it (as I still wake up with puffy eyes) they are 50% better each morning and not dry at all, but just puffy making it much more confortable .

Apart from that steriod cream ect that has been provided by the doctor has not worked!!

I am having red dry itchy rash on eyelids, below eyes cheeks, spreading to chin, left areola.  Goint to try progestoren and estrogen cream due my age of 47.  Tried antibiotics, anti-fungal, steroid and benadryl cream to no relief.  The soft tissue under my eyes are swollen and wrinkly.  I have aged like 20yrs in a months time.  Will let you know about my hormone therapy.  Fingers crossed.  Bag balm seems to relieve the chapped, leathery feel.

 

I developed itchy, flaking and swollen skin around my eye area after changing my shampoo. I could have blamed make-up, but the tops of my ears started to crack and weep, so it was something that was covering my whole face, so I narrowed it down to washing my hair in the shower. Apparently, products containing methylchloroisothiazolinone (a preservative and foaming agent used commonly in shampoo), and cocamidopropyl betaine (a foam former) can cause an allergic reaction, so I checked the bottles. Yes, they were in the "suspect" shampoo, but they are also in my new "Simple" shampoo, and I'm still getting the problem! I have sent for some "Mario Badescu Control Creme" which (according to reviews) will sort out the skin problem around my eyes, but I have yet to find the real culprit. I shall be buying some baby shampoo, and maybe getting a new memory-foam pillow because people have said that could be the problem, because it's 8 years old.

My (now 12 year old) son has come down with the facial rash, sometimes spreads to the neck and chest, every spring for the past 4 years now. Dr.s have never concluded what the cause is, just general terms and prescribes steroids and antihistamines. I wish I knew how to prevent it and soothe it!

For the first time ever my allergies came out on my face as a rash! I bought Seven Cream by Robin Logan yesterday at the natural food store. Used it three times yesterday and this morn every spot on my face was already scabbing over! You may want to mix it with aloe vera gel too! Miracle cream! Good luck!

Allergies can be from hidden mold, allergic reaction to foods suppements soaps, detergent lotions even a certain type of plants trees, memory foam, mattresses, pillow all may have some pretty toxic chemicals throw it all way get a certified natural organic chemical free mattress, and pillow . Memory foam is very scary stuff so try to find th4e reason Go on vacation and see if you feel better, Also get with an Naturopathic doctor to help you find the cause and get to the botton of this

this is exactly what i have been thinking for myself. thank you so much for posting your story. everyone here has a similar story... tho we might not all be looking at gluten intolerance or candida. i am going to figure out if i am... highly suspicious. appreciate your mentioning that. also... to everyone who uses Vaseline... you know that's a petroleum product, right? maybe try coconut oil or almond or jojoba oil?

I had the whole red face itchy swollen eyes problem several years ago for months. I was lucky to be able to tie it directly as a reaction to the dust caused by the removal of my nail gels.  I couldn't use plastic silverware, drink from a plastic cup or a straw for about a year.  That sensitivity abated over the years and thankfully I have been fine.  Coincidently, my twenty something daughter experienced the same symptoms, but hers come from sleeping on a memory foam topper and from airborne dust from cutting styrofoam.  She went to see my sister in NYC who is a holistic chiropractor who was able to help her with a special diet to get rid of candida and special nutrients.  She also doesn't pit plastic in her mouth and can't use mascara, but almost a year later, she hasn't had another attack.  I truly believe that for us, it is a chemical allergic reaction.

Just an additional note to the above post.  My other sister is a board certified allergist and her best suggestion to my daughter was to go to a dermatologist......

Hello! If anyone is using huggies or pampersbabywipe to remove their mascara and make up or just to clean wyour face with, stop using them...there is something in the babywipe that makes you break out in a rash and swelling....google it and you shall see. once i stopped using those babywipes all symptoms disappearred. hopes this helps someone!!