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

i have all the above eye swell shut and have hive like rash i been diagnosed with dermatomyositic which is a auto immune disease, a connective tissue disease afectin muscles, weight loss paiful muscle, no cure but symptoms can be controlled

I have no idea what I have. I have read your posts and I have tried antihistamine (the Visine kind), some stye ointment over the eyelid (which makes it worse i think), some neosporin (to try to heal the cracked part of the eyelid, and i use ice in the morning to try to reduce the swelling.

My problem: i have been waking up for the past 4 weeks with a swollen eyelid. Not both, just the one. It is red from the bottom of the eybrown and all over the lid, its itchy, and it burns. I use ice to try to bring the swelling down, which works for a little bit. But when i go back to sleep, i wake up and the same problem exists.

I went to see a doctor who told me to keep it moisturized with fragrance free cream (on the eyelid), and use an antihistamine. Well none of those work.

Its just the one eyelid. No puss is coming out of the eye, its not pink (so no pink eye), its not watering, etc. Its just the eyelid.

I have not changed any soap, or makeup. Its all the same. My diet is also the same. I have no idea what i have!!!! The moisturizing with the cream helps a bit, but then when i wake up the next morning, its so moist that when i wash my face? It peels away easily...leaving it just as tender as before. And then it perspires and oozes a liquid (the actual lid). As if its needing to be healed.

Any ideas???!!!!!! I cant afford to go to another doctor, who will just tell me to try the same old stuff i have already been doing!!



thanks!!


PS-the eyelid itself cracked because it got so dry (i think), that i tried to use neosporin, which didnt do anything. It made it swell even worse. I even tried a Benadryl ointment thinking i had an allergy. No cigar. It made it burn. I just dont get why its always swollen in the morning. Its either red and irritated looking, or dry and cracking. And then peeling. Ugh!!!

I think that if you might try a jasmine tea bag compress, it might help. I know that other members of the forum have reported success with that while having a swollen eyelid. Have you tried that?

I have had allergies to countless environmental triggers forever, but up until a couple years ago, had never experienced this eye issue. My left eye is always way worse than my right. it starts with topical itching, turning to bright red-pink, from my brow to my lash line. it's itchy, red, raw and hot. i've yet to find a common demoninator as far as triggers; my stress level is pretty constant; diet, no major changes; i get it when i exercise, and when i'm sedentary. sun exposure doesn't affect it; i get it in summer and winter. i've been to my GP and allergists during a flare up. tested for food allergies---all negative; auto-immune, also negative. left with 2 doctors shrugging their shoulders. it swells during the day, but the night time is when it really blows up and i wake up with a slit for an eye, which slowly deflates as the day goes on---very Rocky Balboa----look like a prize fighter that needs to be cut. usually the swelling lasts for a couple, 3 days. by the 4th day, i'm still red, but the balloon affect has stretched the eye tissue and the exaggerated wrinkling and chunky flaking begins. i can get this every few weeks, or it can lie dormant for months. like i said, there doesn't appear to be a rhyme or reason. it's not a bumpy rash, more like a feverish rash---inflamed, hot, very swollen. dr. gave me elidel, but after reading the cancer and glaucoma warnings here, i've discontinued it's use; didn't help anyway. apparently the only remedy is time. i'm going to try a honey (antiseptic) and oatmeal (anti-itch) paste. who knows? at this point, i'll try anything, because unlike Quasimoto i can't hide in the bell tower just because my eyes could scare small children..

Greetings. There are so many of "us!" I get these flare ups too but have found that my issue gets less severe each time. So thankful. What many may be going through is a result of what many seem to suspect - a visible cleansing from stress. The only way the body can cleanse itself is to (1) let the toxins out or (2) build up some mass internally. I'll take the external cleansing rather than develop a n internal growth anytime. Here is a brief synopsis of my eighteen-year study. The body becomes acidic from stresses:
~Emotional - which depletes our B Vitamins,
~Physical/nutritional - from feeding ourselves all the no-no's = processed sugars, flours' creating acidic environments in our digestive systems with consumed preservatives, vinegars, coffees, sodas, prepared, acid-ash creating foods. Dr. Mehmet Oz has revealed some of this in his talks. He could go further...

My solution has taken time to refine. Like many of you I have completely changed my intake. It can be done if you make the intention to focus on your health and comfort. I've had enough of these outbreaks, and am grateful they continue to decrease in severity. Soon, it will be just a little zit and then nothing... It is a cleansing process that I am grateful for. What works for me is first of all: Creating joy in everything I say and do. Choosing fruits and veggies, washed properly; good, fresh meats/fish/poultry on occasion; daily fluids each with Fortune Delight; daily NuPlus, Quinary and Sunectar.

Email me if you would like to discuss this further.

In joy and in health~

For the past four years, nothing has worked like Prednisone.
My doctor has basically cut me off from it, so I just hit the ER about 4x a year and hit up friends and family for some.
What else can I do? Nothing works except prednisone.
It totally 100% sucks.

OM, this is an incredible thread of posts. I too am suffering with similar rash. It started with my eyes, now is around my mouth and down my chin extending onto my neck. It changes from red, itchy, swollen; to scaly dry and itchy; to burning raised bumps; to clear scars with dry wrinkly skin. Not fun at all. I am not a person to treat symptoms and not
find the causes -so this rash is very disturbing to me. After I tell of my journal so far, lets see if we can all get together and sluethe this thing to the ground. With me? I hope so. I have already gone to dermatologist who gave me a cream (Pramosone) for my eyes which said "not for opthamologist use" on it. He said to not where anything at all on my face for three months. After two weeks, the rash returns intermittently and for no absolute reason. Then my GP sent me to my opthamologist who said the cream from the dermatologist can cause glaucoma and cataracts and not to use it. A different cream from my opthamologists to use no longer than 2 weeks max is called Neomycin and Polymyxin B Sulfates and Dexamethasone Opthamalic Ointment. Plus he states to us Refresh P.M. at night for dry eyes.

At the first of all of this, I had a small area in my lower left eyelid that was slightly swollen and reddish with goopy pus in my eye when I woke up in the morning. Then the rash on my left eye started, then to my right eye. This was a couple years ago, starting around January of '08 I think. This stuff from the opthamologist did not help the spread of the rash, only the goopy eye stuff. Recenly the rash (this year) has spread to the outer edges of my mouth and down each side of my mouth onto my chin and then under my chin down my neck a little bit. When it goes into "remission" stage it leaves what looks like a "hickey" on my neck and slightly pinkish elsewhere with a dry wrinkly tightness to the skin. I remember this "hickey" mark from a couple years back as my husband made note of it not being from him, but this was before the rash on my mouth and chin. So here I am, with a whopping sinus infection that won't go away or that keeps coming back. Tried Zythromax pack of antibiotics, my GP then tried Doxycycline antibiotic since this is what dermatologists use for skin infections and it may be a combination of sinus infection spreading out to my skin. I too tried a topical steroid for about 10 days (as prescribed for not to use more then 2 weeks tops) so as to get through a family vacation with our pro-photography kids. But it came right back after stopping this cream. Now a different GP wants me to take augmentin (antibiotic) for my sinuses and completely ignored my rash. ARGH, I feel your frustration folks, trust me, I feel it.

Here are some ideas for us to bounce around and possible document similarities. (Remember, this rash just started a couple of years ago, in my eyes first, now on my mouth, chin, and neck this year slowly getting worse and spreading).

I had an industrial injury when using MEK at a cruise ship building position when I was young (24 yrs old- I am now 55). They gave us latex gloves as a protection from this chemical but it ate right through them. MEK can cause liver damage. Results are sensitivities, asthma, and allergic reactions to most man made chemical substances. I was told by a very good MD at age 41 and after tests that I had liver damage and should eat only organics and steer clear of all harmful chemicals as possible. My lungs try to compensate for the liver damage - lungs have the same enzymes as the liver - and so I have asthmatic reactions to normal everyday chemicals. Sometimes I have anaphylactic reaction and alwasy carry a bee kit. This is my life, and I've learned how to function fairly normally if I take extreme care of myself.

So I have eat very very carefully, very little sugar, mostly organics, not much wheat or gluten grains, minimal dairy and most recently very little animal proteins.

I don't use items (cleaners, makeup, grooming products, soaps, etc.) with man-made fragrances or man-made chemicals, especialy formaldehyde. Plastics are my enemy. I have cork flooring, cover my beds and pillows with dustmite covers, clean frequently, electric heat with hepa filters, air filtering, drive a Volvo with leather seats, live in a dry climate with fairly good air quality, avoid smoke-fumes-chemicals whereever possible. The chemical that they put on the roads locally for de-icing is a real sinus killer for me, just horrible stuff.

Here is what looks like a connection from previous posts. [One side note, those of you on steroids, oral or topical. Oral they work while you take them, but will absolutely lead to kidney failure and other health problems sooner then you think. Topical- it thins your skin and makes it more susceptible to outside environment, rashes, infections, and eventually will break it down to nothing. Please stop using these except for the most extreme emergencies. Once a year for 10 days tops if you must.]

1. I have noticed in the past couple of years that the air quality in my area has gone down considerably- I have heard that it is likely pollution drift from China's big boom in industrialization and use of coal fired energy. Anyone else noticed this too? I heard that most of Western Canada (just north of me) is up in arms because you can't see the beautiful scenery as well anymore. It looks like there's a forest fire going on nearby most days of the year here now, where it used to be just in the dry season- late summer/early fall.

2. I have obtained a couple of sets of new glasses, one prescription sunglasses. My concern is that possibly there is a substance added (possibly again from new manufacturers without environmental and legal restraints) to my glasses and possibly yours that is causing this problem. Such as the problem some are having with drywall in their homes made in China with toxic substances. Does this fit with anyone else, new sunglasses or glasses, possibly even contact lenses just before these rashes started? I wonder about those posted who attributed the rash to sun exposure, why the eyes? Was it possibly the sunglasses you were wearing in this sun exposure?

3. I had a bout with systemic candida (yeast) about 10 years ago and treated it with a very strict candida diet which helped my health considerably. I am seriously considering doing this again - it is very restrictive for the first month and needs a real commitment to do it correctly. The book "Complete Candida Yeast Guidebook" by Jeanne Martin is a really good start for trying to rid yourself of these pesky bugs. They are something that is normal in all of us, but stress, diet, pollusive enviroment, underlying illnesses, overuse of antibiotics, etc. can make them become overgrown to the point of they "take over" your systems and can actually cause you to crave things that feed them -like sugars, alcohol, useless carbs, pickled items, etc. There is a fecal test that can be sent to Great Smokey Mountains Laboratory, a good forward thinking GP or a naturopathic doctor can give you this test. If you can't get this test done, it wouldn't hurt to try this diet plan, after all we are all suffering and want it to stop- right? It won't hurt you to change your lifestyle in a healthier way. I plan on doing this AGAIN shortly. A few folks in this post suggested this treatment, it takes effort to swim upstream against the western diet, but the results of no more rash would be well worth every effort.

4. Also someone mentioned parasites. If you have animals in your house, your close associates house, or at work, then you may need a good parasite cleanse. If you travel out of country recently or prior to symptoms and may not have had control of what you ate or drank, then you may need a good parasite cleanse. A good book to help you with this is "Cure For All Diseases" by Hulda Clark, Ph.D, N.D. It is very clear about what to do and not do. It's worth a try and struly won't hurt you at all, remember we are all in this together and want to get OVER IT, right? There are a few things in this book that I didn't try myself because they didn't make sense to me, but most of it is spot on and I hope you find it useful.

5. I traveled to Hawaii and then Denver last January '09 which seemed to increase my stress with not being able to control my food and water sources very well while away from home for a month. I came back with High BP and then the rash took off slowly but surely around my eyes, then down my face to my mouth, then down my chin and under my chin on my neck oh yeah, a couple spots on my forhead.

6. The makeup that I was using before stopping altogether was Burts Bee's foundation, and ZUZU foundation. Burt's Bee's lip gloss, and Burts Bee's Hand Salve. I noticed that Burt's Bee's got out of the makeup business in the last year without any reason given to their distrubutors. Hmmm- maybe they were on to something.

7. Things that I have found that help: Shikai Borage Dry Skin Therapy, now they make a Facial 24-hour Repair Cream. These are the ONLY products that absolutely do not irritate and only soothe the rashes. Of course I can't use them on my eyelids, but all around my eyes is okay to use and does not irritate them at all. I made a homemade treatment from a goldenseal tincture (without alcohol), local organic honey, vitiman E liquid, and recently I added a touch of tea tree oil - sometimes this burns a bit on application, but it always settles the area down in a day or two of nighttime treatment. I have recently began alternating with Orega cream, this is made from Oregano Oil (wild mediterranean). This I alternate now with my homemade cream and use the Borage Facial Repair cream in the daytime to keep it soothed and moisturized. The idea being that if it is a fungal (candida) outbreak from my sinuses, the tea tree oil and Oil of Oregano are anti-fungal and using them alternately the candida yeast "bugs" don't have time to build a defense against them. I need to start a journal of use and results to be sure, plus daily diet record to correlate the two. We should all do this journalling for at least a month, K? Let's see what comes of it, it's like the scientists do, they try something or try nothing and document the stink out of it, then at the end of a set period see what comes of it.

8. Stress, I think that we all live in an increasingly stressful world. Also an increasingly toxic world. Stress is toxic. Relieving ourselves from as much toxic substances as possible, and that includes unnecessary stress, can't hurt us at all, it will only help us. I work at a place where finally the stress load is low, but there are toxic printing inks on a regular basis in the air. We brought in an air filter there and this has helped. But if I can't get this rash under control with the above treatments, I may move on here also. This rash is that unbearable, I feel like I have a red foo-man-choo mustache on my face. It's hard enough getting older, but to have a rash that leaves me wrinkled and dry looking in those areas and not to be able to cover it up with make up- this is very very difficult. I try not to be vain, and I can see where some of you in this post are having a huge psychological meltdown over this, but it is as if I was in a fire and left disfigured in places on my face. I understand your anguish. The rash makes it difficult to meet and greet the public with a smile and be sociable at times. So this skin problem alone is causing us stress added to likely other things in our lives. I know that my adrenals are strained and it wouldn't hurt to treat this. Plus an acupuncurist told me that the areas that are inflamed on me are connected to the stomach meridians and I should avoid spicy foods and eat bland foods until it subsides. Just another FYI to try -it can't hurt so why not, right?

Let's give ourselves an emotional uplift, lets be understanding of each others psyche's, and know that yes it is difficult. But let's not give up now, please keep working on a cause for this, be patient with our doctor's - they are only human, lets move forward for our health- and remember we are not alone!! Best wishes to fellow sufferers, my prayers are with you too. Keep searching and we will find it. Please respond to any thoughts on the collaborative similarities.

hi to u all i too has been goin threw the same thing i went to bed one night thinkin had got some thing in my eye then woke to have my eyes all puffed an swollen an big red puffy rash over my face was so itchy an sore an went flaky after few days i went to one doc they give some steroid creams to use just got worse my lips an face an eyes was so swollen . so went to dif doctor he was bit more help full but never seen anything like before he ended up givin me steroid tablets an more steroid creams . an told me to go to hospital straight away if got worse luckly the tabs worked but surprise once stop takin all come back arrrrrrrrrrrgh i know at time all started after i had miscarrage in october an then split from my partner so was under a lot of stress an down a lot but surely cant be just to do with stress ? been threw lot before an never happened . at the mo its not as bad as it was but still not nice to have worried every day i wake weather its gonna be worse . im glad i found this page as i started to think was only me an dont even wanna leave the house lookin way i do. good luck to u all an hope fully we will find some thing to help

Hey everyone...I am so happy that I stumbled onto this site! Here is my sad story.

I had problems with exzema when I was a child. It was so bad, my legs were put under the ultraviolet lights and wrapped. The exzema was only on my legs and in the crease of my arms.
When I was 17, I started the whole eye problem. My then boyfriend would tell me that my eyes looked like the sahara desert (with all of the cracking). I am 35 years old now, and for the past 18 years, the experience and symptoms with my eyes have become worse, the past 7 months being the worst.

When I was younger, I noticed that I would get the redness and itchiness when the season would change. The redness, itchiness, and flaking would only last about a week. It seems that whatever treatment I used would work, but the same treatment would not work the next time, so I would have to find a different treatment. Last year, the treatment of choice was cortizone ointment. Worked wonders! This year, all bets are off. Nothing works. Since June, it has been getting worse. Over the weekend, I discovered some vaseline and started to apply that to my entire face. It seemed that everything was clearing up! On Monday, I actually had the clearest face in 7 months. Last night, the itchiness started again. When I woke up this morning, I was staring at a monster. Not only are my eyelids and undereye areas swollen, but the sides of my eyes have red, swollen patches. The area above my nose on my forhead is red and swollen, as are my cheeks. I have had a red rough spot on my collarbone for about 3 months now that won't go away. Behind my ears are getting itchy. The worst part is the deep wrinkles around my eyes. It is now about 1:30pm, and all of the swollen areas are drying up.

Like many other posters, I have NOT changed my makeup or shampoo. I don't use creams on my face, because I have always been sensitive. I started a new job in June, but a less stressful and happy job. The stress has been reduced drastically in December....so what gives? I have pages of notes written down from the posters, and I will be trying most of them. I have been to a doctor, and my thyroid is fine. But I do have a heart condition and naturally dark circles.

I just don't understand how so many people are affected, and we don't have a formal name for our condition or a cure? Please continue your posts...as I will be posting my results as well. I will be praying through my tears!

Hi all. This is a great find! My story started in Oct.09 when I took some antibiotics for stomach pain. That was when my face and eyes swelled up and was put on prednisone and it went away but as soon as I quite the med it comes back. I'm thinking this is some kind of food allergy. The last time I took prednisone the swelling in my eyes went down, but the red blotchy spots on my face did not go away nor did the itching. The doctors don’t seem to know much, right now I seeing a hormone doctor and she’s doing lot‘s of blood test, so we’ll see what happens. I do know that my thyroid is low and I’m very low on iron and vitamin D. Don't know if that has anything to do with it or not. I’m just praying that it is a food allergy and I can avoid that food and never have to deal with this again, but with so many people with the same symptoms it seem like this is something else. I will keep you informed if I find any answers. Please do the same.

Same symptoms as everyone else. Seem to be more frequent flare ups. Also I am a 39 year old male. Had hand eczema since early 20's. Grew a goatee to hide the scaling dryness/redness around my lips, still very uncomfortable. Had a flare up on Friday and drank a lot of beer the night before, maybe related so stopped drinking beer. I will try the following and post back:

Omega 3
Apple Cider Venegar mix with water as topical, and can drink.
Aquaphor healing ointment
Cetaphil
Biotin

I woke up on Sunday morning with a rash all over my face, neck, scalp, arms and legs. My face was so swollen, my eyes were almost closed. It's very itchy and borders on burning at times. Doctor says blood tests results are "uneventful" and prescribed steroids but didn't take the time to call in the prescription. After I finished crying, I realized that I'm really on my own to figure this out. Anyone on an emotional roller coaster like me?

Benedryl helps but not very much. I found soaking in warm water with Dead Sea salts combined with baking soda works the best for the itching; about 4 cups total in an average size tub. Dead Sea Mineral Mud helped calm the itching and redness of the rash too.

I'm drinking an herbal tea blend that I made with organic Dandelion, Burdock, and Nettles that seems to help the itching better than Benedryl and it is a naturally detoxifying. Dandelion and Burdock are good for the liver and kidneys. Nettle is one of the best natural treatment for eczema. Next I apply a blend of Hazelnut oil, organic Neroli, Roman Chamomile, Blue Chamomile, Ylang Ylang, and Bulgarian Rose essential oil to the rash. It's soothing to the rash and reduces my stress.

I have asthma and can usually control it with my diet and environment. Rashes are often caused my inflammation, inflammation can trigger asthma or shortness of breath. My asthma was worse than usual and I was really stressed before this happened. Inhaling Frankincense really helps reduce my asthma symptoms if I use it as soon as I start experiencing shortness of breath or airway constriction. It doesn't replace my rescue inhaler, but if I'm able to get it under control without using it, I'm all for it.

Stress seems to play a big role in the outbreak so I suggest yoga, exercise, and other stress relievers. Start a journal that records what you eat and drink, supplements and drugs taken, how you feel, activities and environmental factors. We're in charge of our health and unfortunately doctors don't know much when it comes to these types of rashes. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables and strictly avoid processed foods. Take a multi-vitamin or B-complex and hang in there.

I feel all of your pain. I have been searching the internet for a week now. I'm grateful we all have this information to share and believe I've found my own diagnosis. My problem began when I woke up one morning with tingly, slightly itchy eyelids, which progressed to red and puffy eyelids within a few days. I thought I had an allergic reaction to something and that progressed to a sinus infection. After doing research I've diagnosed myself with Periorbital Cellulitis. CELLULITIS has many areas of the body it can affect, and it spreads. I posted my story on curezone forum, and I will post it here and I hope it can help someone.
UPDATE: 2/23/10 I've diagnosed myself. PRESEPTAL AND ORBITAL CELLULITIS. LOOK UP CELLULITIS, and you will see all your eyelid symptoms and more. This is a bacteria that can spread all over your body. It is contagious. This bacteria is very strong and may be resistant to several broad-spectrum antibiotics, putting it in the MRSA catagory. The strain of bacteria may, in some conditions, be biopsied (if there is fluid or open sores) so that the best appropriate antibiotic can be administered. Sometimes, requiring a strong dose of INTRAVENOUS ANTIBIOTICS. In my case so far, I did have cracks in my skin at the creases of my eyelids, my eyes were EXTREMELY swollen, and a red rash light itchy rash began to appear on my cheeks right next to my eyes, and along my hairline, as this spread, my cheeks and chin also became swollen. I looked like a zombie. I have had allergies since I was a child and therefore have frequent sinus infections, this is what lead to the bacteria spreading to my eyelids. I DID NOT KNOW I HAD A SINUS INFECTION WHEN THE EYELID IRRITATION BEGAN BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE ANY SINUS INFECTION SYMPTOMS. Other ways of contracting CELLULITIS could be open cuts or wounds exposed to a staphylococcus bacteria. Antibiotic resistant bacteria is identified as staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). I have two more days on my cipro antibiotic and if this eyelid itch and sting are not gone and begin to flare up again I will go back to doctor and describe to him what I think this is, and ask for a strong dose of IV antibiotics. In the meantime I am continuing to take my HEAPS of 3/6/9 Omega's, B-Vitamin Complex, Multi-Vitamin, Oil of Oregano, Aloe Vera plant gel (cut fresh with each application) spread on my eye areas. And then start my probiotic after antibiotic ends (waiting because of fear that the probiotic might interfere with the antibiotic).
MY ORIGINAL STORY BEGAN AS DESCRIBED BELOW:
I just turned 42 this month. I am a female. In the last week I began searching the internet, trying to find out what could be happening to me. Two years ago I began to notice a itch on my face, which turned to patches of redness and swelling. I tried creams and ointments and nothing seemed to help. It got worse over a two week period and was not going away. Finally I went to a doctor and she diagnosed me with a sinus infection and gave me antibiotic and steroid; rash went away during steroid period, and then after completion, it seemed to reappear, midly, finally disappearing.
Recently (two years after initial occurance), at the end of December 2010, I woke up one morning and my right bottom eyelid had some puffiness. Puffiness went away after a few days, and then about 20 days later, it happened again... then went away after a few days, and then reappeared again about 20 days later, this time it made it's big introduction. The skin around my eyelids, including the lids themselves became very itchy and turned bright red, and by the third day, both eye areas took on a racoon eyes look. The eyeballs themselves did not seem to be affected. Each morning upon wakening, both eye areas became more and more puffed up, eventually the eyelid creases cracked and the bridge of my nose between my eyes also cracked from the severe swelling. I looked and felt as if my head was rotting. I also felt suffocated as if I couldn't get enough air. After nothing I tried worked, which were neosporin ointment and cream, lamisil, ice packs, warm compresses, tea tree oil, benedryl, I went to a doctor. Doctor prescribed prednisone (steroid) and cipro (antibiotic) said I had a rare case of seborrhea. I don't think that was an accurate diagnosis, but I took the meds, Prednisone 20mg twice a day for 5 days. Two days after completion of prednisone, swelling has begun in face (could be a prednisone side effect), eyelids are slightly puffy this morning, and are beginning to get the tingly, itchy feeling. I feel pressure in my face and head area (prednisone?). I have a picture of my face the morning I went to the doctor and would like to post it so others may see what my condition looked like, but I don't know how to upload it.

Hello all.

I think i know what's causing my monster face. It's jalapenos, but each time i eat them the break out is worse and worse, the only thing that will cure it is predisone. This last time (when i figure out it was Jalapenos) I was put on predisone, xyal,benedrly and that worked to get rid of it. So far so good. I think the reason i could not get rid of it fully before was because i ate salsa nearly everyday. i love Mexican food, but i think it the oil of the peppers or the seeds that make me break out full blown. Well may God bless you with answers to what is cause of your problems. I know it is very fustrating, so spend some time in prayer.

I have had all the same symptoms - swollen eyes, red face, peeling, itching etc. twice in the last three months. I started my third attack on Wednesday, never really having gotten rid of the remnants of the first two. I still had redness, peeling, and flaking, mainly in my eyebrows. I even lost a patch of hair in the front of my left one. This time the rash went down my neck onto my chest. I also have had a constant rash on the top of my right hand which my b-i-l, the allergist, said was contact dermatitis.
On Thursday I found this website and started the Aquaphor (which I had been using), pepsin AC, a good vitamin with B complex, and biotin regiment discussed above. I am reporting 5 days later that I am doing much better. The redness is gone with no peeling at all and the rash is fading on my neck and chest and hand. I have done some research and think I have a biotin deficiency. In trying to find out why I might be biotin deficient since I don't take any medication and don't eat raw egg whites, I found one source that tied it to saccharin usage! I would love to know if diet soda is a common factor in this group. Interestingly, I gave up artificial sweeteners one week before this last attack.
Hopefully this will be my last attack. I suggest taking the biotin and giving up artificial sweeteners.
Good health to us all!