Someone please tell me this has happened to you too....
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free skin care · Sat May 05, 2007 10:43 am

This has been my week for...this can only happen to me Rolling Eyes

About 2 weeks ago, I got a scaly patch on on the right side of my face..near my bottom lip. Naturally, I scratched if off. I thought nothing of it until it kept getting red & peeled for days. By the way, I have rhino skin skin..this just doesn't happen. At first, I was sure it was from my dentist's cleaning. Some of the sand blast solution must've stayed on my chin & dried it out.

The peeling continued. Then it spread to my bottom lip. I looked like I had my bottom lip tattooed. It was very dry & pulled ...esp. when I stretched my lips. My lip color was darker halfway up my bottom lip.

At this point, I'm in a panic. My dentist saw it by the way, and really didn't know what to make of it.She basically said she's never seen anything like it. I finally dug up a derm who prescribed Desocort..basically saying it's reactive eczema. Of course, he asked if I had been using any new skin products lately. I just cracked up laughing in his office. Me? New skin products?

Naturally, he told me to stop using everything on my face..just when I'd received NCN peel, some Candy & Markey actives...I'm just staring longingly at them for now.

It's been 5 days since I started the cram, the scab part is much better. I have just faint brown spots where it was red & peeling before. My lip is better but still pulls & the line & dryness is still there.The lips are still throbbing too. I'm supposed to use the cream for 2 weeks. I've already made an appointment with another derm for a second opinion. This is just too weird.

The only thing that could have caused it (cosmetically) is my Osea cleanser (far fetched), or trying on lipsticks at the dept. store? Oh, I forgot to mention I also had it on the side of my eye...it was inflamed and dry. The corner was actually pulling down.That may have been caused by the Ystheal gel..again not likely. That's practically gone now.

Has anything even remotely similar happened to anyone else? I can't even find my symptoms in a medical book. Confused

free skin care · Sat May 05, 2007 11:22 am

Marina
It hasn't happened to me but with the amount of stuff I layer onto my face, I would not be at all suprised if something like this did happen to me.
I hop it clears up quickly for you and you are able to work out exactly what caused it, so it doesn't happen again.

free skin care · Sat May 05, 2007 11:31 am

Marina, your derm said it was reactive excema. So I won't contradict that. But, I can tell you the best way to get a good bout of contact dermatitis is to test department store samples of cosmetics such as eyeshadows and especially lipstick. I used to work at a cosmetics counter and no matter how often we cleaned the lipstick with alcohol, people were constantly coming up and swiping the tube across their lips rather than using the disposable paper brushes and q-tips. And those that did use them used the same one for a second application!

A

free skin care · Sat May 05, 2007 11:47 am

Lori;

My husband blames it on those 'voodoo potions'.

Ari,

I thought of that too. The only counter that will literally grab a lipstick out of your hand to disinfect it is MAC. As for eczema, that's the dr.'s way of saying it could be anything. I think he hit on that because the area was dry, flaking & red. I don't think he noticed the lip or was concerned about it. I was just worried it was an illness of some sort and not a dermatological problem. It's the hypochondriac in me. Embarassed

I once told my GP (the same one for 30 years) that one day one of my weird symptoms will make the medical books.

Sat May 05, 2007 1:26 pm

I had something similar after a visit to my dentist a few months ago.
I assumed at first it was irritation from where the dentists tools had pulled on the side if my lip and rubbed on my cheek. Mine was sore, red/inflamed with what looked like tiny spots within the red sore patches.
Even though it was dry and sore, I dabbed neat T-tree oil on it assuming it was an infection and it eventually went away after about a week and I have not had it since.

I always use T-tree on spots and anything I suspect could be an infection, even if its sore it usually works, in my case anyhow.

Good luck, hope it is better soon Smile

free skin care · Sat May 05, 2007 1:31 pm

Thanks Libertybelle,

I'm starting to think I hit the 'perfect storm' or something. The face was the dentist (I had small red spots that peeled), the lips are from that lipstick I tried and the eye thing from overzealous use of Ystheal. The only thing that makes sense...the lip thing is weird though. It was like a very dry, crusty lipline.

free skin care · Sat May 05, 2007 5:31 pm

it has not happened to me too. I am sorry.

free skin care · Sat May 05, 2007 8:01 pm

It happened to me, too, and the desocort helped alot. Just be sure not to use it beyond the two weeks.

I remember having such a hard time not using any of my products! Confused

You must resist! Very Happy

free skin care · Sun May 06, 2007 1:47 am

Marina, that sounds awful. You poor thing! I'm so sorry it happened to you. It must have scared you half to death. At least it's getting better now.

I think it is most likely from the lipstick. I never put a tester on my lips, but that's because I get lip allergy. So I would put it on my arm instead. If I were brave enough to put it on my lips, I would rub off the surface of the lipstick with a tissue so many times until I feel like I got all the germs off. But then how do I really know I got all of them off, right? I don't. I guess I will have to be more careful next time, i.e. to not test any lipstick on my lips ever. You just never know what germs other people could be carrying. They could have a cold sore, and you really don't need that.

Well, I simply don't like it when a derm just classify everything as a reactive eczema. Reactive to what? This is as clear as mud. It's the same as when my son had recurring fever, and the diagnosis was it's a fever of an unknown origin. Heck, even I could tell that. However, I was the one who pointed out to the doctor that it could be UTI since he was diagnosed with it when he was a year old. That was when the doctor decided to order an ultrasound which then confirmed the cause was UTI and a kidney infection. I feel that your body doesn't just have a fever or weird thing popping up on your skin for no reasons.

free skin care · Sun May 06, 2007 2:09 am

Marina,

It sounds like contact dermatitis to me. I am the queen of contact dermatitis Confused

In fact I am going through one right now. Mine would start off with red flaky patches that makes the skin feels tight and dry. The patches would then brown then peel off. Right now everytime I yawn my face hurts. Mine usually clears up in a week or two. Definitely do not use anything new for 2 weeks because your skin will still be a delicate state. I know it is hard but you must resist... Only use really bland products and your rx cream.

Also resist the temptation of peeling the dead skin. I gave myself a few bloody scabs when I got impatient.

Wish both of us a speedy recovery.

free skin care · Sun May 06, 2007 1:06 pm

I just posted a comment on the "aloe vera" thread. I have used aloe vera for contact dermatitis after gardening...the painful, red rash caused by something in some plants (who knows what!!!)
I do know that pure aloe vera is very neutral, and gentle, so if your skin is crusty and pulling it may be a good thing to try in order to soften and make the area more comfortable.
I would call and ask your derm. if it might be a good idea for you. Very Happy

free skin care · Sun May 06, 2007 1:32 pm

Thanks everyone,

I haven't been using anything on my face other than cleanser & dermagen for the past week. For the first time in 30 years I've gone out bare-faced.I've learned a couple of things from this. 1. Children did not run screaming to their moms at the sight of me Rolling Eyes

People treated me like I looked 'normal'. 2. My skin (well, the parts not affected) actually look better than they have in a long time. Lines are minimal, my eyes aren't puffy or wrinkled (no eye cream Embarassed

)

Here's the thing. I'm so used to treating my skin as oily that I haven't been listening to it. It's probably almost normal now & definitely drier in winter. I've always used strong products & serums instead of creams or lotions. I've been piling them on, too I haven't even thought of 'adding' moisture. Maybe it's a good thing to take a break once in a while and see what your skin is 'really' like and what it 'really' needs.

BTW, I've been using JM C-esta cleanser-the only one I had around that I've used safely before-and think it's a great cleanser. I've had a chance to see what it does alone since I haven't been using anything after.

The only thing that still worries me is my lipline-BH thinks I'm seeing thing but I think it's eroded a bit on one side Confused

Anyway, I'm off for a second opinion Wed.

Luvyourskin, I tried the aloe vera....believe it or not...it burned like fire! That's when I panicked and called the dr. Imagine aloe vera burning!!

free skin care · Sun May 06, 2007 2:07 pm

Hey Marina...I really feel for you!! If the aloe vera burned, you must be really uncomfortable (and afraid) to put anything on your face. I am glad you're off to the doc. for another opinion, because you don't want to take any chances when it comes to your face. I hope things get back on track for you very soon!! Smile

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