baffled by skin rash/bumps
EDS Skin Care Forums Forum Index » Skin Care and Makeup Forum

free skin care · Fri Aug 19, 2005 10:23 pm

I can't figure out what's going on, so I have decided to strip everything down to as basic as I can so I can see what the heck is going on with my skin.

On the right side of my nose is a bunch of teeny tiny bumps - not pimples - almost looks like a rash, and right under my nose as well. Nowhere else on the face, and more pronounced on the right, but it's on the left too. It almost looks like a heat rash, but it's not.

Could it be the Vitamin C?

What about titanium dioxide or zinc?

It's baffling me. The rash is nowhere else on my face - if it were an allergic reaction to something, why wouldn't I get it all over my face?

I'm just going to back off everything for now, but I want to say that this is going back a couple of months now. At first I thought it was silicones from the Olay Regenerist, so I stopped using it, but the bumps are still there...I really don't think it's my PSF skincare, b/c I had the bumps before I started using it and everything in the line is so gentle. The only thing I can think of is either my mineral makeup (please NOOOOOO!!!!)or the vitamin C, so the test is on...

Anyone have this problem?

Maria Rolling Eyes

Fri Aug 19, 2005 11:23 pm

Could they be congested pores perhaps? I'm grasping at straws here but any little bumps on my face are almost always congested pores. They go away with some AHA use or using Essential Balm for a while (or both!). If it is clogged pores then even if you stop using the product that did it you may have to wait for some time for the bumps to go away.

Btw, when I used one of the Origins products (laden with silicone) I had red bumps on my chin and around the mouth and nose. They were weird because they kind of appeared and disappeared whenever they felt like it but it took weeks for them to go away completely after I stopped using the serum - I was then silly enough to try it again (just to make sure) and the same thing happened.

free skin care · Sat Aug 20, 2005 6:18 am

Maria, does the area itch? Itching would surely indicate an allergy. You could always try taking Benedryl before bed and see if it helps. Benedryl also has a cream. Good luck.

Sat Aug 20, 2005 7:59 am

Maria
I also seem to have the same problem as you.
Small 'pin head' size bumps mainly on the right side of my face above my upper lip - with flaky skin around my nose.

Have been to my Doctor twice, and he diagnosed dermatitis (typically I cannot remember the exact name).

I was prescribed two different creams to try - (1) 'Anabact' Gel (Metronidazole Ph Eur 0.75% w/w
(2) 'Daktacort' Ointment (Miconazole nitrate 2% w/w, hydrocortisone 1% w/w)

Neither of the above made absolutely any difference to me, in fact if anything the rash is worse than ever.

I feel that my Doctor did not take me seriously and thought I was a neurotic 40 yr old as the rash is les than a 5p size (a dime).

However, decided to try and self diagnose this morning and came across a site naming my rash as seborrheic dermatitis- one of the posters suggested trying Nizoral (shampoo) and leaving it on the face for a few minutes. So I am now off to my local chemist to buy this shampoo ( I have used it on and off over the last few years when my scalp has been a bit flaky - but never thought of using it on my face).

I will post the active ingredients later as I know not everyone is in the UK and will update in a few days when I have tried the shampoo.

Smile

free skin care · Sat Aug 20, 2005 9:43 am

[quote="Mabsy"]Could they be congested pores perhaps? I'm grasping at straws here but any little bumps on my face are almost always congested pores. They go away with some AHA use or using Essential Balm for a while (or both!). If it is clogged pores then even if you stop using the product that did it you may have to wait for some time for the bumps to go away.

Hmmmmm....that actually makes sense as it's only around the nose area. I wonder if my pores are congested. I mean, these are teeny, teeny bumps, but it's driving me crazy...Any recs on AHA's? I'm not familiar w/Essential Balm, but it sounds good.

Thanks, Mabsy.

Maria

free skin care · Sat Aug 20, 2005 9:45 am

Winnie wrote:

Maria, does the area itch? Itching would surely indicate an allergy. You could always try taking Benedryl before bed and see if it helps. Benedryl also has a cream. Good luck.

Def. no itch, Dottie. Just teeny, tiny bumps from the top of the side of my nose, then right under my nose. You have to look in the light to see it...I wonder if it is clogged pores like Mabsy thought? I've never had it before, but with the list of products I've used on my face in the past year or so, anything is possible.

Thanks! Maria

free skin care · Sat Aug 20, 2005 9:48 am

Choccielab -

Hmmm...another interesting thought. I've heard of Nizoral. My husband uses Selsen Blue for some kind of back fungus that he gets in the summer. I wonder if the ingredients are the same.

Thanks for the info!

Maria Smile

free skin care · Sat Aug 20, 2005 10:37 am

I had a simular rash about 6 months ago. My dermatologist diagnosed it perioral dermatitis. This type of rash appears around the mouth or on the sides of the nose. The bumps were small and red and the skin looked a bit like it had been burned. The doctor prescribed a hydrocortisone cream and some pills (don't remember the name). After 2 weeks using only the cream the rash was completely gone (I was told only to use the pills if the rash came back). I think this could be what you have (since you have had it for so long). If it's not treated it could last for months or years, so I think you should see a dermatologist if you haven't done so already.

free skin care · Sat Aug 20, 2005 2:53 pm

I had a similar rash over chin area- also diagnosed as dermatitis. It was stress induced (that sounds so crazy), so this may also be the cause of your breakout and not the products you are using. The GP prescribed some anti-acne gel that dried it out and cleared it up, however my skin has never gone back to normal since. Would recommend getting it checked, even if you have never had dermatitis before as I hadn't.

Hope this helps a bit-

maddy

free skin care · Sat Aug 20, 2005 7:37 pm

Maria,
How long were you using the Regenerist for before you got the bumps? The reason I'm asking is that I can't use anything with silicone oils in it. I get congested pores that look just like the bumps that you described. I tried that Estee Lauder Perfectionist CP+ It had silicone oils in it.
Even after I stopped using it the bumps were there. They didn't go away until I did a peel & started using AHA's regularly. Can you go to a derm?

free skin care · Sat Aug 20, 2005 10:03 pm

pbsadhaka wrote:

Maria,
How long were you using the Regenerist for before you got the bumps? The reason I'm asking is that I can't use anything with silicone oils in it. I get congested pores that look just like the bumps that you described. I tried that Estee Lauder Perfectionist CP+ It had silicone oils in it.
Even after I stopped using it the bumps were there. They didn't go away until I did a peel & started using AHA's regularly. Can you go to a derm?

Hey Darren -

I was using the Regenerist awhile - but didn't really notice the bumps until a few months ago, so after concluding that it was probably the silicones, (on my own Laughing

) that it was the silicones, I stopped - but the bumps are still here to this day. I did the Pumpkin Peel today - (FABULOUS!!!. Is that the kind of peel you recommend, or something else....Any suggestions for AHAs???? Mabsy also suggested Essential Balm which I'm not familiar with.

Thanks for the advice.

Maria

free skin care · Sat Aug 20, 2005 10:23 pm

The pumpkin peel is good, but it will give slower, more cumulative results. I did a salicylic acid peel, then used the papaya cleanser daily for a couple of weeks b/c of the AHA complex in it. It cleared up & never came back. But you may have something different. Is there any way you can go to a dermatologist or esthetician for a consultation? It's just that it could be so many different things.
Do you have any AHA products lying around that you could try in the meantime?

Sun Aug 21, 2005 4:30 am

If you have any AHA products, particularily ones that might also have BHA in them, then try as a spot treatment. I think any exfoliation should be good at this stage. The Essential Balm I'm talking about is the one by Decleor - it mainly used for congested pores. Does work very well (though not overnight) and leaves skin nice and glowy in the morning.

free skin care · Sun Aug 21, 2005 5:40 am

Mabsy wrote:

If you have any AHA products, particularily ones that might also have BHA in them, then try as a spot treatment. I think any exfoliation should be good at this stage. The Essential Balm I'm talking about is the one by Decleor - it mainly used for congested pores. Does work very well (though not overnight) and leaves skin nice and glowy in the morning.

Okay, thanks for the Decleor Rec. Sounds good and Iwill try it. No, I don't have any AHA products (I don't think...I'll check one of my overflowing drawers Laughing

) but I do have a sample of Active Serum from ISC. I wonder if that counts? Certainly not enough in there tho to help probably.

Thanks, Mabsy.

Maria

free skin care · Sun Aug 21, 2005 5:44 am

pbsadhaka wrote:

The pumpkin peel is good, but it will give slower, more cumulative results. I did a salicylic acid peel, then used the papaya cleanser daily for a couple of weeks b/c of the AHA complex in it. It cleared up & never came back. But you may have something different. Is there any way you can go to a dermatologist or esthetician for a consultation? It's just that it could be so many different things.
Do you have any AHA products lying around that you could try in the meantime?

Darren - I gotta say that the derm I went to previously is pretty useless. I do have to get another one. I had gone to an estheticican who had mentioned that "it looks like you've got a little rash over here" but that was it!!!! Never recommended any products or anything! Time for a new one there too I guess!!!

I have lots of samples of the Papaya Cleanser and I'll switch off for a while from the Green Tea cleanser. In the meantime, I'll see if I can get my hands on some decent AHA products and find myself a new estetician/derm.

Thanks again.

Maria

free skin care · Sun Aug 21, 2005 7:43 am

Wow! They sure didn't help much! If I were you, I'd switch to the papaya cleanser since it does contain an AHA complex, Mabsy's suggestion about BHA is right on too. See if you can find an OTC salicylic treatment gel (probably around 2%). You should be able to get one by Neutrogena or Clean & Clear pretty inexpensive. Try Target or WalMart. If that doesn't help (after about 2 weeks), then I would find a new derm. It could be anything from like sebaceous dermatitis to a topical yeast infection. It could be so many things....

Mon Aug 22, 2005 12:55 am

Mariav wrote:

No, I don't have any AHA products (I don't think...I'll check one of my overflowing drawers Laughing

) but I do have a sample of Active Serum from ISC. I wonder if that counts? Certainly not enough in there tho to help probably.

Yes! I think the Active Serum is 10% AHA and 2% BHA if I am not mistaken.

Mon Aug 22, 2005 10:08 am

Update

Nizoral Shampoo (ketoconazole 20mg/g) Idea

Bought the Nizoral shampoo (yes I know I am clutching at straws here) and tried it this morning - obviously to soon to tell, though I definitely think the area does not look so red/inflamed.

I have made an appointment with my Doctor for a referral to a Dermatologist - but goodness knows how long this will take. So will keep reading the forum for tips.

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