So itchy....so itchy!

November 28, 2005 2:40 PM

I had a very bad allergy incident two months ago--and now I've become sensitive to products that I'd never had problems with before. I haven't found a replacement for my skincare products that I can tolerate and that does the job.

I have very mild acne problems. I'm 27 years old and I've been able to manage this entirely with a 10% benzoyl peroxide cream since I was a teen. I now have a new miserable allergic reaction to any concentration of benzoyl peroxide. I also have a pre-exisiting allergy to salicylic acid--your other major acne fighting ingredient in OTC products.

I've been using a face wash with tea tree oil in it, after googling for some possible alternatives. I'm not allergic to it, but it isn't doing anything for the zits and my oily T-zone. I've also been using a sensitive skin scrub, which is okay but not enough to control the problem by itself. I bought a Burt's Bee's blemish stick without noticing that it contains something I'm allergic too.

I'm thinking about heading out to the drugstore once again to buy some Cetaphil. Here's hoping I'm not allergic to that too. But, if anyone has any other ideas for cleaning products to try--I'd love to hear it.

(BTW, this is definitely not bad enough to merit going to a dermatologist for a prescription. I have a wide collection of drug allergies so that would be an allergy crapshoot too. And I'm of course in constant contact with my allergist about all this nonsense and do small skin tests before using any product--so no worries there.)

posted by divka to Health & Fitness (7 answers total)

You didn't mention possible allergy to vitamin a so I'm not sure if this will be useful, but I'm 25, have mild acne, (and embarrassing though the URL is) this stuff works quite well for me.

I use/have used both the derm-a-gel and the exfol a, both with great results. The derm-a-gel is less harsh and probably a better place to start.

They conveniently list the ingredients so if there's anything there you are allergic to, you can hold onto your dollars.

I wish you luck with a quick cure. Skin problems can send me into a serious funk.
posted by birdie birdington at 3:19 PM on November 28, 2005

I hope this is not your experience, but I developed a facial skin allergy several years ago (allergies all my life, but this was new) and no matter what I use I react to it. I clean with Cetaphil and use Elidel cream to keep the swelling and itching down. If I use nothing on my skin at all, I have terrible exzema. The Elidel is the only thing that keeps it under control.

I know that, for those of us with salicylic acid allergy, sometimes it takes a while for the body's allergic response to "calm down." As if it gets triggered by one thing, but then starts reacting to everything for a while, then eventually stops.

Sorry I can't be of more help, but hang in there.
posted by shifafa at 3:21 PM on November 28, 2005

Not a topical, but have you tried facial washes with either chlorhexidine or triclosan?

(I wash wish a non-foaming cleanser with one of those two antimicrobials in conjunction with topical benzoyle peroxide which is reasonably effective.)

However, I've found that nothing (even topical clindamycin on top of everything else) works when I'm stressed out. Absolutely Nothing. Nada. Zilch. (I'm tempted to see if corticosteroids would do anything but the only stuff I have on hand also has an antifungal in it).
posted by PurplePorpoise at 3:27 PM on November 28, 2005

Response by poster: Shifafa: your comment is interesting, as my outbreak was brought on my some stealth salicylic acid in another product. I had given up hope after two months that this would ever calm down, but maybe there's still hope. Who knows?

It's good to hear that Cetaphil is tolerable for you, since I'm on my way out the door to buy some now. Here's hoping...
posted by divka at 4:50 PM on November 28, 2005

Response by poster: PurplePorpoise: I haven't tried anything with chlorhexadine or triclosan yet--I'll have to google and see if I can find a product with one or the other minus the benzoyl peroxide. I'll put it on my "skin test list" :)
posted by divka at 4:52 PM on November 28, 2005

Cetaphil is great.

My mom has terrible skin allergies (worsened just like you by one major incident) and sticks pretty much exclusively to Clinique.

One thing to note about skin allergies (and allergies in general) is the "drop in the bucket" theory - it's not always just one thing that you're allergice to, but the collection of allergens that sets you over the edge. Try reducing the amount of fragranced products you use (consider your shampoo, hairgel, laundry detergent, soap, etc) and your overall skin problems may decrease.
posted by radioamy at 11:55 AM on November 29, 2005

I have sensitive skin and I've had great luck with Clinique and Neutrogena products. If you visit the Clinique counter, they usually have testers of all products so that you can try them. Neutrogena is sold in small containers, so you won't waste too much money if you buy something that doesn't work.
posted by Serena at 8:54 PM on November 29, 2005