Can I put this on my face?
June 20, 2016 3:26 AM   Subscribe

What are the odds my face wash got contaminated with my grody eye bacteria?

I had conjunctivitis in both eyes a couple weeks ago, which cleared up with a week's course of antibiotic ointment. A week after that, I developed periorbital cellulitis around one eye, likely as a complication of the conjunctivitis. After some more hardcore (hardcorer? hardercore?) antibiotics, I think I might be in the clear for real this time.

I've been pretty cautious with hygiene since the conjunctivitis started: I wash my hands often, and immediately if my hands go anywhere near my eyes; I've washed our sheets and towels and washcloths on the hottest setting multiple times, and haven't shared or reused towels. I don't wear contacts and haven't worn eye makeup in a couple months, so there's no chance of contamination there. The one product I have used on my face was a face wash that comes in a pump-style bottle. I didn't use it while I had conjunctivitis, and I haven't used it since getting the cellulitis, but I used it in the week between, when I thought I was infection-free. I've had the bottle for about six weeks and was using the product twice a day; it's about 85% full.

I don't think the face wash caused either infection, but I wonder if it might have gotten contaminated somehow.

If it helps, the ingredients are:
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocopolyglucoside Tartrate, Sodium Cocopolyglucoside Citrate, Montmorillonite (French Green) Clay, Moroccan (Rhassoul) Lava Clay, Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C Ester), Citrus Aurantium (Neroli) Oil, Piper Nigrum (Black Pepper) Fruit Oil, Botswellia Carterii (Frankincense) Oil, Jasmine Officinale Oil, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Oil, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol.
What's the best course of action here? Disinfect the pump? Throw out the bottle and buy a fresh one? Throw out the bottle and stop using the product altogether, on the off chance it's a crappy bacteria-party product from the grodatorium factory (extreme, I know)? I really like this face wash, but I really really like not having eye infections.
posted by Metroid Baby to Health & Fitness (5 answers total)
 
I can't imagine how a pump bottle would have gotten contaminated, but I suppose throwing it away and buying a new one is a small price to pay for piece of mind.
posted by i_am_a_fiesta at 3:59 AM on June 20, 2016 [3 favorites]


I would disinfect the pump, or get a new one if possible. My sympathies - I went through this same thing about six weeks ago.
posted by marguerite at 4:46 AM on June 20, 2016


Best answer: When it comes to things that could infect my eyes, I basically approach with a scorched earth method. I'd throw it away because otherwise you're going to drive yourself nuts with what-if's.
posted by Medieval Maven at 5:43 AM on June 20, 2016 [8 favorites]


I might have risked the pinkeye but periorbital cellulitis can be serious stuff. How expensive is this stuff? Time for a new bottle IMO. You only have one set of eyes.
posted by warriorqueen at 6:41 AM on June 20, 2016


Response by poster: Well, at least I don't feel like I'm overreacting. Out it goes. Oh well.

It wasn't the cheapest stuff, but it was certainly less than what I've spent on urgent care copays and antibiotics in the past two weeks.
posted by Metroid Baby at 8:48 AM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]


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