Help me troubleshoot my face
July 2, 2024 9:50 AM Subscribe
My face is extremely red, dry, flaky and irritated, but it hates everything I try to put on it.
My face got super irritated from trying out different sunscreens, taking breaks from sunscreen and getting sunburned, and swimming too many days in a row. Now I can't even use Vaseline on it, which was the one thing I used to be able to count on. It makes it red and blotchy and burns.
Now, any sunscreen I try burns, so I have to rinse it off. I'm wearing sunglasses and a hat, but I'm still getting sunburned, so it's getting even redder, drier, and flakier. I do plan to see a dermatologist, but they have months long waits for appointments. I need to do something about it right now. What can I do?
My face got super irritated from trying out different sunscreens, taking breaks from sunscreen and getting sunburned, and swimming too many days in a row. Now I can't even use Vaseline on it, which was the one thing I used to be able to count on. It makes it red and blotchy and burns.
Now, any sunscreen I try burns, so I have to rinse it off. I'm wearing sunglasses and a hat, but I'm still getting sunburned, so it's getting even redder, drier, and flakier. I do plan to see a dermatologist, but they have months long waits for appointments. I need to do something about it right now. What can I do?
Sounds like you need to stay inside for a week or so while your skin heals. Vaseline doesn't moisturize, it locks it whatever moisture you have, which right now is none. To moisturize, try pure aloe (check the ingredient list) which you can order form Amazon. Yes, it will burn a bit but that's just your skin pulling in moisture. You can get a freezable face mask to wear to help with inflammation.
posted by ananci at 10:14 AM on July 2 [5 favorites]
posted by ananci at 10:14 AM on July 2 [5 favorites]
See your primary care doctor if you can while you wait for the derm, and I can tell you that what helped for my skin was staying out of the sun for a while entirely, washing with Cetaphil and a sulphur soap, and using Cetaphil redness-relief moisturizer. No makeup, no sunscreen, until it calmed down. Honestly it sounds a little like rosacea, which is what I have now (I didn’t when I was younger, it’s been one of the joys of aging).
posted by terridrawsstuff at 10:14 AM on July 2 [7 favorites]
posted by terridrawsstuff at 10:14 AM on July 2 [7 favorites]
Agreed that it sounds like you'll want to avoid the sun and the pool for a while to let your skin heal. If you absolutely must go out, maybe a full face sun visor (popular in Asia - random Amazon link as example) would help.
posted by btfreek at 10:20 AM on July 2
posted by btfreek at 10:20 AM on July 2
Agreed with terridrawsstuff that it sounds like it might be rosacea, which I also have. I didn't get the super dry/flaky symptoms until I was past 40, so not sure how old you are, but I've found that my skin post-40 is an entirely different situation than anytime before then. It also sounds like it might (also) be an exzema flare-up, which I also didn't have until my mid-40s. It mostly showed up on my hands, but it explained the odd dry patches I'd occasionally get on my face. But I remember that feeling of, wow my face actually hurts :(
I did a deep drive into skincare when my skin got this way, and learned that not only is it important to moisturize, but also to hydrate the skin. I started using hyaluronic acid (more info here) and it's really helped my skin retain water. I also don't use soap to wash my face, but rather a gentle cleanser – and only once a day. I also use two different face oils, one in the morning and one at night. Revising my skincare routine made all the difference:
Morning routine:
- Rinse with cool water
- Spritz with gentle toner
- 2-3 drops of hyaluronic acid
- face oil to help lock in moisture
Evening routine:
- Wash with non-soap cleanser
- Spritz with gentle toner
- 2-3 drops of hyaluronic acid
- different face oil, also for moisture retention
If you're interested and it's helpful to you, I'm happy to share the actual products that I use, and has made my almost-50-year-old face feel (and look) healthy and fresh. There is one product in particular that made a huge difference just after 3-4 days of use. The dryness and flakiness is totally gone and has been for years now. DM me if you'd like!
posted by Molasses808 at 10:46 AM on July 2 [4 favorites]
I did a deep drive into skincare when my skin got this way, and learned that not only is it important to moisturize, but also to hydrate the skin. I started using hyaluronic acid (more info here) and it's really helped my skin retain water. I also don't use soap to wash my face, but rather a gentle cleanser – and only once a day. I also use two different face oils, one in the morning and one at night. Revising my skincare routine made all the difference:
Morning routine:
- Rinse with cool water
- Spritz with gentle toner
- 2-3 drops of hyaluronic acid
- face oil to help lock in moisture
Evening routine:
- Wash with non-soap cleanser
- Spritz with gentle toner
- 2-3 drops of hyaluronic acid
- different face oil, also for moisture retention
If you're interested and it's helpful to you, I'm happy to share the actual products that I use, and has made my almost-50-year-old face feel (and look) healthy and fresh. There is one product in particular that made a huge difference just after 3-4 days of use. The dryness and flakiness is totally gone and has been for years now. DM me if you'd like!
posted by Molasses808 at 10:46 AM on July 2 [4 favorites]
Most derms will instruct you to start an absolute bare-bones routine to start with, and it's almost always Cetaphil cleanser and standard Cetaphil moisturizer - both fragrance-free. Then after a few days you can start trying vaseline again.
My only personal addition to that would be Bio-Oil, name brand, base formula, no substitutes, apply over rinse-damp skin. Everybody's got it - Target, Walmart, drugstores, a lot of grocery stores. Put it on before the moisturizer. It's very unlikely to burn - I use it on open cuts and hangnails and cold-ravaged nose/lip skin with no stinging, and I have rosacea that does not burn or flare from it.
You should not wear sunscreen for probably a few weeks unless it's zinc oxide, and you should also aim for literal zero sun exposure and also no pool/lake/standing water exposure, not even at midnight on a new moon. You can go outside at night, but stay dry.
When you start adding things to this regimen, I would recommend doing two dot-tests: one on forehead, one on the cheek an inch or less from your nose. Twice a day for at least 48 hours before committing to a whole-face test.
posted by Lyn Never at 10:59 AM on July 2
My only personal addition to that would be Bio-Oil, name brand, base formula, no substitutes, apply over rinse-damp skin. Everybody's got it - Target, Walmart, drugstores, a lot of grocery stores. Put it on before the moisturizer. It's very unlikely to burn - I use it on open cuts and hangnails and cold-ravaged nose/lip skin with no stinging, and I have rosacea that does not burn or flare from it.
You should not wear sunscreen for probably a few weeks unless it's zinc oxide, and you should also aim for literal zero sun exposure and also no pool/lake/standing water exposure, not even at midnight on a new moon. You can go outside at night, but stay dry.
When you start adding things to this regimen, I would recommend doing two dot-tests: one on forehead, one on the cheek an inch or less from your nose. Twice a day for at least 48 hours before committing to a whole-face test.
posted by Lyn Never at 10:59 AM on July 2
Don't have much more to add except I think you can probably take a break from washing your face with soap, or at least really reduce the amount you do it. If you're washing twice a day, cut down to once a day, in the evening. Even if you work out and have sweat on your face, it may be that rinsing with water is enough and won't irritate it more.
posted by bluedaisy at 11:15 AM on July 2 [2 favorites]
posted by bluedaisy at 11:15 AM on July 2 [2 favorites]
Advice from someone dealing with rosacea for years and years: What your skin likely needs right now is shelter and benign neglect for a few days before you assume any diagnoses or start new skin care regimes.
Avoid sun as much as possible. Stay indoors for a couple of days if possible. Run errands and exercise after sunset if possible. If you absolutely need to go out: limit your time in the sun, wear a big hat, and use sunscreen that has a track record of not usually irritating your skin.
Skin care for the next few days: Use nothing but tepid water on your face. Take cooler showers than usual. Don't try any old or new moisturizers. As much as Cetaphil and Cerave are wonderful, gentle cleaners, don't wash your face at all unless it's gotten genuinely dirty. If you aren't wearing makeup, mosturizer, or sunscreen, there's nothing to wash off. Use a fresh pillowcase each night.
Once your skin calms down a little and/or you need to leave the house, add products one at a time if possible, in this order: sunscreen that usually treats you well, moisturizer that usually treats you well. Wash with a gentle cleanser once, at the end of the day, to remove your day's product. Sleep with a naked face on a clean pillowcase.
Once you're back to normal, you can cautiously try ONE new product at a time as advised above, but unless advised by a good derm, don't try to use Product B to fix issues arising from using Product A.
posted by maudlin at 11:26 AM on July 2 [6 favorites]
Avoid sun as much as possible. Stay indoors for a couple of days if possible. Run errands and exercise after sunset if possible. If you absolutely need to go out: limit your time in the sun, wear a big hat, and use sunscreen that has a track record of not usually irritating your skin.
Skin care for the next few days: Use nothing but tepid water on your face. Take cooler showers than usual. Don't try any old or new moisturizers. As much as Cetaphil and Cerave are wonderful, gentle cleaners, don't wash your face at all unless it's gotten genuinely dirty. If you aren't wearing makeup, mosturizer, or sunscreen, there's nothing to wash off. Use a fresh pillowcase each night.
Once your skin calms down a little and/or you need to leave the house, add products one at a time if possible, in this order: sunscreen that usually treats you well, moisturizer that usually treats you well. Wash with a gentle cleanser once, at the end of the day, to remove your day's product. Sleep with a naked face on a clean pillowcase.
Once you're back to normal, you can cautiously try ONE new product at a time as advised above, but unless advised by a good derm, don't try to use Product B to fix issues arising from using Product A.
posted by maudlin at 11:26 AM on July 2 [6 favorites]
I had a super bad rosacea flareup a few years ago, and ultimately what I landed on was a super gentle cleanser by Cerave, moisturizer from same, and niacinamide serum. Witch hazel toner also in the mix, though ymmv on that one so use with caution. I would mainly do this at night, and then just cool water rinse in the morning and moisturizer as required.
Agreeing with maudlin though, keep it simple until you're sure you can handle different ingredients and that they aren't exacerbating your issues. When I was at my worst I think the biggest difference was being super gentle with my skin (rubbing and any friction to a minimum, ensure you always have a good "glide" when applying anything), using cool compresses and cool water in moderation (a jade roller in the fridge was also fantastically soothing), and avoiding sun and wind like the plague. Eventually things calmed down. I never saw a derm (access for me is very limited), but if you can please do so. You'll likely have better success that way.
posted by eekernohan at 1:29 PM on July 2
Agreeing with maudlin though, keep it simple until you're sure you can handle different ingredients and that they aren't exacerbating your issues. When I was at my worst I think the biggest difference was being super gentle with my skin (rubbing and any friction to a minimum, ensure you always have a good "glide" when applying anything), using cool compresses and cool water in moderation (a jade roller in the fridge was also fantastically soothing), and avoiding sun and wind like the plague. Eventually things calmed down. I never saw a derm (access for me is very limited), but if you can please do so. You'll likely have better success that way.
posted by eekernohan at 1:29 PM on July 2
Also, this might sound weird but when my face was super dry to the point of hurting, putting a mask of raw honey on it felt amaaaazing. I had read about doing this from a few different articles, and while I'm not sure if "helped" my skin, a. it certainly didn't hurt it, and b. it felt like a cool, protective layer that was such a relief. You don't need much (since it will slowly start to respond to gravity) and it's probably already in your cupboard. I left it on for 10-15 minutes, then rinsed with cool water and smooth cloth.
posted by Molasses808 at 3:06 PM on July 2 [2 favorites]
posted by Molasses808 at 3:06 PM on July 2 [2 favorites]
maudlin has good advice. Agreeing that you need to do a face "reset" and stay out of the sun for a bit, and when you do go out, maybe don't use any sunscreen on your face except a full mineral one (might look at the mineral ones designed for kids; I've had good luck with some of the Badger products). In the meantime, also be careful of what soap you are using when you shower - go for hypoallergenic/unscented and definitely use water on the cool side and don't scrub your face at all. Even be careful about what laundry detergent you use because your face is getting close to it on your pillow/pillowcase. I would also skip using any kind of makeup till things calm down. (I'm currently using only organic 100% sunflower seed oil on my sensitive face, fwiw).
posted by gudrun at 4:24 PM on July 2
posted by gudrun at 4:24 PM on July 2
Were you using a chemical sunscreen? I have rosacea, and chemical sunscreens turn my face bright red. I have to stick to mineral sunscreens.
Now as to the current condition of your face, folks in the r/rosacea subreddit have had good results putting diaper cream on their face when they had similar issues - Triple Paste is a brand mentioned frequently for this use.
Personally what helped when I had a reaction to sunscreen was to use a gentle cleanser like the Vanicream one, and then "slugging" with Vanicream moisturizing cream (the kind that comes in a tub; Vanicream lotion has a different formulation). It's amazing how much of the redness is gone by the next morning. My dermatologist recommended Vanicream products back when my skin was reacting to everything.
When I had red and flaky skin, I sprayed my face with hypochlorous acid during the day. This helped with the redness and was very soothing..
And yes, stay inside while your skin heals.
posted by needled at 6:00 PM on July 2
Now as to the current condition of your face, folks in the r/rosacea subreddit have had good results putting diaper cream on their face when they had similar issues - Triple Paste is a brand mentioned frequently for this use.
Personally what helped when I had a reaction to sunscreen was to use a gentle cleanser like the Vanicream one, and then "slugging" with Vanicream moisturizing cream (the kind that comes in a tub; Vanicream lotion has a different formulation). It's amazing how much of the redness is gone by the next morning. My dermatologist recommended Vanicream products back when my skin was reacting to everything.
When I had red and flaky skin, I sprayed my face with hypochlorous acid during the day. This helped with the redness and was very soothing..
And yes, stay inside while your skin heals.
posted by needled at 6:00 PM on July 2
Do not touch it with anything but tepid water. For at least a week. It doesn’t matter how gentle the product is, your skin is fucked right now and you shouldn’t be putting anything new on it. Let it heal.
Better to go outside without sunscreen than to put literally anything on it right now unless you are someone who works outside.
If you wouldn’t put it on an open wound, don’t put it on your face right now.
This includes towels, washcloths, anything you wouldn’t use to clean an open wound.
If you can, wash pillowcases with scent free detergent in hot water and change every day.
posted by knobknosher at 6:12 PM on July 2 [1 favorite]
Better to go outside without sunscreen than to put literally anything on it right now unless you are someone who works outside.
If you wouldn’t put it on an open wound, don’t put it on your face right now.
This includes towels, washcloths, anything you wouldn’t use to clean an open wound.
If you can, wash pillowcases with scent free detergent in hot water and change every day.
posted by knobknosher at 6:12 PM on July 2 [1 favorite]
Also, if you can go a few days without putting conditioner in your hair, please do so. Conditioner gets everywhere including on pillowcases and can really screw with your skin if you’re allergic to it.
posted by knobknosher at 6:13 PM on July 2
posted by knobknosher at 6:13 PM on July 2
If you absolutely must spend some time outside while your skin is still reactive, keep that time to the absolute minimum and consider blocking sunlight from your skin instead of risking another sunscreen.
1: Hat with wide brim or big visor.
2: Sunglasses
3: An earloop mask (KN-95 probably offers better SPF protection than a blue paper surgical mask, which you may need to double up). Use a fresh mask daily.
This combo should offer some SPF protection for your face that is good enough if you're out for maybe 10-15 minutes. You should still put sunscreen on your ears, neck, etc.
posted by maudlin at 7:47 PM on July 2 [2 favorites]
1: Hat with wide brim or big visor.
2: Sunglasses
3: An earloop mask (KN-95 probably offers better SPF protection than a blue paper surgical mask, which you may need to double up). Use a fresh mask daily.
This combo should offer some SPF protection for your face that is good enough if you're out for maybe 10-15 minutes. You should still put sunscreen on your ears, neck, etc.
posted by maudlin at 7:47 PM on July 2 [2 favorites]
Lab Muffin Beauty Science is a great source of science-based information on skin care and hair care.
posted by conrad53 at 9:34 AM on July 3
posted by conrad53 at 9:34 AM on July 3
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posted by TWinbrook8 at 10:10 AM on July 2 [1 favorite]