Skincare advice needed. How to heal allergic reaction?

[Rueben]

Hi! I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice

I purchased some products from The Ordinary's range (10% Lactic acid, hyaluronic acid, and caffeine solution eye serum thing) can't remember the exact names off the top of my head

Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure the ingredients caused an allergic reaction (hives outbreak on my face)
I was overly excited to try them, and should've patch tested before hand. Also made the mistake of introducing several new products at once, so now I can't pinpoint which was the culprit. (I've stopped using all of the new products now to be on the safe side)

My face feels tight, tingles every so often and looks red. I have broken out in a BIG cluster of small whiteheads on my cheeks and jaw.
I only used the products once on Tuesday night and woke up the next morning with swollen puffy under eyes (thankfully they went down after one day), and my face felt sensitive, red, and looked very shiny. Later in the day (Wednesday) I realised I had some raised red bumps/welts? developing on my face, and today they look like small whiteheads but there are LOTS of them.

I have quite moderate acne but never experienced anything like this. I've stripped back my skincare routine to the basics - I only use my cleanser (for sensitive skin) and la Roche Posay Toleriane Fluid moisturiser (again suitable for sensitive skin).

Just wanted to know if anyone else has experienced a similar allergic reaction to skincare products and how long did it take to clear up? Was there anything you used to speed up the healing process?

Also, I'd like to think that I have a decent diet for my skin (kefir, fish oil capsules, drink enough water, and lots of fresh veggies)

[BusterGonad]

I'm not sure really, I think you need expert advice BUT If it was me I'd wash with plain water and then apply Aveeno as it's my safety net when ever my skin has a flare of some sort. Aveeno is very soothing.

[Floisme]

I had a similar reaction some years ago after using too many random products at once. It took several weeks to clear up and for a while afterwards, the only thing my skin would tolerate was olive oil from the kitchen (which I discovered by accident).

Before then I had perfectly normal skin but I've had occasional flare ups ever since and only use a very small number of tried and trusted products. I still often moisturise and cleanse with just either almond or wheatgerm oil. (Olive oil is fine too but I'm not keen on the small)

I have to sit on my hands when I see some of the skin care threads on here. I'm sorry it's happened to you, op

[SilentlyScreamingAgain]

I'm allergic to lots of skincare and much of life. ;-)

I find that putting anything on top of the reaction, even something I'm well used to and tolerant of, just makes it worse.

If you can take them, antihistamine tables really help with hives/welts/itching and hydrocortisone cream (like HC45) helps with healing. Be really sparing with the HC45 and only use it below the cheekbones.

The reaction you've described is most likely to come from the lactic acid. Have you used acids before?

[BearFoxBear]

Yes to antihistamines and almond oil, those should calm things down.

[Rollypoly100]

Op, I could've written your post. I used the retinol in the small tube from The Ordinary a couple of nights ago and my face is sensitive, pink and flaking. I won't use it again and am waiting for my face to calm down.

[SilentlyScreamingAgain]

Rolly, it obviously totally up to you if you use the ret again but yours doesn't sound like an allergic reaction, that's a normal reaction to retoniol; it's pretty hardcore stuff.

I think that part of the problem is that with The Ordinary stuff being so cheap, is that we're more likely to over use it. When you start with retoniol, unless you have very hardy skin, you need to follow the tret protocol, leaving your face to dry for at least 20 mins before applying, applying sparingly, perhaps just on the t-zone to start with, only using it once or twice a week and applying a good moisturiser an hour later. Mostly, you have to expect your face to be a bit uncomfortable and for your skin to look worse before it looks better.

[Rollypoly100]

Thanks for your reply (and sorry to hijack thread). I fully accept I slathered it on, not really understanding how it works. My face doesn't feel quite so sensitive - lesson learnt. (Leaves with shining face!)

[Rueben]

Hi all, thanks for the help! I have taken antihistamines, and the redness and tingling has mostly gone away - still left with the whiteheads but hopefully they will clear up in their own time.
I have used acids before (10% glycolic acid and 2% BHA) which is why I wasn't very cautious when applying them. I have learnt my lesson though -always patch test and apply sparingly!! haha

I'm only cleansing once a day and then applying the LRP moisturiser which hasn't done any extra harm thankfully

[Rollypoly100]

Rueben, glad to hear things are better. I should've patch tested too! I'll be more careful in future and will check with the skincare gurus in S&B - they know their stuff.

[SilentlyScreamingAgain]

...they know their stuff.

Check and double check every single bit of advice you're given. Some people get insanely evangelical about skincare and assume that what works for them will work for everybody and it's just not true. I'm sure it's all glven in good faith but if I followed half the advice I've read, about acids and oils in particular, my face would have fallen off.

Patch tests are good and you should carry them out but it's not a fail safe. Sali Hughes had a patch test done before the hair dye incident that landed her in A&E with anaphylaxis. I had something very similar happen with eyebrow dye, well a nasty rash and not a word in the Guardian but, you know, similar-ish.

[Beautifullymixed]

I bet it was the latic acid. My rosacea and acne prone skin would have reacted the same way I'm sure. I would have used antihistamines, and hydrocortisone until it had healed.
I did lots of reading before I ordered from The Ordinary, and knew that I would be staying clear of both latic acids and the vitamin c suspension. Heard to many stories about stinging and irritation.

[Rollypoly100]

It's completely my fault, with skincare I tend to think if a little amount is good, then a generous dollop will be better. I had a bad result with Turnaround cream when that first appeared - I'll stick to my usual routine and my all round saviour Trilogy rose hip oil.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Is your dr treating the acne for you?