Help- what's the best thing to calm a sore, allergic reaction?

[Akite]

My face is very sensitive and we are on holiday and it's reacting badly ti the sun cream and chlorine. My cheeks are swollen and puffy and it burns so much 😣
I already take daily antihistamines. can't avoid using sun cream, it's v v hot here. I can avoid further chlorine though. What can I do to help calm it down?

Painkillers, cold packs, see if you can see a pharmacist or gp. I’d be wary of adding anything else in the way of creams, since there’s already a combination causing problems.
you can iirc take more than one type of antihistamine at a time under guidance.

I'd probably go against the guidelines on the tube and use a combination of antihistamine cream and hydrocortisone cream (which it tells you not to use on your face). I'm not a medic but that could be my choice. I'd also consider taking ibuprofen in case it can help with the inflammation.

Can you get any different sun cream or a very wide brimmed hat? I have a horrible allergic reaction to some sun creams and I mainly use a hat with a 5 ish inch brim which ensures my entire face is shaded without the need for chemical sunburn prevention.

I know you are on anti -histamines. I'm assuming tablets? Have you tried a more direct anti-histamine gel or cream? I'm taking both currently for horse fly bites and one without the other isn't working; both together are doing wonders.

No! Don’t use hydrocortisone on your face😱 Especially in the Sun! That warning is for a very good reason. It can leave permanent marks.

My DS is allergic to some spf 50 so if you're using that go down to spf 30

Wear a hat and sit in the shade for a day without sun cream.

What brand sun cream are you using ?

I don't get along with Boots soltan or Nivea.

P30 Riemann works well for me and most others

I have very sensitive skin especially where spf is concerned

I react to waterproof / water resistant sun creams so I avoid those.

Ah crikey, how does it leave a mark? I've never had an issue when I've used it. My understanding was the issue was the skin thinning and that that wasn't an issue for short term use. It also says not to use it on you vulva but then they sell catesten with hydrocortisone 1% mixed in so I took all the warnings with more than a pinch of salt at that point.

GP told me that you can take more antihistamines than indicated in the instructions on the packet. Could you talk to a pharmacist or doctor where you are? And see if there are any hypoallergenic sun creams you could buy? Or just don't put it on your face, wear a wide brimmed hat and stay in the shade as much as possible.

Does your sun cream have lanolin in it?

Just check that it's not your sunscreen causing it. Cbd cream? It's meant to be anti inflammatory

It was a mineral sun cream which seems to be the main culprit. Most factor 50s I don't get on very well with but can generally get by. Of course we only brought factor 50s 😏. Haven't been on holiday for several years and not been somewhere this hot (Caribbean) for many many years so I kind of forgot how bad it can get. I have a wide-brimmed hat and am trying to minimise usage but at the same time I don't want to have to spend the whole holiday indoors. ☹️ I'm avoiding the pools and only going in the sea.
I've got fexofenadine and cetirizine antihistamines. I'm taking both types and have doubled up the cetirizine.
ibuprofen is a good idea, we have thta here.

I’ve used hydrocortisone on my face but only when prescribed so not sure if it’s a different strength. It didn’t leave a mark though.
Can you get hold of some oats and make a cold compress with them?