Bad reaction to facial

[Teaandchocolate2222]

I had a facial on Tuesday and my skin felt fine all that day and night. I woke up the next day to a bit of redness and itching on my face and neck. My therapist said to just drink lots of water. It was worse yesterday with more swelling, redness and itching. It felt like a bad sunburn with itching.

Today I've woken up and can barely open my eyes from the swelling. Everything is so red and sore. Wondering if I need a GP. I've taken an antihistamine but nothing is helping. Any ideas - am I overreacting to go to the doctor? What could they do to help?

Which antihistamine did you take? I find the fastest acting one is the baby piriton liquid.

You may need some steroids for the swelling which you can get from a doctor. Can you put a cold pack on your face in the meantime to try and bring the swelling down?

My best guess is that the product has absolutely buggered your skin barrier. If so, absolutely nothing except very gentle moisturisers, hyaluronic acid, and vaseline for six months to get your skin happy again. At the moment I'd use a cooling gel (pharmacy is your friend) made for allergies, cover your face well in any sort of cold air expo (cotton balaclava), plenty of hydration inside and out, and on top of the moisturiser add a good helping of vaseline on the top layer. You'll look very shiny, so either just for inside or suck it up outside too. Antihistamines may help a little, but not as much as you'd hope. Good luck.

Gosh six months! How long do you think it will stay swollen for? Yes I definitely feel like cool stuff is what it wants. I've just been using wet flannels to try to cool it down and I also have some cooling gel from the pharmacy. I took a piriteze so I'm guessing I can't take anything else today.

When you say steroids do you mean oral or topical as I think I have some topical at home?

Also very annoying as I had only booked a facial massage yoga thing but she decided to do a "pro calm" facial when she heard how sensitive my skin was...

Can you contact her to find out exactly what products you used? She should be told that you have had this severe reaction.

Yes I've been updating her and today I've asked for details of the product. She has been mainly saying to hydrate.

I meant ones you take (not the cream). You poor thing, it's so sore when that happens

Which just shows how ignorant she is re skin sensitivity and allergic reactions.

I would definitely seek advice from the pharmacist. That’s awful, did she put some kind of peel on your face?

Some of the facials now are very aggressive!

Ask her to send you information on every product she used on your face. If it’s an allergic reaction then you need to know.

She sounds shit!

Ask the pharmacist what antihistamines you can take as you can combine some. Might be worth using some anti histamine cream too. I also find baby Piriton the best as you can take it throughout the day.

Any sign of mouth swelling and wheezing then seek help asap.

You are not overreacting going to the doctor if your face and eyes are swollen. Go to the pharmacist now and ask their advice.

If you are having an allergic reaction then water isn’t going to fix it.

Ask her for photos of all the products she used. Sorry this happened, I hope you are ok x

Did you get your eyelashes dyed at the same time or was it just a facial?

Go to the doctor today OP.

She is not a medical professional. Get her to take a photo of the chemicals in whatever she used on you, or the product info.

Pharmacist as first port of call then GP if the can't help

Absolutely find out what products (ingredients) she used so you can avoid like the plague in future.

send her a picture of her face so she doesn’t think you are exaggerating and hopefully she then listens to future clients better!

She's asked me to come in so she can put some hydration products on. I'm loathe to put anything else on it at this stage but maybe I can ask to photo the products she used so I can try and work out what may have caused it. I have an appointment with the GP later today. She doesn't think I should go as she says doctors don't understand skin. So confused as to what to do

No I just had a facial - supposedly one for calming sensitive skin

Do not listen to her. Beauticians ‘don’t understand’ allergic reactions if that’s the case! Of course she knows what is going on, she his just trying to calm you down.

Go to your doctor first. Ask her for photos of the products as you need them.

Do not put anything else on your skin today.

Do not listen to her. Go to the doctor first! Don’t doubt yourself. Good luck.

This is very worrying. You are having an allergic reaction to something she has put on your face and you need to know what exactly was used so that you can avoid it from now on. Absolutely see your GP and take photographs of your face. Frankly someone this stupid (“hydration” for an allergy !!! Insane) should not be touching anyone’s face.

Do not let her anywhere near your face ever again.

insist she sends you the full product ingredient list.

Go to the GP and ignore her!

I agree, don’t let her near your face again.

Doctor has given me a three day course of oral steroids, hope it works!

Is she self employed or working in a salon? I’d be having a strongly worded chat with the owner. She seems quite dismissive.

She needs to be telling you exactly what she has used on your face, not fobbing you off with suggestions to drink water. If you’re having an allergic reaction, you need to treat that, water or not 🙄

What???!
why are you confused? She’s someone who does facials, not a dermatologist with proper training. I wouldn’t let her anywhere near your face ever again.