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?

Absolutely do not put anything else on your face and when it does calm down then use something very very bland .

I have to avoid facials too for the same reason,even sensitive oils and creams are far too strong for my skin.

Same! Do you have any suggestions for bland creams? Currently using La Roche possay cicaplast baume but even that is stinging... can't use anything like Vaseline as allergic to soft paraffins. It's why they've put me on steroids as can't have any ointments 😢

What exact products did she use?

Don't put anything on your face ...any thing, no moisturiser, no creams, no serums, no oils.
If you must then just use a soft flannel, ideally bamboo, and plain water, no soap. Just leave your skin alone for the next few days. Skin is amazing and it will calm down, but it's clearly been irritated by something, so just allow it sort itself out, follow your GP's instructions regarding the oral steroids.
And make sure you get the ingredients from the products used.
Be aware that now you have had a reaction, there is a risk of further reactions (hence needing the ingredients). I'd keep to mashed up avocado and manukau honey (providing you're not allergic or intolerant to either), from the next few months.

Sounds awful OP. Hope the steroid works. Would sudacrem help at all.

I wouldn't put anything on at the moment and if you're ok with LRP then start that in about a week when everything has settled down. That's what the GP told me to use after I finished treatment for a skin cancer.

I would suggest no water actually, as although it's nice and cool it's perversely drying you more. Balmonds have a great green paste in a glass jar at Holland and Barrett. Smells a little like farm manure (hay, not shit) but it's hugely popular with people with significant eczema. LRP baume isn't sensitive enough for me, and it stings anyway. The green goo is very good and you can keep it in the fridge to make it cool (although it's harder to smooth on then). Keep your house cool ish, also avoid anything that might trigger extra reactivity such as alcohol or spicy food whilst you're so reactive.

I used a skin product in 2017 that triggered the same sort of reaction and it made me so sensitive and prone to flare ups for absolutely months. I know what works for me now, but it might be a little trial and error for you. Hopefully your skin is less of a little bitch than mine was. It has been sensitive prior to that product, but nothing to write home about. After that, I had to learn a lot about my skin. Oh, a fan feels nice too, by the way.

OP - I had this reaction after a D*a facial. I don't know what yours was. The therapist was a lady working from home and was awful and unhelpful afterwards. She kept insisting it wasn't the product, and that it couldn't possibly be as it's "all natural". She was clearly too daft to understand that people can react to natural products!
I repeatedly asked her to send the ingredients list as I wasn't even sure what she'd used and after 2 days still didn't have it - in the end I said I'd have to contact the company direct and she eventually just sent a photo of the bottle moaning that she had children to look after and was a busy lady. Never mind that I could barely open my eyes! I just wanted to see if I could work out what I'd reacted to so I could avoid it in future.
I looked liked I'd been in a boxing match! I took piriton. After my face calmed down a bit it went dry and crusty. I'd say it was 2 weeks until I looked normal!
I've had many facials but this was a dreadful reaction.

P.s in mine the therapist used steam at one point which I think was a contributory factor in the extreme reaction I had

She still needs to send you pictures of the products she used - the ingredients label so you know what to avoid for the future. Using something you are having a bad reaction to isn't her fault but her unprofessional attitude to your perfectly reasonable question is poor.

The therapist sounds batshit and not very educated. Does she have a medical degree??

Her 'calming' facial is clearly not. What products did she use??

I have sensitive skin and have had loads of facial sad is but have never had a reaction like this. You need to make her aware of how bad your reaction was so she can consider the facial for future!

I had a facial in June 2023. Two days later I woke up to a red, itchy swollen face. It also felt very hot. I went to urgent care and after 2 hours wait ( sat their scratching face) the Doctor's gave me steroids via IV, basically they said I had a chemical burn from the facial. They also gave me a mixture of salt and water.(?) as was so dehydrated due to the allergic reaction. As soon as the IV finished I felt the heat and itchiness go from my face ( such a relief) The swelling went away the following day.
My skin barrier is ruined. I now have pigmentation (never had it before the facial) and textured skin which is super sensitive!

I'm sorry to hear about your reaction. Make sure that you have photos of your swollen face and assuming you paid by card, I would ask the salon for a refund by email because the service you paid for was 'not as described' and attach the photos and mention that you went to see your GP. If they refuse to refund, contact your bank / card provider and initiate a chargeback claim. You need to do it soon because there's a limitation. I am confident, given the circumstances, that your bank will refund the full cost of the facial. Good luck.

Yes maybe it was the same product as all the stuff she used was that brand. Did you work out the ingredient causing it? My skin is still red and swollen today but going down at least. Very patchy and like sandpaper so I need to put something on it to even move my face. Any ideas of what to try?

Don't ever go back to this woman again!!

This sounds the same as me... what can I do about how dry it is... I can barely move my face! I'm so sad I've wrecked my skin barrier as it's taken ages to get it feeling kind of ok.

I have a list of what she used but there are hundreds of ingredients on each one and no way of telling what it was.

Have you got any oats? Soak some in hot water and then dip a flannel in it once cooled and drape over your face. Oats are great for calming skin down. I wouldn't put anything else on it.

It honestly feels like chemical burns to me too. I had my first dose of steroid yesterday and it did bring some of the redness and swelling down but it's back to being red and sandpaper today. I have another two doses so will see if it improves after this mornings dose. Did you find anything that gave you relief while healing. I'm certain I won't be able to put nothing on it as it's sooo tight I can barely move my face.

Ok I'll try this thanks

Oh OP this is dreadful 😔
I remember from when growing up, natural yogurt was recommended for sun burns to soothe the skin. It did actually work.
Maybe try on a very small patch. The proper natural yogurt stuff not flavoured variety.

Try not to apply anything much on the skin as tempting as it might be, because it won't necessarily help and it might be uncomfortable to apply and remove afterwards. For example, good organic raw honey would be the thing to use but definitely not at the stage you are now when even gentle friction might cause skin damage or even pain.

I second oats. Soak in water or milk and dab the liquid with cotton wool. Oats are very soothing.

Don't use any oils or any creams at this stage.

Apologies, I don't think there is such a thing as certified organic honey. But good quality raw honey of known origin is the stuff you want to use later.
Also I would suggestion asking for ideas from the Style and Beauty board, a few posters there with compromised skin barrier who might have had similar experiences.

@Teaandchocolate2222 no I never found out what ingredient caused the reaction. When I sent the Lady a photo of myself with IV in my arm from the hospital she just said oh your skin looked amazing and someone's jinxed it🙄. She also said she's been doing same facial for years and no one has had a reaction.

Now I am so scared to put anything on my skin. Honestly it's so sensitive to the Sun and wind. Goes all red and dry:(
Somone at the time recommended putting natural plain yogurt. I tried it and gave me some relief and didn't seem to have any side effects, you can try it. I don't put anything on my skin now as too scared it will cause a reaction.

I wish nearly everyday I never ever had that facial but it's done now and can't go back.

I really would not put anything whatsoever on your skin at all. Nothing.

The name of the facial is deleted in the post, so I can’t see what type of facial it was. All I can see is D*
Is it Dermalogica? I’m just asking because I have very sensitive skin myself, also her ingredients could even be gone off, or it might have been something on a cloth or sponge from a previous client, so you might never find out what caused it.

Just be extremely careful with anything you ever use again and give it a week before you try anything else.