I’ve developed spots pretty much overnight

[WellTidy]

I’m 46 and I’ve always had pretty clear skin. Apart from a phase a few years ago when I used loads of new products, and reacted to a few, I’ve used pretty much the same skincare (Estée Lauder) for about 25 years.

I forgot to take my make up off on Saturday night, so I took it off on Sunday morning instead (I have no idea if this is linked!). Pretty much since then, I’ve developed more and more spots predominantly on my cheeks but some on my forehead too. They’re not enormous, more like small bumps. No head on any of them, but they are slightly red and raised.

What’s making them appear all of a sudden, do you think? I am going to cut down on sugar and raise my water intake, both of which I desperately need to do anyway, but is there more to this than that?

Not mask related - I didn’t wear a mask at all at the start of the week when this started. I’ve washed them all just in cash and washed my phone, ear set and makeup brushes too.

Use a white pillowcase, benzoyl peroxide bleaches things.

Shingles is very painful and you usually see it in immune compromised people like the elderly or auto immune patients.

Thanks for the tip about the pillowcase. I will be careful when I wipe my hands too.

Could be allergic. I got a rash like that with a powder that had cornstarch (zea mays) in.

I think cornstarch can easily harbour bacteria and needs to be specially treated with preservatives.

@grasstreeleaf was that a brand new product that you’d never used before? I also thought it looked like an allergic reaction but I haven’t used any new products on my face at all.

It was but if a cosmetic gets contaminated with bacteria it might cause a rash. Equally it is possible to develop an allergy to something you've used lots of times before.

Hmmmm. I wonder. I suppose it could be any of make up remover, cleanser, serum, moisturiser, primer foundation or blusher on that area of my face.

But I would apply all of those products to my entire face, and it’s only my cheeks (one cheek in particular) and a little of my forehead that have broken out.

It is a mystery!

Do you ever sit at your desk with the side of your head resting in one hand? You might be reacting to a hand gel or cream?

That’s a great suggestion, but no. If I did, it would be on the other side of my face. It’s on the right cheek, and I’m right handed, so usually holding a pen in my right hand.

Don't spend money on cosmetic lotions and potions! Keeping your face clean with a gentle cleanser and moisturiser (and using an spf) is all you normally need to do, from a cosmetic point of view. Go to the GP. They no longer expect you to put up with spots... good luck! I got epiduo, for example, when I had a random outbreak at 42 - never been spotty before, even as a teenager. It sorted it quickly but there are loads of options and they'll need to diagnose it properly.

@bleughhh I was prescribed epiduo this morning and will use it tonight before bed. How long did it take to have any effect for you please?

Update: The cream prescribed by the GP has worked, in that the redness has nearly gone. It is still there, but nowhere like as noticeable, and my skin is less bumpy. It is however incredibly dry, which I suppose is what the cream did, dry the spots up.

Good news.

It’s not drying them out, your not soggy, it’s killing the bacteria and your immune system doesn’t feel the need to attack the pores now.

I’d finish the tube.

Would you go back to using skincare products on top now? I would like to use moisturiser to counter the dryness. I’d also like to use cleanser again - the GP said to just wash with water but I think five days without something more cleansing than that is pushing it …

Yes, I never stopped washing when I had cystic acne.

Thanks - I’m going back to cleanser and moisturiser too. My skin is flaking at the moment.