Please help me. I’m on holiday and my skin has massively broken out - how do I calm this down? Panicking

[tigs123]

I’ve never had this before but I’ve got this and it’s on my forehead too and spreading round my throat, what the hell is this and how do I calm it down? I’m in the US on holiday, just arrived, and it got worse and worse on the flight over. Please anyone. First holiday away me and husband without children and I look disgusting. I want to cry

I had this on holiday once and I think was the sun cream!

I’ve not used anything different apart from being on long haul flight :(

Have you tried an antihistamine first of all?

Take an antihistamine?

I’ll take one now, I’ve been taking them for the last week as my chin was reacting to something and doctor couldn’t tell me what it was but the flight has just made it 1000x worse

Did you spray any perfumes in duty free?

No I didn’t!

Does it look like acne or a reaction? I can’t tell

Apparently post-flight skin breakouts are quite common - it's down to the low humidity in the plane, meaning the air is drier and saps the moisture from your skin. Your skin then overcompensates by producing more oil, which can result in spots.

I was just googling it and there's lots of info on what to do pre-flying - exfoliate your skin so bacteria doesn't get trapped (which causes the spots), drink plenty of water during the flight so you don't get dehydrated, put vaseline on your face to prevent it from drying out etc. But there's not much about what to do about the spots, unfortunately.

A few articles said use a gentle exfoliator to help clear away the trapped dead skin, followed by a light moisturiser. And drink plenty of water.

Really hope it clears up soon. Please don't let it spoil your trip, though - if you wear make up, just put on extra concealer for a few days.

To me it looks like a reaction. Not dissimilar to something I get in my hands, small rashes bumps, itchy. I've always considered it a reaction/heat rash but I'm not sure. Have you tried hydrocortisone cream? I expect it's easily available there.

Get some sudocream if you can

Wash your face and put some calamine lotion on for half an hour ish. Hope it clears up for you.

Looks like an allergic reaction. When I had hives really badly my doctor said I could take one of the one a day antihistamines like cetirizine but then also take piriton syrup every 4 hrs to get it under control if the one a day isn’t working on its own.

If you have been having it for a week and taking anti histamines, then why stop. It is clear you started reacting to something a week ago a d it isn’t the flight.

I just have no clue what I’m reacting to in general, it’s been so out of the blue and was contained to one small area. And then the flight has made it so much worse. I thought because I was going away maybe the reaction would stop but I was v clearly wrong :(

It definitely looks like a reaction. Maybe you can see a pharmacist?

It does not look like allergies and if it spreading while taking antihistamine over a week it is highly unlikely to be allergies.

If you have travel insurance, see a doctor in the US. You will quickly have an answer and a treatment.

I find going on a plane exacerbates anything already wrong - so if I have eczema it gets worse, if I have a slight headache it gets worse, having a bit of a cold feels terrible. Last flight I'd finished my period the day before - got off the plane and it reappeared again for a couple of hours.

Have you tried different types of antihistamines? I would try something different, and maybe sudocrem as suggested by a previous poster. Eat a very simple, gentle diet - if you Google anti-inflammatory diet that will give you the right idea. You could try a hydrocortisone cream if you can get one.

You must still be reacting to whatever caused it a week ago. So you need to control that reaction - bad luck it's while you're on holiday, but it can't be helped. I don't think it's acne necessarily, more an acneic reaction.

Have you used a new cosmetic product recently? Or opened a new one of something previously used? Think outside the box - toothpaste? Gel nails? Doesn't have to be on your face. Or have you eaten anything unusual?

It sounds as if the cabin environment exasperated what was already there. Antihistamines build up in the body over time, so keep taking them at least for the rest of your trip. You can also get Antihistamine creams.

But you are in the States, not a third world country, l suggest you talk to a pharmacist.

Poor you! I’ve had this happen before and it’s no fun. Three ideas: 1. if you have a cvs or walgreens nearby, book online or call for a clinic appt - cheaper and easier than going through insurance etc and really worth it. The clinics are usually staffed by nurse practitioners who can diagnose, prescribe and treat the cause while you’re there AND they can recommend over the counter US brands to help the symptoms. 2. Oil based cleansing - I know it sounds crazy and counter intuitive but if you check online for video tutorials, get ev olive oil and a facecloth / towel to do some oil based cleansing, it helps calm and soften the skin and the steam helps the cysts to calm down and reabsorb if it’s oil without harming if it’s not. 3. Find a Dermalogica spa on their site and then get a mask or a treatment (after the clinic and if the clinician says it’s ok to do so, otherwise look for something you can safely do, at ulta or just a gentle mask from Dermalogica), ulta tends to be great in terms of service / sympathy / knowledge. Lastly, careful with makeup! If you can get a really thick and gentle moisturiser like ponds cold cream or something with probiotics (fat free yogurt even???) you’ll feel better and soothe the skin?? I feel for you. I have sensitive skin and plane journeys really irritate and exacerbate little problems especially as I get older so as a previous poster said, I’ve learned to do crazy amounts of prep before flights but until I figured that out, I’ve been where you are. I hope if you can take a little time out to get help locally, it will all calm down fast, so you can calm down fast and just enjoy your time!

"Antihistamines build up in the body over time, so keep taking them"

No, they don't.

Antihistamines work by blocking histamine receptors. They work within 1 hour max of administration.

1st gen antihistamines are effective for 4-6 hours. 2nd gen antihistamines can be effective up to 24 hours. Both are metabolized in the liver. They do NOT build up in the body. You take a pill, it works for a while, then you need to take another if the allergic reaction continues.

This is exactly what two of my allergic reactions look like. One of these allergies responds to antihistamines, one is a different sort of allergy that does not respond to them. Both reactions are damped down by hydrocortisone ointment, or other steroids. Both are soothed by topical oils, rather than creams.

If you've already been taking antihistamines, and it has got worse, this does not necessarily mean that the AHs are not working or that it's not an allergic reaction. You should try taking more (up to 4 of the one-a-day AHs), or a different AH, or combining different AHs.

Using oil and steam to gently cleanse and soothe your face is an excellent idea. Wash your hands with soap before touching your face.

Personally, in your situation I would take more antihistamines and I would avoid putting anything on my skin other than water, oil (preferably of vegetable origin, not petroleum) and steroid ointment.

If you saw a doctor for this before travelling, it may not be covered by your travel insurance unless you had declared it to the insurers.

Hope your skin calms down soon. I've been in your situation and understand how unpleasant and distressing it is.

Get some Neosporin from a drugstore,it's great stuff. Keep up with eth antihistamines too.

If it continues spreading, if the spots turn into blisters or become pussy, if your face swells or you feel in any way ill, then you need to see a doctor.

I'd definitely see a pharmacist to ask for help. When I get an allergy induced eczema flare they've given me hydrocortisone cream to go with the antihistamines which helps a lot.