I thought I can stay away from blogging for a while but I missed blogging! Couldn’t even stay hiatus for more than a few day gosh 😀

I bet you have now heard about what happen to BunBun Makeup Tips. Her skin allergy reminds me very much about what happened to me December last year. If you are new to this lil blog, you might want to check this post out. Warning – Ugly picture ahead! Before I found out about BunBun Makeup Tips I already planned this topic in my editorial calendar that somehow was delayed. I wanted to talk about skin allergy and how I overcome it based on my own experience. Who else in a better position to talk about this if not me as I had been through one severe allergy and one near-severe allergy. I might missed a few points which you might know that I don’t know so please be kind 🙂

Many of you are aware of my first encounter to skin allergy…a severe one too. What you didn’t know is that I had a second attack which is on a smaller scale that I managed to counter fight. My skin was super sensitive to my then current skin care products after the allergy thus the second allergy attack. I went to the wrong doctor on my first skin allergy. It was a skin clinic that only prescribe me with anti-itch meds and a very small jar of cream which didn’t even last me as long as they think it should be. It took me nearly a month to fully recover. On the second attack which is in January this year I went to a normal doctor instead. Because I was needed to attend an event representing my company, that is the only clinic I know that still operate at that hour. The best part is they accept my company’s AIA medical card. I’ll talk about this awesome doctor later in this post. Some facts on skin allergy shall we?

What is skin allergy? Why do you get skin allergy?

In a nutshell, allergies is a condition characterized by an overreaction of the immune system to protein substances. These can be either inhaled, ingested, touched or injected  that do not cause an overreaction in non-allergic people. Skin allergies occur when your skin comes into contact with an irritant to which your skin is either sensitive or allergic to. It is estimated that about 80% of skin reactions are caused by direct contact with a harsh, irritating, or damaging chemical. Other types of allergies to food or inhaled substances may also cause symptoms to appear on the skin in the form of a rash, hives, or dermatitis.

What are the symptoms of skin allergy?

Not all rashes that itch are related to skin allergies. There are a few common ones that you need to be aware of.

(1) Urticaria aka Hives
Urticaria also commonly known as Hives is a condition where itchy rash occur. The rashes appears as raised reddish bumps that resembles bee hive surface comes in various shape and sizes or even the whole face where irritation occur. When you have Hives on your face you can barely feel your own touch as the skin is slightly thicker since it is raised. These Hives can last from a few minutes to hours or even days. In my case it is near to 2 weeks. It is also extremely itchy., commonly called hives, is an itchy rash that can occur at any age. This rash appears as raised red bumps of various shapes and sizes, and typically lasts for only minutes to hours. While it can be very itchy but one will not feel the scratch so some people tend to scratch and scratch until the skin bleeds.

(2) Angioedema aka Swelling
In some Hives cases you can still get Angioedema. This swelling normally involves the lips, eyes, hands and feet. Angioedema is not itchy like Hives but it you will feel the burn or sting or maybe tingling sensation. This Angioedema is dangerous. A severe case can block you from breathing so it is life-threatening.

(3) Contact dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is caused from skin contact with a substance that causes a rash-like reaction. People react to a variety of chemicals that include cosmetics, hair dye, metals, topical medications and dental materials. Contact dermatitis rash may look like atopic dermatitis (eczema) but the rash is typically located only in the area of contact with the said chemical that you are allergic to. Common locations include the face, especially the eyelids, neck, hands and feet. Contact dermatitis to metals, such as in jewelry or snaps/buttons/zippers on clothing, commonly occurs on the neck, wrists/hands, earlobes and at the waistline.

What do you do when you discover you have skin allergy?

BE PANIC. Be scared. It is normal to react that way. You should be panicking. It is your face! After you are done with the panicking, googling and accepting reality phase, go to see doctor and get allergy medication immediately. When I first had it I tried googling for more info and solution but there are none. 99% information that I get was like oh I get skin allergy and that’s about it. There are no cause, solution, remedies for case study at all. Which is why I decided to write about this post. Very severe one will need immediate injection but for my first case I was only prescribed with a cream for day and night use, anti-itch med for day and a different anti-itch med for night. What I didn’t know is that I actually need anti-allergy medication. I was told by the skin doctor that once the Hives and the itch is gone the allergy will be gone too. Boy was the doctor so wrong I tell you. That was so not true. If you encounter a doctor that said the same to you, by all mean defend yourself and demand for anti-allergy medication. It was my first time back then and now I know what to ask for.

Change your skin care

During this time your skin will be extremely dry. Can you imagine my skin is oily and when I had skin allergy my face was so dry and tight that I can’t even smile or even open my mouth to eat. When you have skin allergy the skin layer is drier than usual therefore you will need to replenish the moisture level. I find that my usual hydrating cream/moisturizer stings my face. You must remember that the skin is extremely sensitive too so all skin care that are with chemical could do more harm than good. I was suggested to try the brand Simple. It is alcohol free, light but moisturizing enough for the face.

I have to mention that I get both Urticaria (Hives) and Angioedema (Swelling). It is so painful and itchy. My whole face is burning hot at the same time as well. In between work and Simple skin care before sleep, I apply 2 full pump of Marula Oil. It helps to cool down my face and provide all the necessary hydrating needed. Marula Oil also contain healing properties. I believe this oil speeds up the healing process of the skin allergy. Too bad I started using by 2nd week because I was in so much pain in the 1st week that I do not dare to apply anything other than what was prescribed by the doctor.

Second Skin Allery

Just when I have my “face” back I was slapped with another allergy attack. I think what trigger this attack is because my skin is still in it’s fragile state and I was already back to the usual skin care products. I knew I had allergy when I notice that I keep scratching the outer part of my face while driving to work. I could remember vividly the symptom and I knew I was doomed. As I saw my face turning pink I quickly walk to Guardian and get medication off the counter. I googled and read that Zyrtec can help with skin allergy. The meds didn’t work at all and I had to stand all the itch and pain until night as I was needed to attend an event for the company. I could have just go home to see doctor because I was so not in the mood and feeling low self-confident because my face was in maroon color by night that I sit all night long.

I rushed home to the only clinic I knew that is still open. It is not a skin doctor but a normal doctor. I couldn’t be bothered anymore as it’s really painful. Let’s just say I was quite happy and pleased with the visit. When I first saw the doctor I was reluctant to tell him my problem because he is very young. Almost too young to be a doctor. I kept thinking a young doctor like that never encounter skin allergy like this before :P. He asked if I would want fast immediate result by giving me an injection and I said no. It was a smaller attack comparing to the first one so I thought I can survive this. Plus it’s the weekend so I will have 2 days to cure my face. The young doctor told me what he will prescribe me and I make sure I ask for all the meds that I need…a few times in fact. I told him to give me a big jar of cream and he laughed. He said he will give me a lotion. I insisted on cream and he said he will gave me that if I want to. I refused the lotion but he insist that I take the lotion because it cools the burning on my face and at the same time cures it. This time I repeatedly ask for anti-allergy meds and anti-itch meds. He confidently told me that my face will be back to normal by tomorrow afternoon and he’s very sure of that.

This is what I was given. I wanted to show you this because this combo works like magic. I was prescribed with a bottle of lotion, anti-itch (in packet), Decan (anti-allergy), Ceritec (anti-itch) and a jar of cream.

The doctor said that his lotion is sufficient but I also insisted on a cream. I couldn’t stand the itch. This topical prescription may look a bit odd as it’s in pink but it works like a charm.

The lotion is to be applied before bed. At first I was a bit skeptical to put this on my face but I guess when you are feeling hopeless you will just put on whatever it is that the doctor gave eh? This pink lotion is cooling but at the same time tighten and harden on my face like clay mask. The only difference is that this require no rinsing off. Despite not able to move a muscle on my face when the lotion hardens, the itch stopped immediately. Amazing. I fell asleep almost immediately after that.

The cream that I insisted to have is to be applied on day time. I applied this cream right before makeup. Yes I still need to put on base makeup because the next day I need to attend Arty Professional launch event 🙂

Having a face that never reacted to allergy before, I felt hopeless and low self-confident probably due to the redness on the face. The first attack was the hardest for me because it is quite severe and I was totally clueless about what to do. I have heard friends having allergy attack many times but experiencing it myself is totally different. The most important lesson that I learnt after the experience is to do a 24 hours patch test on products that I needed to try out for review regardless cosmetics or skin care especially and to find a really good doctor. A skin doctor or dermatologist is recommended but in my case? A normal doctor is way better than the skin doctor that I visited.

One important thing to take note is that regardless how much pain and itch you are in there is absolutely no way to speed up the recovery no matter how much you wanted it to. Your face will be reacting differently from your desire. All you can do is to take medication on time, avoid all skin care and makeup if possible and hydrate the skin with alcohol-free moisturizer. I strongly suggest Marula Oil as the healing properties from the oil will keep your skin hydrated and heals everything faster.