Nasty rash.... what could have caused it?

[MissMillie]

This morning I woke up, and my face is all red and splotchy. It itches like crazy.

I bought a new facial wash on Friday and used it twice, but had no problem with a rash when I woke up on Sunday.

A friend made me dinner last night. He had a lot of spices out, but I don't know which ones.

Do you think it's the wash, or the food?

Or even stress... there was a big, nasty family blow-out on Saturday, and I've been upset about it ever since.

[SaveElmer]

1. Sounds alot like a food allergy

Have you ever had trouble with MSG ? Pretty typical allergen...used alot in Chinese food.

[thisismyboomstick3]

2. Either that or Roscecia

Are you of Irish, English or Scottish decent?

[MissMillie]

4. 25% English

but I've never had Roscecia before.... does it just spring up one week after you turn 40?

[daisygirl]

3. Could be stress, but I'd bet on the new facial wash

A lot of times if I'm going to have a reaction to something I put on my face, it takes a couple of days to happen. If it's got anything drying or anti-acne in it I'd be especially suspicious of it...

Hope it gets better soon! Maybe a little hydrocortisone might make it feel better?

[MissMillie]

5. it was anti-acne

Because, of course, turning 40 isn't hard enough.... but imagine gray hair, hot flashes AND acne.

[daisygirl]

8. It just isn't fair - my mom always told me once I was out of my teens

that I'd stop having trouble with acne. That was soooo not true...

Anything anti-acne tends to give me a splotchy rash, kinda like what you described, and flaky skin. I've had a lot of luck with Cetaphil (the gentle formula) - you wouldn't think it'd be good for acne-prone skin since it's so gentle and doesn't even suds up, but it's worked a lot better for me than the harsher stuff.

[rucky]

6. I vote for stress

that's what does it to me.

[On the Road]

7. Any Pieces of Clothing Missing Lately?

My Central American cleaning lady developed a bad rash, and attributed it to the fact that something on her clothesline went missing. She believes an enemy of hers took it and used it to practice voodo on her.

(Who knows -- could be true.) :)

[MissMillie]

9. Well, I don't have a clothesline

but I gave away a lot of clothes when I moved back in May.

[On the Road]

10. Aha! Like Most Donated Clothes, They Were Probably Sold in Africa

where voodoo is widespread. Probably someone striking out at whoever donated that horrible shirt. :)

[calico1]

11. I'd say its probably the new face wash.

It can take a few days of using a new product before an allergic or sensitive reaction to show up. I'd stop using it for a few days and see what happens. I also have noticed that after 40 my skin definitely has become more sensitive so I have to be real careful of what I use on it. Just another one of the joys of aging. :eyes:

[DaveFL99]

12. Necrotising Fasciitis or Streptococcal Gangrene

Sounds like about the way they start. You'll know soon enough.