What does a facial allergy look like? Causes. Facial skin care.

What does an allergy look like?

Most often, an allergic reaction on the skin of the face manifests itself as a red rash, accompanied by itching. Also, allergic skin can manifest itself as a burning pain or a strong tingling sensation in the area of ​​​​the skin, appearing a few seconds after applying cosmetics or a skin care product. It may be accompanied by swelling and the appearance of blisters (hives), resembling mosquito bites. Without proper care and treatment, allergic inflammation leads to swelling of the sebaceous glands and clogged pores, which can subsequently result in a pustular rash. In addition, skin allergies include a number of allergic conditions, such as atopic dermatitis, eczema, contact dermatitis, and urticaria.

Atopic dermatitis is a skin disease that tends to begin in the first years of life, localizing primarily on the skin of the face, but can spread to other areas of the body. If skin inflammation persists into old age, itchy rashes, constant scratching, and friction can lead to increased skin texture and thickening (lichenification), as well as abnormal pigmentation, which is especially noticeable in the elbows and behind the knees.

Eczema - its lesions can appear on various areas of the skin, including the face. The rash causes intense itching, presents as redness, vesicular eruptions, weeping pinpoint wounds, cracks, and scaling. These symptoms can be very distressing and often require a visit to a dermatologist.

Urticaria is an itchy rash that can occur at any age and can be acute (lasting less than six weeks) or chronic (lasting more than six weeks). This rash appears as swelling of the skin with firm, red or flesh-colored raised bumps (wheals). Blisters can vary in shape and size and typically last from a few minutes to a few hours.

Contact dermatitis can be caused by an irritant or an allergen. A rash and inflammation of the skin occurs when the skin comes into direct contact with a substance that causes a reaction, such as cosmetics, hair dye, household chemicals, metal objects (especially those containing nickel), topical medications, or woolen clothing. Symptoms of a facial allergy may include a red rash, localized swelling of the skin, itching, or flaking, usually observed only in the area of ​​contact with the irritant.

Furthermore, an allergy may manifest on the face as angioedema. This causes severe and rapid swelling of the cheeks, lips, and area around the eyes, which may be accompanied by itching, burning, or tingling. If the larynx becomes swollen, breathing may be blocked, requiring immediate medical attention and a life-threatening condition (anaphylaxis).

Allergic facial skin: what causes skin allergies?

Allergic facial skin is a reaction to usually harmless substances such as wool, pollen, cosmetics, plants, etc. The immune system reacts to this trigger as hostile and foreign, causing an inflammatory response to remove it from the body.

The causes of skin allergies are still being studied, but new research show that both genetic factors and negative environmental factors can contribute to damage to the surface layer of the skin. This can lead to the development of eczema and other skin allergies later in life.

The most common causes that can lead to skin allergies

Some people know their allergy triggers, while others have difficulty identifying the source of the problem. In this case, they should undergo allergy testing. Indeed, not all allergic reactions have an obvious cause. For example, prolonged sun exposure can lead to dermatitis, but it can also be caused by taking medications that increase the skin's sensitivity to sun radiation.

How to cope with allergic skin?

Skin allergy symptoms may improve on their own or disappear after a period of treatment, and the best strategy for allergy prevention is to avoid allergens and trauma to the skin. To do this, you can use the following tips.

- Avoid vigorous friction of the skin surface, such as scratching or washing with a rough washcloth.

- Avoid too hot showers or baths.

- Do not apply too much cream and avoid heavy makeup.

- Limit the consumption of foods containing a lot of sugar, food additives, spices and preservatives.

- Avoid eating highly allergenic foods.

- When leaving the house, apply special care products to limit the exposure of harmful substances to the skin of the face, and also protect it from the sun.

- Wash blankets, pillows and towels regularly.

- If you have an allergy to cosmetics, test new products on the skin of the inner surface of the forearm before using them.

- If the cause of the allergy is still unknown, you should get into the habit of writing down every day products, medications, and cosmetics that have been and are being used in the past. This can significantly facilitate the identification of allergy triggers.

Choosing a cream for allergy-prone skin

But the most important thing is the daily use of products specially designed for skin prone to allergies. They quickly and effectively soothe the skin, create a protective barrier against negative external factors, and also moisturize it.

For example:

- Thoroughly cleanse the skin with special products containing a complex of mild surfactants that support the natural protective barrier of the skin and do not irritate it, for example, the Allersain Librederm cleansing gel-care for washing.

- During the day, you should apply an intensive soothing face cream for allergenic skin, which will help restore the barrier function of the skin, soothe and soften it.

- In the evening, use a highly active night cream, which will reduce the hyperreactivity of irritated skin and ensure its effective recovery during sleep.

Recommendations for using face cream for allergenic skin

- If an allergic reaction and skin irritation have led to the appearance of inflammatory rashes or you have oily / combination reactive skin, then Choose a cream that not only reduces sensitivity to allergens but can also have a beneficial effect on the microbiome, restore the skin's immune function and barrier integrity, allowing it to remain moisturized without leaving an oily shine. An example of such a product is Allersain Librederm, a light moisturizing cream for sensitive, normal, and combination skin.

In some cases, with a severe or long-term allergic reaction, a consultation with a dermatologist is necessary, who, in addition to medical care, will prescribe the correct treatment. 

Explains the expert, dermatologist, cosmetologist, candidate of medical sciences, associate professor of the department of dermatovenereology and cosmetology of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Professional Education "Central State Medical Academy" of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation, scientific director of DEKA Laser Russia Evgeniya Vladimirovna Ikonnikova.