For people with sensitive skin, using a new face cream can result in a scaly, burning rash -- a reaction known as contact dermatitis. Avoiding the substance that created the reaction is the basis of treatment. However, since a laundry list of irritants can be the cause, it might be tough to identify the offender. Talk to a dermatologist if you believe your face cream is causing a rash.
Contact Dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is an inflammatory skin condition that occurs when an irritating substance affects the skin, causing a noncontagious rash. The severity of the rash varies, based on the duration of the exposure, a person's skin sensitivity and the type of irritant. In some cases, a rash may take several weeks or months to develop, particularly with low-level irritants such as face creams. This means, you can be using your cream without side effects for quite some time. On the other hand, if your skin is highly sensitive to a substance in your face cream, you can see an immediate outbreak. When it comes to products, solutions and gels often are more irritating than ointments and creams, according to DermNet.
Diagnosis
Doctors diagnose contact dermatitis a number of ways. In some cases, a medical history and simple skin exam are all that is necessary. Other times, a doctor has to perform patch tests to discover the skin's sensitivity to a certain substance. This involves placing various potential irritants on the back. The results might not be reliable because facial skin likely is more sensitive than the skin on a person's back.
Treatment
The starting point for treatment of a rash caused by face cream is to discontinue using the product and avoid all others with the same ingredients. If you can do this, your rash likely will disappear within two to four weeks, according to MayoClinic.com. Moisture helps increase the skin's resiliency by improving the barrier function. A soothing skin emollient cream might therefore be helpful. Products with perfumes could be bothersome, however. Ask your dermatologist about the best product for your face.
Warnings
Although you may be tempted to scratch your itchy skin rash, avoid touching it as much as possible. The short-term relief you'll feel is not worth the risk of infection, which can happen when bacteria and fungi grow beneath broken layers of the skin. If your itching is chronic and difficult to manage, ask your doctor about prescription over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams or oral medications to reduce your symptoms.
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