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Skin & Hair Concerns
Question #18370
71 days ago
115

bleaching facial - #18370

Arnav

I am kinda freaking out here. The other day I decided to try bleaching facial products because my skin was feeling so dull and I saw all these rave reviews online. At first, it seemed fine, but now I've got these weird patches and my skin feels super sensitive. Like, I even followed the instructions closely, but I maybe left it on a little too long? I don’t really know!! I thought bleaching facial products would brighten my skin, not make it worse. Plus, I read somewhere that over-bleaching can mess up your skin’s barrier, which is terrifying. I have some redness around my cheeks, and they feel kinda hot to the touch. Is this normal after using a bleaching facial? Should I just stop using it completely, or is there something I can do to fix or soothe my skin? I’ve been putting aloe on, but honestly, it doesn’t feel like enough. Has anyone else had this reaction? How long until my skin calms down, or should I see a dermatologist? Just feeling super lost right now and any advice would really help! Thx!!

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Doctors' responses

It sounds like your skin is having an adverse reaction to the facial bleaching product. This isn’t entirely uncommon, especially if the product was left on too long or if your skin is sensitive or has any previous conditions. The symptoms like redness, hotness, and sensitivity indeed suggest your skin barrier might be compromised. First off, yes, halt the usage of the bleaching product immediately. Continuing to use it will likely worsen the irritation and delay healing. Focus instead on repairing and soothing your skin barrier. Aloe vera is a good start, but you might also want to incorporate a gentle, hydrating moisturizer that’s free of fragrances and alcohol, which can further irritate your skin. Consider using products containing ceramides and hyaluronic acid, they are excellent at repairing and hydrating the skin barrier.

Avoid any harsh or active ingredients like retinoids, acids, or exfoliants for now, as they can exacerbate the irritation. Keep your skincare routine simple. The redness and sensitivity should start to improve within a few days, but it can take a week or more for the skin to fully calm down, depending on the severity of the irritation. If things don’t improve in a few days or if they worsen — like increased redness, pain or blistering — it’s important to see a dermatologist. They can provide professional treatments or advice that may prevent long-term damage. Further, if the aloe isn’t helping, over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream might offer temporary relief from the inflammation, but use it sparingly and not beyond a week without professional guidance. Make sure you’re gentle when washing your face, use lukewarm water, and pat your skin dry—don’t rub. And wear a good sunscreen daily to protect your skin from further irritation. Your skin doesn’t react the same way as what online testimonials might suggest, so it’s also a lesson in using patches tests in the future with new products.

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