What Is This Thing On My Face?

I have a lot of customers who come in asking for a cream to help with the dry, flaky and slightly itchy patches of skin on their face. Most of the time when the skin is itchy it means you have some form of dermatitis.What is dermatitis? There are two types.Irritant contact dermatitis is the most common type. This nonallergic skin reaction occurs when a substance damages your skin's outer protective layer. Some people react to strong irritants after a single exposure to items like solvents, bleaches, pesticides and the like. You likely came into contact with the irritant and touched your face. The sensitive skin on your face reacted and broke out in the patches. 

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 A cream can help to soothe the skin, but it isn’t likely to help the problem go away. I generally suggest trying a one percent hydrocortisone cream for a few days. If the issue persists or worsens, it’s best to consult a doctor. Hydrocortisone is a steroid, and topical steroids can cause thinning of the skin. Obviously, consistent use on the face is not advised.Allergic contact dermatitis occurs when a substance to which you're sensitive (like an allergen) triggers an immune reaction in your skin. It usually affects only the area that came into contact with the allergen. But it may be triggered by something that enters your body through foods, flavorings, medicine, or medical or dental procedures. 

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 Whether caused by irritant or an allergic reaction, the problem should get better on its own within a couple of weeks. If it doesn’t, it’s possible that the rash has become infected by bacteria and will require an anti-biotic.