Itchy face, no rash? « Back to Group Discussions

[Astraia]

So i've got some weird rash thing going on.... The whole lower half of my face (starting around my nostrils, moving down below my chin and jaw line, out around my ears and my ears as well) is FREAKING itchy. Insanely itchy, but painful at the same time. I can feel the skin pulling when i talk or smile, and if I touch it or wash my face (just water) it stings. I think it's a continuation of the same rash I had on my lips- where they were insanely chapped, then the rash moved to around my lips and itched, stung, and peeled, and now it's just migrating.

My skin feels dry- to me, anyway- and just ever so slightly pink. The skin feels slightly raised, to me at least. My ears look pink and maybe a tiny bit swollen. After looking at me really carefully my husband could tell that I wasn't itchy on my forehead since it's the normal colour but that could just be because I'm rubbing at my face a lot.

I took an antihistamine last night, since it feels like the time I suddenly developed a skin allergy to a laundry detergent, but didn't notice any difference. I haven't changed detergents or changed how I eat in a long time. The only thing that has helped is when I liberally slather my face in coconut oil.

Any idea what's going on? Anyone else get strange rashes?

[Astraia]

Uh-oh. I'm itchy under my eye now, too :/ Bah humbug!

[Kamiro]

Grace, how are you feeling now? I didn't see this thread until today....

[forestmushroom]

are you hands and feet itchy, too?  Or any other part of you?

[Astraia]

No other part of me, just my face.

My face rash has subsided somewhat- I'm not horrendously itchy, just sort of itchy in a few spots (jaw line, around my ears, around my lips) but my skin is very red and feels dry but not flakey or peeling.

My lips are brutal, they look and feel absolutely awful. They hurt and itch all the time and are peeling so badly, all the way around my lips. The corners of my mouth are cracked and bleeding. 

Also wondering if it's somehow moved into my mouth? The insides of my mouth around my lips feel like the skin is thinner or something like that, and all my food tastes different. The midwife suggested a vitamin B deficiency and/or excema, to use some olive oil on my face and eat more brown rice. I dunno. So far I am unhappy with doctor ("here's some cortisone cream") and the midwife- I'm taking a b-vitamin, and I'm slathering on lotions and lip chaps with no change (all natural, home made- beeswax, coconut oil, etc)

[MeredithA]

Have you tried a soothing oatmeal mask? I would try that and if it doesn't bring any relief, I would get to a dermatologist. especially if you're not happy with the doctor or midwife's suggestions. I am a wimp when it comes to my face though. I can handle rashes/pain/irritations pretty much anywhere but if my face/neck is impacted I can't stand it. (this is probably why the terrible 1st-2nd trimester acne seemed so unbearable to me!) 

[Astraia]

I hadn't tried an oatmeal mask, so I went and whipped one up. Holy S#$%$ did it ever make the raw area around my mouth sting. I managed to keep it on about 3 minutes and then had to get it off.

Very strange.

[JynxGirl]

:( I really hope you find out what is causing this! It sounds horridly uncomfortable to say the least.

[Astraia]

I'm putting coconut oil on my face now. I tried it once a day and it wasn't making a difference, but yesterday after I tried the oatmeal mask I put some on to try to soothe my skin and it absorb almost instantly in the dry-skin areas but stayed oily on the rest of my face, so I put more on.. and then more... I think I put it on 6 times yesterday, and my skin is definitely feeling better. I'm rubbing it around and into my lips as well and they look like they are starting to heal *knock on wood.*

My husband came home late last night and looked at me and said, "wow your face looks terrible, especially your lips. How can you even talk?" That sad part is that I was seeing a huge improvement, especially in my lips.

[MeredithA]

omg i am sorry the oatmeal mask was so bad!! glad the coconut oil is bringing a little relief 

[Astraia]

So I thought things were improving... but then I asked someone at work what he would do for skin irritation (he's a homeopath who works for consistent income) and he told me to try sea buckthorn oil topically so I did. OMG, awful. It made it feel better initially, then around my lips got really itchy and inflamed, my lips nearly doubled in size and now around my lips is open and wet and oozing. Itching now in all the places I didn't before- definite rash, just like before, now around my eyes and under my jaw/down my neck. So itchy I can't sleep- again.

I'm about ready to scratch my freaking lips off, this is ridiculous.

[forestmushroom]

Originally Posted by Astraia 

So I thought things were improving... but then I asked someone at work what he would do for skin irritation (he's a homeopath who works for consistent income) and he told me to try sea buckthorn oil topically so I did. OMG, awful. It made it feel better initially, then around my lips got really itchy and inflamed, my lips nearly doubled in size and now around my lips is open and wet and oozing. Itching now in all the places I didn't before- definite rash, just like before, now around my eyes and under my jaw/down my neck. So itchy I can't sleep- again.

I'm about ready to scratch my freaking lips off, this is ridiculous.

Have you spoken to your midwife about this? Has she eliminated possible liver issues, etc. with a blood test?  I hope you feel better soon!

[Astraia]

Yes, midwife said it just looks like a normal ecema type rash and I should increase my vitamin B and put olive oil on my skin to relieve the itching.

[Astraia]

Didn't do blood work though... liver issues can cause skin issues?

[LinnieThree]

My goodness Grace- I feel awful for you! This just sounds terrible. I have no suggestions but I just want you to know that I am thinking about you and I am sending a virtual hug. Please keep us updated. I would probably want a blood test at this point... eek!

[rozziemama]

OMG I am so so sorry you are dealing with this!! how awful.

This isn't PUPPS or whatever that's called is it?

I'm sure the midwife would have known if it was, but that's what all the itchiness makes me think of. Really really sorry, mama. I hope it gets better soon! Damn pregnancy symptoms.

[Astraia]

I think I've got it figured out... It wasn't until the swelling and redness and everything else went down that I could really see what it was, but it's called dyshidrotic eczema. I had it on my hand and saw a few dr's to get it figured out because it was so ridiculously itchy. When you google plain eczema or talk to people with eczema it doesn't sound the same, so I was baffled. I have tiny little fluid-filled blisters that rise to the surface and are painful but itchy as they're rising. About the size of a pinhead. Then they burst at the surface, the skin gets super flakey and peely, painful, bleeding, etc and as soon as you think it's starting to get better the bubbles start to show up again. It started under my rings when the weather was really really hot mid-summer and slowly spread to cover a good chunk of my hand.

They can't do anything for it, really. Cortisone cream during out breaks (or other steroid creams). It's usually on your hands or feet but can occur anywhere.

So THIS is what's on my face. I think it was triggered by my super dry, chapped lips. When it was on my hand the only thing I found that helped was the homeopathic tissue salts #9, so I'm taking that in massive doses and trying REALLY hard not to touch my face.

[forestmushroom]

Originally Posted by Astraia 

Didn't do blood work though... liver issues can cause skin issues?

It is rare, but can happen during pregnancy.  It is usually on skin that isn't stretching (so not the belly or the boobs,) but on the hands and feet, especially. If you have intense itching it could be a sign of a rare-ish condition where the liver isn't functioning properly.

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/cholestasispregnancy.html

While it isn't totally common, it is good to get it checked out because it can be serious. 

I hope you get it resolved, soon!  Sounds painful. ((Hugs))

[Astraia]

Yikes, that's freaking me out a bit... and I'm quite sure it's not that. It's definitely presenting now exactly like the eczema I had before (which actually started about this time in my last pregnancy but didn't get really bad until last summer), and now that the little fluid blister things have pretty much disappeared I'm just dealing with the leftover flaking and dry skin all over my face and jaw. Pure shea butter with vitamin E, lots and lots of lipchap and coconut oil are making huge difference in how my skin feels.

Although now I'm developing a rash on my belly... so far it's not the same thing. Looks like I'm allergic to anything tight and non-cotton (which cuts back my number of wearable t-shirts to 2 and pants down to the under-belly elastic maternity pants which I HATE because they won't stay up!)

[forestmushroom]

Originally Posted by Astraia 

Yikes, that's freaking me out a bit... and I'm quite sure it's not that. It's definitely presenting now exactly like the eczema I had before (which actually started about this time in my last pregnancy but didn't get really bad until last summer), and now that the little fluid blister things have pretty much disappeared I'm just dealing with the leftover flaking and dry skin all over my face and jaw. Pure shea butter with vitamin E, lots and lots of lipchap and coconut oil are making huge difference in how my skin feels.

Although now I'm developing a rash on my belly... so far it's not the same thing. Looks like I'm allergic to anything tight and non-cotton (which cuts back my number of wearable t-shirts to 2 and pants down to the under-belly elastic maternity pants which I HATE because they won't stay up!)

I had something similar early in this pregnancy from my socks-- they made my skin terribly itchy, and then little red rashes/pin blister type deals broke out.  Skin can be so weird, especially when it is cold and then warm, yk?

I hope it goes away soon!  Might be worth asking the midwife about again... man you shouldn't have to deal with that at this point in pregnancy!