Question: I have a question for a dermatologist. Lately my face has been very hypersensitive to everything. It burns and it feels tight, mostly in my lower cheeks. I didn’t do anything different in my skincare, no over exfoliating, and no new skin products. Week of April 11, I started to feel my face getting a little more sensitive day after day. On April 20, I noticed it became extremely hypersensitive. Since then, I have only been washing my face with water because that’s the only thing it can tolerate. I have no rash, no visible signs of irritation. Just a very hypersensitive feeling, a tight feeling, and irritating feeling. I have been moisturizing with La Roche Posay Toleraine Ulta Cream made for hypersensitive skin. I was previously using their Foaming Toleraine Cleanser which maybe it was drying my skin out without me knowing. I have since stopped the cleanser.
I’m not sure what has caused this. Could it be indoor heat that caused further dryness with the Foaming cleanser? Could it be the face masks we have been made to wear because of Covid19? I’m not a healthcare worker so I don’t wear the mask often. Only when I go to grocery store. I do remember in early April, I sprayed perfume on my wrists. Later on in the day, I took a nap on the couch and my head was resting on my arms. Do you think the perfume rubbed off onto my face and ruined my face? I’m so nervous Doctor.
One time a dermatologist told me our skin can go haywire at anytime for no apparent reason.

Do you think I could actually ruined my skin barrier with perfume on my wrists? I’m so nervous. Or skin become hypersensitive from a Foaming cleanser? Indoor heat? Stress? (which my boyfriend thinks it’s from) I have attached a photo of my face so you can see. It’s the lower cheeks, but no visible rash. I do have a pimple but that’s nothing out of the ordinary.
How long does it take for skin barrier or acid mantle to improve?

Thank you!

I have a question for a dermatologist. Lately my face has been very hypersensitive to everything. It burns and it feels tight, mostly in my lower cheeks. I didn’t do anything different in my skincare, no over exfoliating, and no new skin products. Week of April 11, I started to feel my face getting a little more sensitive day after day. On April 20, I noticed it became extremely hypersensitive. Since then, I have only been washing my face with water because that’s the only thing it can tolerate. I have no rash, no visible signs of irritation. Just a very hypersensitive feeling, a tight feeling, and irritating feeling. I have been moisturizing with La Roche Posay Toleraine Ulta Cream made for hypersensitive skin. I was previously using their Foaming Toleraine Cleanser which maybe it was drying my skin out without me knowing. I have since stopped the cleanser.
I’m not sure what has caused this. Could it be indoor heat that caused further dryness with the Foaming cleanser? Could it be the face masks we have been made to wear because of Covid19? I’m not a healthcare worker so I don’t wear the mask often. Only when I go to grocery store. I do remember in early April, I sprayed perfume on my wrists. Later on in the day, I took a nap on the couch and my head was resting on my arms. Do you think the perfume rubbed off onto my face and ruined my face? I’m so nervous Doctor.
One time a dermatologist told me our skin can go haywire at anytime for no apparent reason.

Do you think I could actually ruined my skin barrier with perfume on my wrists? I’m so nervous. Or skin become hypersensitive from a Foaming cleanser? Indoor heat? Stress? (which my boyfriend thinks it’s from) I have attached a photo of my face so you can see. It’s the lower cheeks, but no visible rash. I do have a pimple but that’s nothing out of the ordinary.
How long does it take for skin barrier or acid mantle to improve?

Thank you!

Hi Doctor,

Thank you for responding so quickly. My answer is no, I do not have eczema or asthma, or hay fever, or allergies.

Back on 2014, I did have an episode where I went through a similar thing. I was using strong exfoliating products and my skin started to hurt. It was hypersensitive for about 8 months. And gradually resolved. Since then, I haven’t used any harsh products like acids or retinol or anything like that.

The face was I was previously using was La Roche Toleraine Foaming Cleanser. Made for sensitive skin. It does contain niancimide, however, I am not sure that is a harsh ingredient or not. From about November through this past March, I used Thaylers Alcohol-free Unscented Witch XXXXXXX sparingly. But I haven’t used that since March 8.

Like I said before, I was using La Roche Toleraine Foaming Cleanser. Along with La Roche Toleraine Repair Moisturizer (oil/free, made for combo to oily skin). Since my skin has started to become hypersensitive again, I have stopped using the oil free moisturizer and Foaming cleanser.

Do you think I stripped my skin of moisture and along with the indoor heat, I messed my acid mantle up?

I can’t figure out what would have my skin go haywire right now.

Thank you for your response!

Hi Doctor,

Thank you for responding so quickly. My answer is no, I do not have eczema or asthma, or hay fever, or allergies.

Back on 2014, I did have an episode where I went through a similar thing. I was using strong exfoliating products and my skin started to hurt. It was hypersensitive for about 8 months. And gradually resolved. Since then, I haven’t used any harsh products like acids or retinol or anything like that.

The face was I was previously using was La Roche Toleraine Foaming Cleanser. Made for sensitive skin. It does contain niancimide, however, I am not sure that is a harsh ingredient or not. From about November through this past March, I used Thaylers Alcohol-free Unscented Witch XXXXXXX sparingly. But I haven’t used that since March 8.

Like I said before, I was using La Roche Toleraine Foaming Cleanser. Along with La Roche Toleraine Repair Moisturizer (oil/free, made for combo to oily skin). Since my skin has started to become hypersensitive again, I have stopped using the oil free moisturizer and Foaming cleanser.

Do you think I stripped my skin of moisture and along with the indoor heat, I messed my acid mantle up?

I can’t figure out what would have my skin go haywire right now.

Thank you for your response!

Hi Doctor-
Thank you for your reply.

My skin (primarily my lower cheeks) feel extremely hypersensitive 24/7. Dry and tight. For example, if I smile, it feels like I have a piece of tape on it. However, no signs of dryness and I can see my regular skin oil in it. Is the skin still dry even though I don’t see visible dryness? Can dryness be microscopic?

Also, I understand you said you don’t think it is from the perfume. If for some reason it was, can it cause permanent damage? I’m so nervous.

Also, do you think Vitamin B12 can help with my hypersensitive nerves?
Thank you so much!

Hi Doctor-
Thank you for your reply.

My skin (primarily my lower cheeks) feel extremely hypersensitive 24/7. Dry and tight. For example, if I smile, it feels like I have a piece of tape on it. However, no signs of dryness and I can see my regular skin oil in it. Is the skin still dry even though I don’t see visible dryness? Can dryness be microscopic?

Also, I understand you said you don’t think it is from the perfume. If for some reason it was, can it cause permanent damage? I’m so nervous.

Also, do you think Vitamin B12 can help with my hypersensitive nerves?
Thank you so much!