5 replies to this topic

[Niode]

Okay. So I'm not the brightest person on the planet. Yes, I was on my third day of using BP gel this past Saturday. Yes, I'd read all the online warnings and precautions about possible skin related issues that can arise on the third day. Yes, despite the fact that I read those warnings, I conducted an experiment with BP gel. On the third day. And yes, I hurt myself. Wha'd I do? Prepare to laugh. And learn.

It's Saturday morning and I'm talkin' to the dude on MSN messenger who recommended BP gel to me a couple weeks back. I asked him how long it took for his face to considerably clear up, and he said three months. He then preceded to tell me that after the third month, he came to the conclusion that he wasn't rubbing the BP gel in his skin long enough and as a result, it wasn't doing its job as effictively as it could have been. He then said after he started rubbing it in until it was completely absorbed by his skin, it took him only two weeks to clear up. Good for him. Well, it's better to do things correctly from the beginning, right? I decided to conduct a little experiment of my own and rub it in like my buddy does.

Yeah, I was gentle. Really gentle. But, being the sensitive skinned individual that I happen to be, I really don't think smacking it on could've eased my sufferage. I learned something Saturday night: BP gel can hurt like hell when used unwisely.

Here's what happened: I was standing in front of the bathroom mirror Saturday evening, gently coaxing the BP gel into my skin. All was fine and dandy. After rubbing the gel on the final section of my face (the final section, keep in mind - go figure), I felt an odd sensation begin to spread along my skin where I applied the gel. It was kinda tingly and prickly. As I was in the process of shrugging off this little tingle, the cute little sensation began to burn. Again, nothing to worry about. It's expected. Third day stuff. Then, about half way out of the bathroom, I froze. If my imagination played images in my mirror, my reflected face would have erupted in flames. Big time burning. Holy-crud-face-on-fire-burning. Wow. And ow. Anyway, there happened to be a bottle of moisterizer on the sink. Saved! Squirt squirt, apply apply. Aiiiiiiiii!! If my face really was on fire, I made the mistake of applying gasoline. Seriously uncool. Anyway, as I frantically washed off as much moisterizer as I could, I noticed a bottle of Aloe Vera gel eyeballing me from the sink. Saved! In my haste to cure the burn, I didn't really think to apply it carefully. Squirt squirt, apply apply. Now THAT stuff hurt twice as much as the mostierizer. By now, I'm getting a little ticked off. I mean, come on! My luck couldn't get any worse. By the time I finished rinsing off as much off as I could, my face was rapidly turning a bright pink. Cute. The next day, it was rather blotchy and swollen. Tylenol, ice wrapped in damp towels, and lots of water consumption kept the pain, heat, and swelling at a tolerable level. I'm now on day two (or three, if you're really technical) with a flushed, peeling, but less blotchy face. Take my advice: If you make a mistake with BP gel, wash - it - off. Immediately. Don't add stuff like moisterizer or Aloe Vera gel. At least not right away.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my Saturday evening experience. It was unpleasant enough to the point that I figured at least a few people out there outta get some entertainment or fun out of it.

PS. Any advice for irritated skin?

PSS. I was in the sun for a few hours (an all year record so far) during the day of the above incident. This may have triggered increased sensitivity.

[Dan]

Jez louise.

You have super sensitive skin to benzoyl peroxide. My advice would be to stop using it completely for a week or two. Let your skin return to normal, and then start back up slowly again like you did the past 2 days. Start very slowly. Of course, I probably don't need to tell you that now.

Thanks for sharing your story. Yes, people can get majorly irritated from bp, especially in the first few weeks, so that's why it's so important to start with a small amount and ramp it up slowly.

[Niode]

Thanks for the advice, Dan.

I've actually still been using the BP since the incident. . . The agitated areas are my cheeks and my chin (where I logically ceased BP gel treatment). I haven't had any problems with my forehead, back, or chest. Do you think I should discontinue the usage of BP in the other areas as well even though they were unaffected by sensitivity?

[Dan]

Nah, just discontinue on the areas that are freakin'.

[davâ„®]

Hi,

I empathise with your anecdote. It's probably a more common one than you might think however. I'm sure at some stage, we have all overdosed on BP a little, only to be reminded of our actions shortly after.

However, whilst reading it, ''sun burn!!'' ''sun burn!!'' lept out at me, (probably because I am slightly pinkish myself right now). Then you put a little P.S. at the bottom about your sun exposure on that day .

You may not have been 'lobster red' but my guess is that you were 'sun kissed' a little, and this is what caused your trouble.

Sun burn (even slight) + BP = Stings + Burns

So basically, I hope this episode hasn't put you off BP, because, with the information you have put forward, it doesn't really sound as though you are necessarily allergic to it or anything, more, just experiencing the tribulations it brings.

Also, if you rubbed it all in properly, (sounds like you did) there is no way you could have applied too much. You know when you apply too much, it simply doesn't absorb.

Good luck.

[Niode]

Thanks, both of you, for the advice. It's a great help, and I'm definitely gonna be more careful in the future.