Benzoyl peroxide allergy?

[teachermom2834]

My 16 yo dd has great skin and by some wonder she made it to 16 before she discovered she could not use benzoyl peroxide. She has hardly ever had acne and when she has had a pimple I have usually dabbed a bit of whatever I had on hand on it. I have a variety of benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid products. The other day she had a breakout of several pimples on her chin and I had her use a couple different products all over and she had a major reaction. Ended up in urgent care where the medical assistant and nurse practitioner did the whole “we have never seen anything like this before” routine. It really was horrific - yellow scaly skin all over the lower half of her face. Awful. Poor baby. 

Steroids are clearing it up but I’m a little baffled as to what actually happened. I am thinking it was benzoyl peroxide as I know she used that and probably hasn’t much before. I am sure I also had her use a salicylic acid product but her cleanser has that in it (though lower concentration?) and I know for sure I have spot treated her with that before. But maybe never over a large patch of skin? 
 

The nurse practitioner told me to get her to a dermatologist right away to get her on something to deal with her acne and prevent breakouts so this doesn’t happen again. I understand but she is 16 and has never had a breakout. I’m not putting her on daily medication for a problem she doesn’t have. By the time we go to a dermatologist she will be cleared up and I don’t know what the dermatologist will do for us. I’m willing to take her (this situation was horrific- I’d do anything to prevent it happening again) but my experience with dermatologists has been a total bust and my confidence that one can help me when I take her in once this is resolved is close to nothing. 
 

So all this to ask has anyone else dealt with something like this? The only product she uses is a Cerave Acne Control Cleanser once a day that has salicylic acid in it and that has never been a problem. Are there more natural products for prevention/treatment that anyone has used? 

I am planning to take her to a dermatologist, so please don’t misunderstand and tell me to take her to a dermatologist. I just have never had satisfactory results from any weird skin issue from one and who knows how long it will take to get an appointment that works for her, etc. 

[Jaybee]

I never had a reaction to it when I was a teen and early 20s, but when I had allergy testing a couple of years ago, it showed up as an allergy. I think the person to take her to would be an allergist.

[Katy]

When I googled, “yellow scaly skin reaction to peroxide” and clicked images, I see some with the same description that are labeled allergy. 

I didn’t realize you could have a true allergy to something that’s an acid, not a protein. But that’s what it looks like to me. If I were you I’d keep the appointment even if it does get better. Because a dermatologist appointment is hard to get if it doesn’t improve, and because if a kid is having that kind of reaction to something, the dermatologist is probably going to have helpful knowledge about other ingredients to avoid. 

[MercyA]

My general practitioner prescribes my daughter's tretinoin / Retin-A cream. Your daughter could use the lowest concentration on any potentially problematic areas. It works as a preventative, not a treatment. 

I don't think a doctor is likely to prescribe oral meds in your daughter's case. 

[Forget-Me-Not]

Benzoyl peroxide gave me a rash that looked like a sunburn. 

[wintermom]

I'd avoid all "products" on the face for now, and just wash with water - especially if she doesn't normally have large breakouts. Also, as much as possible, avoid squeezing anything. IME, most OTC stuff seems to just want to dry up the area. You really don't want the pores filled with gunk.

[klmama]

Since it will have cleared up before she's seen, take good photos to share with the dermatologist.  Up close photos of each cheek, chin, forehead, nose.  And one of the full face.

Edited July 12 by klmama

[kbutton]

I second seeing an allergist.

As for “natural” products, they can be fine, but they are not as likely to be hypoallergenic as something made in a lab with testing. A lot of natural stuff has herbs and botanicals that people are allergic too.

That said, some people swear by rose hydrosol as a facial toner. I use rose soap on my face (South of France). I avoid soaps with clay because they are too drying. I used to use tea tree oil soap (Soapworks after Trader Joe’s stopped carrying theirs), and I still use it if I am out of rose soap, or I’ve been really sweaty. Other brands I tried have also been too drying.