Looking for ways on how to treat a chemical burn on face from skincare? Well! It can be a scary subject but we have you covered with the best solutions!
Skincare can be tough, but what is worse is issues related to skincare techniques. From trying new products to using natural remedies, achieving that perfect skin has never been easy.
Not every product will suit the skin type and can damage more than repair. These lead to chemical burns on the face along with many other problems. If you have faced such a problem, read along to learn how to treat chemical burn on face from skincare.
Cosmetic products can enhance your look for a short time, but it is essential to ensure that they match your skin type. Finding it can take a lot of trials and errors but should not be ignored.
Even if the ingredient list boasts the finest quality products, they might not be perfect for you. It may lead to allergies and irritations on the face if it doesn’t. Some may even lead to chemical burns.
The most common skincare chemicals are glycolic, lactic, or salicylic acid. Such chemicals are commonly used in most skincare products. However, if not used wisely, they can damage the skin.
The products with substantial quantities of acid can cause chemical burns on the skin. These could be a result of the acid itself or improper use. If an acidic product is left on too long or used frequently, it may lead to chemical burns. These burns can also be a result of irritation or allergic reaction.
To curb these, you must be mindful of your products. You must only use the products that suit your skin type. Even after carefully choosing the products, you might have chemical burns on your face. This article will help you know how to treat chemical burn on face from skincare.
Table of Contents
The basic steps to skincare
Before any chemical treatments, you must know the basic skincare routine for clean and healthy facial skin. You may choose to use products catering to particular requirements, but having a basic skincare routine is necessary.
If you follow the basic routine religiously, you might not even get to a stage of searching for “how to treat chemical burn on face from skincare”
Let’s dive into the steps that help you lead to healthy skin:
Keeping the face clean
Washing the face often with cold water throughout the day helps remove excess oil and dirt from the face. Using only mild cleansers is essential.
Using chemically heavy cleansers can rip off the natural oil from your skin and make the skin dry. This makes it more prone to sensitivities and allergies.
Clean wiping routine
The towel used to pat the skin dry can also cause any irritation or infection on the skin. If the towel is not cleaned, it can elevate skin infections. Taking care of the material of cloth used is also important. You should also not share face towels with others.
Hydration is the key
Much like our body, our skin cannot survive without hydration. Hydrating the skin with a good moisturizer is one of the significant steps in skincare.
Clean, hydrated skin is the first step toward problem-free skin. Using mild and soothing moisturizers is recommended. The moisturizer will give all the right nutrients and keep the skin healthy and supple.
Protection from the sun
If you have not heard it enough already, we are pressing it again- “Do not skip your Sunscreen.” Any skin care routine is incomplete without sunscreen. It is one of the essential skincare products, and you should not ignore it in any case. Protecting your skin against harmful UV rays is the best thing you can do for your skin.
Chemical burn on face from skincare
Now that the basic steps are clear let’s move to the vital question. So, how to treat chemical burn on face from skincare? Let’s find out!
If you are guilty of being overboard with skin care products and have sensitive skin, you might suffer from chemical burns on your face. Skin burns can take the form of mild rashes or full-blown allergies.
They can occur on any part of the body but are prone to appear on the face, neck, lips, and ears. Below are the reasons for chemical burns and how you can treat them.
Reasons for chemical burn on face from skincare
Some skin care products have chemicals that are harsh to the skin. They work by removing the outermost layer and oil from the skin. Most skin care products are produced because they don’t have acids higher than the skin’s natural pH. However, a few destroy this balance, causing skin burnout.
A thing to note here is that, while using acidic solid products will definitely cause burnout, using mildly acidic ones for a longer time will also have the same effect.
Here are some of the chemicals and the skin burnouts they create:
Hydrogen Peroxide burns
Hydrogen Peroxide is a chemical formed when a water molecule joins an oxygen molecule. The extra molecule is lost and acts as a disinfectant or bleach.
Due to this property, hydrogen peroxide was used to treat face acne, wounds, and spots. However, it can be more harmful than healing. That’s why it is not recommended in any skincare products nowadays.
How to treat Hydrogen Peroxide burns
Hydrogen Peroxide burns could be caused not only by skincare products. Everyday household items used for cleaning and disinfecting also have quantities of hydrogen peroxide. Concentration higher than 3% hydrogen peroxide could cause more than just burning and irritation.
Here are a few steps to be taken immediately:
- Remove any cloth that has hydrogen peroxide on it
- Wash the area exposed to hydrogen peroxide
- Keeping it in running cold water for about 15 minutes helps
- Apply any ointment or cream suggested by a doctor
- If the irritation or burning persists, you must consult a doctor
Chemical burn from AHAs and BHAs
AHAs and BHAs are essential skincare ingredients and have become popular in recent years. AHA is a group of acids that exfoliates the skin, whereas BHAs unclog pores and help treat acne.
Both AHAs and BHAs have some excellent properties if used properly. AHAs help in improving the skin texture and also smoothen lines and wrinkles. BHAs help in treating oily skin and reduces acne.
However, due to their acid concentration, these can pose a threat to the skin as well. They can lead to burning, peeling, and blistering of the skin.
The primary treatment is to
- Immediately stop using the acids on the skin
- Moisturize the skin religiously with a mild, fragrance-free moisturizer
Retinol Burns
Retinol is a common ingredient in many skin care products. They are primarily used in anti-aging products as they promote collagen production. While their benefits are well-established, they might end up causing skin burns.
Retinol is a type of Vitamin A that promotes cell turnover in the skin. This property helps rewind the age of the skin. It strengthens the skin barrier, sealing in water and improving skin elasticity.
Despite these benefits, retinol may cause burns too. It happens to some people when they first start using it or when it is used excessively. This is a result of the changes retinol causes to the top and bottom layers of the skin.
How to treat retinol burns
Retinol burns may cause painful irritation, redness, and dry skin. Though these signs dissipate with time, if the irritation continues, you can follow these steps:
- Stop using retinol on the skin if the injury persists
- Apply ice packs to affected areas
- Following a gentle skincare routine with mild products should be a priority
- Use over-the-counter medicinal creams to treat redness and irritation
- Applying aloe vera gel or mild moisturizer calms the skin
Hair removal creams
Hair removal creams like Nair and Veet are a common way to quickly get rid of unwanted hair. It works only on the surface of the hair and doesn’t remove the inner hair like waxing. It dissolves the hair above the skin and can be wiped clean after work. Since it contains chemicals that burn the hair, the same chemicals can burn the sensitive skin also.
How to treat chemical burn from hair removal cream
You can use Nair to remove facial hair effectively. It is easy and more convenient than waxing. It should not be used near the eye area but could be used on the lower cheeks, chin, and neck. Nair creams are generally safe to use. However, if you still have burns, here are some things that can help.
How to get rid of nair burn overnight
There is a simple guide to treating commonly occurring nair burns at home. The first step is to stay calm. Nair burns can hurt real bad, but following a simple regimen works.
Here is the step-wise guide to treating chemical burns from nair quickly:
- Rinse off the product thoroughly with cold water before starting the treatment
- Keeping the affected area in cold water helps
- There should not be any remnant on the face or clothes
- Use an alkaline solution to clean the face
- Nair contains acid; hence, an alkaline solution can neutralize its effect
- It calms the burn and helps in stopping it from getting worse
- Medicated creams with steroids can help cure the inflammation in the affected area
- These steroid creams have cooling properties and provide relief quickly
- Once the basic treatment completes, you must put in the final touch
- The crucial step is to spray Neosporin on the affected area and cover it with bandages
- You can also cover it with gauze, giving it room for breathing
- You can use a cold press or an over-the-counter pain reliever if the discomfort persists
- Keeping the wound moist by applying petroleum jelly or aloe vera gel is also helpful
- It prevents the skin from drying and chipping, which is usually the case with burns.
How to treat chemical burn on face from skincare
Perfecting the skincare game comes with experience. Going heavy on chemically rich skincare products can treat one problem but may give you ten new.
Trying new skincare is not a crime; some might work magically for you. However, it is not pleasant to cry out in pain when they don’t.
Hence here is a simple guide on how to treat chemical burn on face from skincare.
Stop using all skincare treatments
The first action plan should be to stop using the products that treat a particular problem. It would be best to not use AHAs, BHAs, retinol, etc., on agitated skin. Stick with the basic cleansing, toning, and moisturizing route with mild ingredients.
Focus on the skin’s water retention
Most chemicals first act by removing the protective natural oil barrier from the skin. This makes the skin burn and tear, making way for allergies.
Hence, improving the skin’s lipid health should be a priority. Using mild moisturizers rich in ingredients like glycerine, ceramides, and hyaluronic acids would help restore the skin’s natural moisture. This, in turn, helps in restoring the health of your skin.
Using naturally calming ingredients on the skin
Including organic and naturally soothing ingredients in your skincare will help calm the burning sensations. Things like fresh aloe vera gel and cold milk are great options. Make sure you are not going overboard even with these natural ingredients. Your skin needs rest.
Sunscreen always
While sunscreen is essential to the daily routine, some might skip it while suffering from chemical burns. This is the biggest mistake that you can make. Skin is particularly sensitive after chemical burns; exposing it to the skin’s direct rays will worsen the conditions. Hence, applying sunscreen is necessary even as you face chemical burns from skincare.
Final thoughts
Though the mild chemical burns fade out after a week, you must immediately visit a dermatologist if the injury is severe. Chemical burns are a serious issue, and no amount of google search- “how to treat chemical burn on face from skincare” will help if you do not take proper care!