Question: Hi,
I am 41 years with dehydrated skin that is not improving after 2 months of severe moisturizing. The initial problem began when I overused Benzoyl Peroxide 10% for several days after an acne flare up, and after my skin was squeaky clean from a strong tea tree oil skin cleaner. I was diagnozed by dermatologist #1 with dehydrated skin, and told to use Cerave PM for 1 week to 1 month. It helped somewhat, but not totally. Recently I went to see dermatologist #2 who told me the "fine lines" are actually just age related, and gave me several samples of XXXXXXX gel, telling me this has Retinol in it for the wrinkles (even though it says it is for acne and now I for sure have none). I used it for the first time last night, and it simply confirmed that my skin is dehydrated and this is the nature of the emergent sudden wrinkles and crepey skin- because it has made my problem worse! !! Boo!
I am severely confused, and frustrated. I have seen 2 dermatologist and both confirm that dehydrated skin and damage caused by Benzoyl Peroxide is only temporary, and that it cannot PREMATURELY AGE YOUR SKIN. These lines and crepey skin are apparently supposed to go away once my skin gets hydrated.
I should add: I have a bunch of dead skin (I guess due to the BP saturation) as well.
What
Do I just need more time with the moisturizers? Have I done more serious damage with the XXXXXXX last night?
I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Thanks,

Thank you very much for your thoughtful answer.

However, this happened 2 months ago, so I assume that the "chemical burn" part is now over. Does this make sense? The incident was at the end of May.

I see. Thanks for clarifying.

Is the damage the same to the skin then too if it responds the same way as though it were a sunburn?

...As in increasing my risk of skin cancer an also aging the skin a lot?

Or does the healing process simply happen the same way- triggering the skin's immune response the same way. I assume you mean the skin has a method of healing all burns- including from a stove top and sunburn regardless of what caused the burn, but that this Benzoyl Peroxide burn is not damaging in the way the sun is... (The sun I mostly avoid)

Thank you Dr. Schubert,

I was wondering why the fine lines have suddenly appeared though?

There are the thin lines associated with the crepey skin, but also some other larger new fine lines that concern me more, causing my skin texture to appear unsmooth and making me look older than my 41 years.

What is the nature of these lines, and what can I expect in this recovery period?

Do they just disappear?

Thank you very much.

I actually forgot to mention:

When I called the office of dermatologist #1 to say the moisturizers weren't working after 1 month, the doctor wouldn't book a follow up, but rather a prescription was called in to my pharmacy for Desonide ointment.

I have not picked it up because I was initially prescribed another Hydrocortisone cream Hyderm 1% for 1 week by my family doctor when I was first diagnosed with Contact Irritant Dermatitis 2.5 months ago. Though I actually suspect I didn't have a rash, but rather the Chemical Burn and severely dehydrated skin.

Any thoughts on this med? Should I pick it up in 1 month if my skin does not fully heal on its own?

I must admit, I have found some health/beauty websites where people describe "ruining" their skin texture (permanently?) with Benzoyl Peroxide misuse like me, but for longer periods. I pretty much saturated my skin for a few days with this 10% stuff, not thinking it was such potent stuff.. and here I am nearly 3 months later. :((

There is also some question whether it prematurely ages your skin because of the free radical chemical response- trapping oxygen or something. However, the doctors asked (including my 2 dermatologists) do not confirm this.

I also see that dehydrated skin can be a tricky condition to heal.

I wonder if the "fine lines" and "crepey quality" of my skin could be a result of the 6 day use of Hyderm 1% Hydrocortisone cream?

I was warned about skin thinning for overuse of hydrocortisone creams, but told that 1 week is safe. Who knows if I used a bit too much of it with each application. I would not be able to say.

I suppose though, my skin barrier would have been compromised because of the chemical burn and skin dehydration, so I wonder if I would have been more vulnerable to skin thinning?

I don't think I ever had a rash, despite being diagnosed with the Contact Irritant Dermatitis- so I think the Hyderm might have just made the problem worse, whether it has created skin thinning or not.

It's worth noting that you need to look closely to see the crepey skin on 1 side of my forehead.

I do have trouble imagining that a few days of Benzol Peroxide 10% saturation followed by 6 days of a hydrocortisone cream could cause permanent damage to my skin.

But here I am, so I don't know!

Any thoughts about this?

If my skin has been thinned by 6 days of Hyderm, would this be reversible?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Many thanks!

Hello again Dr. Schubert,

I hope you have been enjoying your August 2015!

My skin is not improving. I am sure you are right about it being a chemical burn, but at this point 3 months later- after several days of overusing 10% Benzoyl Peroxide, (and really just 1 night submerging myself in a thick slab of it that caused the issue), I cannot help but wonder if my skin is not damaged, and prematurely aged.?

As I mentioned before, there is a bit of "whitened skin". I wonder could it be bleached? Could it be dead skin in the way, preventing it from healing adequately? The overall texture of my forehead is quite different than it used to be also: it was always oily, and acne prone on my forehead- and is now actually dry throughout- making me also wonder if I have damaged my sebaceous gland?

One thing I do know for sure is that the BP is very dehydrating. It also appears that it "can" cause premature aging (and brings more oxygen to the skin), I just figured this damage would happen over a period of years- not a few days.

Is there anything else you would suggest?

I suppose my dermatologist called in the prescription for Desonide steroid cream (without seeing me for a follow up) suggesting that there is something on the surface getting in the way that needs to be "burned away" (for lack of a better term) to heal properly.

I must admit I am surprised that my immune system is not looking after this, because when it comes to scabbing etc., it is very good.

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Many thanks again,

Thank you. It's not so dramatic that it would require plastic surgery.

What about the Desonide prescription. Is it worth a shot? Anything to lose using it for 1 week?