Question: I need the opinion of another dermatologist. I am so lost and confused right now. For about 3 weeks in March, I was using a salicyclic acid toner 2% and a mandelic acid serum 10% (pH 2.5). No adverse reactions. Then on the third week, I scrubbed my face with a clarasonic face brush. I really went to town on my face and scrubbed it, forgetting that I have been using the serum. I got an intense burning feeling from the scrubbing. This happened in March.
Now for the past almost 6 months, the skin where I aggressively scrubbed is extremely sensitive. At first I couldn't sleep with my face on the pillow. One night I got caught out in the rain and it felt like little things jabbing at my face. However, there is no redness or anything visible.
I will be at work and it will start burning or throbbing for no reason. It comes and goes through out the day. I also have not been wearing any make-up or using anything harsh since March when I did that.
I went to my primary and she prescribed my gabapentin and said it can take 6-12 months for nerves to recover. My derm said maybe I should see a neurologist to see what they say. Maybe I did something to the superficial nerves in my face and needs to heal. Another derm said that is not possible that I could damage my superficial nerves.

My face feels like razor burn, however, no redness. I have developed seborrheic dermatitis in my eyebrows and in between the eyebrows. Over the past couple months, my skin has become very dry and flaky. Also, I can't use any of my old face products or basic lotion because they make my face burn so much.

Does this sound like something I can recover from? Can you really disrupt nerves by this way? I am nervous that I pushed the chemicals so far down into my skin that it can't recover and the tissues and everything below the skin is damaged. Do you think an oral steroid can help with inflammation under the skin? Also, can a biopsy or skin sample show what is going on?

I appreciate your opinion and your help.
Thanks.

Optional Information:
Person's Gender: Female
Person's Age: 29

Already Tried:
Bionect gel. Locoid corticosteroid cream. Emu oil. Gabapentin and Allegra for the pain. No makeup or harsh chemicals since March.
I am so scared I penetrated the chemicals too far and now they are stuck to tissues underneath skin.

Hi Dr. Kumar-
I appreciate you responding to me. I am just a little nervous that the I pushed the chemicals too far deep and now my skin underneath is damaged permanently. Or an I just scaring myself? Could it have been pushed into the dermis and they are stuck there?
Also you said that I damaged superficial nerves. Could that have set off hypersensitivity? I can't apply any makeup or other harsh products or even my old basic moisturizer. Sometimes the pain is worse on some days than other. Is that a symptom of hypersensitivity of nerves?
I am just a little confused because when I had sciatica, I could apply creams to help with the pain and it wouldn't burn the surface. Aren't nerves deep in the skin?
Again I appreciate your response. Thank you!

Hi Dr.Kumar-
Thank you for responding. I just have one more question. Right after I aggressivley scrubbed with a clarasonic brush, I experienced no redness or visible signs. The burning is there however, no visible rash.
I always thought over exfoliation signs were red, raw, and shiny appearance. I didn't experience any of those. Is that normal?

Thank you. I appreciate your response .