L’Oreal anti-ageing products leave woman with blistered face for six months

A 66-year-old woman was left suffering with horrifying blisters and swelling to the face within days after starting to use products from the L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Laser Renew anti-ageing range.

Marlene Corrall, like so many patients who come to Medical Specialists, was looking for effective anti-wrinkle treatments that would leave her skin appearing refresher, replenished and rejuvenated.
Unfortunately, Ms Corrall, from Leicestershire, was left feeling anything but all that after suffering an extremely severe allergic reaction following the application of three L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Laser Renew anti-ageing products on her face.

Describing her horrific experience, Ms Corrall says: “When I went into my local chemist I spotted the L’Oreal Revitalift range and decided to give it a try, but it was the biggest mistake I ever made, after the reaction I had. Within two days of using the creams, my face started to swell and break out in painful red blisters which spread all over my face. I was really frightened, especially as I have always taken great pride in my skin.”

She says she has been trying various anti-wrinkle creams since her mid-30s and has never previously encountered any such problems like this in those thirty years and puts effort into trying to keep her skin looking as healthy as possible.

Ms Corrall says she had to take two weeks off work from her role as a senior carer due to the pain she was in and also go through a gruelling six months of recovery, which involved being prescribed steroids as well as penicillin by her GP to try and control the severe reaction her skin was having to the L’Oreal products.

She continued: She said: “I have been left with acute dermatitis and there is still a bit of puffiness under my cheekbones. I try to look after myself so this has really knocked my confidence. I never had any problems with my skin. I am very healthy and look after myself but now I have been left with skin problems as a result when all I wanted to do was look my best.”

Following an expensive £130 visit to a private doctor, the problem was found to be due to a chemical contained in the L’Oreal anti-wrinkle creams; methylisothiazolinone. Known as ‘MI’, it is used to extend the shelf life of household goods and cosmetics. It can be found in shower gels, deodorants, cleansers and moist tissue wipes.

Ms Corrall added: “I cannot believe companies still use this chemical after what it did to my skin. It was terrifying to have my skin react so severely and it knocked my confidence. It took so long to clear up that I have decided that life is too short, and after that happened I had enough – you never know what’s around the corner so life is for enjoying. I am now very careful with products that I use to make sure the ingredients are only natural minerals.”

MI has been blamed by health experts for a surge in dangerous allergic reactions. Only last month cosmetic giant Johnson & Johnson spoke of their concerns, and are now taking the chemical out of many products, including its best-selling Piz Buin sun cream.

“I’d like to see methylisothiazolinone banned or for the industry to go back to levels it was using a few years ago,” says Graham Johnston, a consultant dermatologist at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, who treated Corrall. “People are needing nastier drugs to cure the reaction. One patient had to have an anti-cancer drug and another an anti-rejection drug.”

This story highlights the questionable effectiveness and safety of off-the-shelf anti-wrinkle products. Proven and popular treatments for wrinkles include Akenmycin Plus, Differin Gel, Differin Cream and Epiduo Gel. They are all available today from Medical Specialists Pharmacy following an online consultation with one of our doctors, who will assess the information and medical details you provide to decide your suitability for that treatment. Once authorised by the doctor, your order will be dispense by our in-house pharmacy and dispatched the same day by Royal Mail Special Delivery.

Would you shell out for a slimy snail facial?

As they slowly crawl about the garden, slimy snails can be an unsightly and an unwanted thing to see to say the very least. However, a ‘snail facial’ (yes, you read that correctly!), could actually offer anti-aging benefits for your skin, according to those offering this bizarre new procedure.

Having live snails slowly inching their way around your face may sound the stuff nightmares are made of, but this practice is being used as a beauty treatment in Japan.

Beginning today, the Clinical Salon health spa in the Ebisu district of Tokyo, is offering the snail facial for those brave enough to endure five minutes of snails being let free on the cheeks and forehead to randomly move around as they see fit.

This is part of a 60-minute treatment called the Celebrity Escargot Course. The treatment will set you back a whopping £161 (Y24,150), but the secreted snail mucus is said to contain several proteins, antioxidants and hyaluronic acid, which can apparently stave off dry skin, remove dead skin and minimise inflammation.

The hour-long therapy begins with the face being washed prior to the molluscs being placed on cheeks and the forehead. A series of massages comes next, followed by the use of masks, electrical pulse machines and creams containing snail mucus; all to make sure the live secretions infiltrate the skin.

Yoko Miniami, sales manager at Tokyo’s Clinical Salon which offers the treatment, said: “This salon is the only place in Japan where you can try a live snail facial. Snail slime can help the recovery of skin cells on the face, so we expect the snail facial to help heal damaged skin.”

Tokyo is probably a little too far to travel for Brits who have overdone the sunbathing during the recent hot weather – which is still continuing in the UK – but Miniami says the snail facial could help those with the after-effects of sun damage. She commented: “We are interested in the fact that snails have a function that can help heal skin damaged by ultraviolet rays.”

During the last two years in Japan and South Korea, snail face creams, serums and masks have become popular for many people looking to reduce wrinkles and have better skin. This is on top of other ‘out there’ treatments such as nightingale faeces facials and live fish pedicures.

These ‘alternative’ skin treatments are not for everybody however and may only appeal to a small percentage of those who wish to have younger looking skin.

Proven and popular treatments for acne and wrinkles include Differin Gel, Differin Cream and Epiduo Gel. They are available today from Medical Specialists Pharmacy with or without a prescription. If you are a little squirmish, they could prove a much better option than slithery snails being let loose onto your face!

Effective prescription treatments for adult acne

Have you gotten yourself into a spot of bother trying to find an effective acne treatment now that Retin-A is no longer available? Well there is no reason to be a hothead about those blackheads! Medical Specialists Pharmacy are here to the rescue with three exciting products to combat acne; Duac, Differin and Epiduo – with the latter two being shown to have anti-ageing benefits too!

If you are unfamiliar with these treatments, we’ll begin by explaining about them and how they work:

Duac

Duac once daily gel is a prescription only acne treatment that can be obtained in either a 25g or 50g tube. The gel is comprised of two key active ingredients that are common medications often used in treating inflammatory acne; 1% clindamycin phosphate and 5% benzoyl peroxide. The antibiotic Clindamycin destroys the bacteria associated with acne while benzoyl peroxide reduces blackheads and whiteheads, making the skin less oily.

Tips for using Duac

. Keep Duac away from your eyes, mouth, nose or mucous membranes. The medication can irritate these particular areas.
. The benzoyl peroxide may bleach hair, clothing, pillowcases, towels, etc. so don’t let it come in contact with these until fully dry and always make sure to thoroughly wash your hands after use.
. If you are using Duac prior to going to bed, a white pillowcase is advised. Other colours may bleach out, regardless if the medication is fully dry or not.
. Have some patience with the medication and the results will be worth it! It may take 4 to 6 weeks before you see the full effect of Duac once daily gel.

Differin

Obtainable in either a gel or cream (both are a 45g size), Differin is a prescription medication used for the treatment of mild to moderate acne. It belongs to a class of medication called ‘retinoids’ and its active ingredient is a form of vitamin A called ‘adapalene’ which has an anti-inflammatory effect, reducing soreness and irritation in the skin. Differin increases the turnover of the skin cells.  This aids the natural exfoliation of the outer layers of skin, helping to unblock pores and decreases the formation of comedones and spots. It is used on the face, chest or back for acne, where the skin has lots of blackheads, spots and pimples. Differin is only absorbed into the body in very small amounts and has little effect, except on the surface of the skin. Differin has also been shown to be an effective treatment for anti-ageing.^[1]

Tips for using Differin

. For a female; whilst using Differin you must always take precautions when having intimate relations. Should you become pregnant, immediately stop using the medication. In addition, never use Differin when breastfeeding.
. Keep Differin away from your eyes, mouth, nose or mucous membranes. If the medication accidentally comes into contact with your eyes, make sure to immediately wash it out using warm water.
. Differin works by preventing pimples from forming under the surface of the skin. Therefore, simply spot-treating existing pimples will not be very effective. It is advised to apply Differin over the whole area where acne is problematic.
. It is possible to use other skin preparations to treat acne whilst using Differin and some people can be prescribed both Duac and Differin for their acne, obviously following advice from their own doctor. Other treatments should be applied at a different time of day to when you would use the Differin.
. To see maximum result, use Differin regularly and it might be ideal to apply it at the same time daily. Do not apply a larger amount than necessary or use the medication more frequently than advised by your doctor. Otherwise, this could result in pain, redness and peeling.

Epiduo

Epiduo is an effective, prescription only acne treatment available in the form of a once-daily gel. Epiduo is a white to very pale yellow opaque gel and combines two active ingredients; 0.1% adapalene and 2.5% benzoyl peroxide which work together but in different ways. Adapalene belongs to a class of medications called ‘retinoids’ and acts specifically on the skin processes that cause acne. The other active ingredient, benzoyl peroxide, works as an antimicrobial agent and by softening and peeling the outer layer of the skin. The gel unblocks the skin’s pores and kills the bacteria that causes spots to form, thus helping to prevent new spots from breaking out and reduces inflamed, uncomfortable spots. Epiduo also treats blackheads and whiteheads. The active ingredient in Epiduo has been shown to be effective treatment for wrinkles and anti-ageing.^[1]

Tips for using Epiduo

. For a female; whilst using Epiduo, you must always take precautions when having intimate relations. Should you become pregnant, immediately stop using the medication. In addition, never use Epiduo when breastfeeding.
. To see maximum result, use Epiduo regularly and it might be ideal to apply it at the same time daily. Do not apply a larger amount than necessary or use the medication more frequently than advised by your doctor. Otherwise, this could result in pain, redness and peeling.
. Only use Epiduo on the skin and do not apply it to the inner lip area, inside the nose and mouth, or on mucus membranes. Do not use the Epiduo on skin that is cut, scraped, sunburned or affected by eczema.
. Epiduo is applied topically over all skin areas where acne is a problem. As well as a facial treatment, and it can be used body breakouts too.

Which is right for you?

Medical Specialists Pharmacy advises you to undergo a consultation with your own GP to ascertain the type and severity of your acne. With this knowledge and the information we have provided about these medications, you may then choose the most appropriate treatment. Duac, Differin and Epiduo are all available today at low prices from the ‘Skin & Scalp’ area of the Medical Specialists website.
1. Herane MI. et al (2012) “Clinical efficacy of adapalene (differin®) 0.3% gel in Chilean women with cutaneous photoaging. ” J Dermatolog Treat. 57-64. PMID 22007702