[ParisaMarie]

Help! I used an over-the-counter facial hair removal product that uses "pre-cut,cold wax strips" to be placed in the desired area of facial hair removal and peeled in the direction opposite of hair growth. The "pre-cut, cold wax strips" looked like pre-cut pieces of tape and the "stickiness" to the tape did not seem particularly strong. Infact, they did not seem to remove any hair in my 1st few attempts. After using many strips, they began to barely work. I finally gave up with the job half-done because the skin above my upper right lip began to sting and swell. The other side stung, but not unreasonably so. But the skin above my upper right lip felt as if I had peeled it off or wounded it.
THIS IS IMPORTANT: The area of injury did not appear in any way, shape, or form to be peeled off. It looks as if it is burned and it is swollen and (after the 2nd day) cracked.
So, I put ice on the skin above my upper right lip. I went to dinner with 2 friends who told me of their burns in similar areas due to professional wax jobs. They suggested emu oil, Nivea, etc.
I purchased and used "2nd Skin Quick Heal" (which uses hyaluronic acid sodium salt, sorbitol solution70%, sodium dehydroacetate, methylparaben, propylparaben, carbomer 980, sodium hydroxide, and purified water and should be used in the dressing and mngmnt. of minor burns, etc.
The next day, the area seemed better but still VERY NOTICEABLY burned and swollen. It hurt me all day. It hurt to smile completely and to open my mouth completely when eating. It was extremely tender.
My coworkers have suggested everything from vaseline to aloe. A client of mine (a doctor) gave me "SSD 1% silver sulfadiazine cream" to be applied before using "(Fougera) Hydrocortisone cream USP, 2.5%".
Another doctor told me that hydrocortisone cream is good for the wound , but not the QUICKEST WAY POSSIBLE to treat this "cold wax burn" on my face.
SO MY QUESTION IS : WHAT IS THE QUICKEST WAY POSSIBLE TO HELP HEAL THIS SWOLLEN, SLIGHTLY CRACKED, AND PURPLISH BOZO-ISH BLEMISH ON THE SKIN BETWEEN MY UPPER RIGHT LIP AND MY UPPER RIGHT NOSTRIL? I greatly appreciate any accurate advice or testimonials so that I don't look like "Bozo-the-Clown" in the wedding. THANK YOU!!!
-Parisa

[RoC1909]

Yikes! You defintely irritated the skin.

Wedding a week away. Hmmm.

I have always had good luck with Aloe Vera (either in lotion or directly from the plant) and as usual, it does help with the pain associated with burns. UNFORTUNATELY, burns take time to heal (All types. Chemical, Thermal...) but in your case, it looks like it might be severe skin irritation UNLESS the "waxy strips" contained a component that might have given you a chemical burn from overuse.

If your doctor doesn't have a suggestion for helping with the "appearance", I am sorry but I really don't know of anything else either except as stated above.

Doing a quick "Google" will show quite a few herbal and other product types that may help.

Hopefully everything turns out for the best.

Regards,

J