Cetaphil Cleanser and Burning: What Users Say

• Raz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 5, 2021

For Dry Skin "Applied to my face daily as prescribed by my physician for now one week, and within this week, my face has been having a burning sensation and rash all over my face and neck. After carefully washing it off, the burning sensation hurts even worse. I’m finished with this product. I was prescribed this cleanser and lotion due to the mask breaking my face out on my cheeks and chin area."

• Jaz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 8, 2020

For Dry Skin "I always had hormonal pimples, but my skin wasn't dry or oily. Since using Cetaphil, my forehead is extremely oily and broken out in small pimples. My face burns when I use the cleanser, but I have never had sensitive skin, so I am unsure what is happening."

• sue...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 2, 2019

For Dry Skin "I bought this product because it was on my dermatologist's list of non-comedogenic cleansers she approved of. I used it, and I felt this weird burning sensation, and afterwards, my skin itched. I thought it was just because I was using a new cleanser. Every day, I would notice my skin texture was getting rougher than before. I thought it was my prescribed medicine. On the fifth day, my face broke out in hives and redness, and it itched so bad, and it began to peel off at my chin. I then knew it was the cleanser because my medicine I'd been using a month prior never had side effects on my skin like this. Luckily, I caught it in less than a week and not months."

• Kim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 20, 2020

For Dry Skin "My eye is swollen with little red bumps. I used Cetaphil Cleanser on my face and eyes, it is good stuff to use, but my eyes started burning. My face was okay the next day, but my eyes are really bad, which isn't cool. It feels like somebody has punched me in the eye."

• Doc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 7, 2022

For Dry Skin "My teen daughters have used Cetaphil products for quite a few years on the recommendation of our dermatologist. It's always worked very well. I just bought more of the daily cleanser for them, and the bottles say 'new and improved.' Soon after using it, their skin began to burn and turn red and bumpy. I applied cortisone cream, which helped a bit, but it is still red and sore this morning. Imagine a 13-year-old going to school with her skin looking like that -- how humiliating. I see in these comments that this is happening to lots of people using the new version. Why did they change a perfect product? I don't know which ingredient is the culprit, but we'll be searching for another brand."

• Ari...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 7, 2022

For Dry Skin "I bought the gentle skin cleanser for aging dry skin and have finally realized that this is the reason my face and eyelids burn after using this product. It is anything but gentle! I would NOT recommend this cleanser at all. It has left my eyelids with a bumpy rash! Do not waste your money!"

• HLa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 22, 2020

For Dry Skin "I started to use the Cetaphil cleanser around Christmas. Since then, my eyes and neck have swollen up in hives. I've been to an allergist and had to be on a massive dose of prednisone. It went away finally after 4 months of the worst burning, itching feeling I've ever had."

• Bar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 26, 2019

"After visits to 2 different dermatologists to treat burning, red, and swollen face, I was put on prednisone and told to use only Vaseline on my face. After 3 weeks, with no symptoms, I used a Cetaphil cleansing cloth 2 nights in a row, and the burning and redness returned."

• Joe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 7, 2021

For Dry Skin "I wish I’d read these reviews first. I used it for the first time six hours ago. My face is red, swollen, burning, like after the worst sunburn you ever had. How is this still on the market?"

• Ava...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 3, 2021

For Dry Skin "My skin has never burned and been more irritated ever before in my life, thanks to Cetaphil. I do NOT recommend at all!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 21, 2023

For Dry Skin "The “new and improved” formula is terrible. I used the old formula for years and was very happy with it. The new formula burns when I use it, and the fragrance is awful."