Thread: Swollen Face, pale, hives, severe dry skin, HELP!!!

Hello everyone! I need some help.. I have been cutting my own hair for years and I have an assortment of Andis brand clippers, and I shave with 2 types of safety shavers (Personna and Dorco blades), as well Gillette shaver. I usually give my self a short military fade and also line up my hair. I have been to several types of doctors spending money and they can not figure it out. The reaction I am getting is an abnormally swollen face, hives in my scalp and my cheeks, hair is thinning in areas at times and at times grows back, severely dry skin, and I get discoloration in my hair follicles and my face!!! It gets worse when I shave my goat tee. This last for days to my face gets better, but it is worse in the morning when I wake up. Now this happens when I use shaving cream or just water. Can it be the blades, perhaps there is nickel????? Can someone please help me???

Welcome to SRP. I don't know if your question is related to shaving other than the blades you're using, however, you said you've seen a few different doctors, have you ever had an allergy test done?

This is very strange to me but I would look
Into seeing an allergist. They should be able
To tell you if you are allergic to something. Also I would
See another doc. I would also look into Benadryl. I used to
Have food allergies and break out in hives. When I did my hives went away.
Make a list of everything your using and bring to allergist/doc.

Thanks for replying! I have had a patch test on my back from a dermatologist and a food allergy test from an allergist and the results were nothing. I believe my question is related to shaving, because I shave the side of my scalp and my face. I was hoping some one here would have advise, I was thinking maybe I am allergic to some type of metal ie. steel, nickel, etc. Or if I should invest in a stainless steel razor.

Well a food test wouldn't help you if it's not a food allergy. Talk to allergist again.

Thanks pbsd! I thought it was food, cleansing products, or shaving! Its driving me nuts, because its on my face and it last for a few days. I am going to start a journal today.

There could be something to your theory if you get the same reaction when shaving with just water, I was about to suggest changing your soap/cream. You might be allergic to some types of metal, I know a woman at work who is allergic to most metals, so you just may want to try stainless steel.

I also seen a dermatologist who is a specialist who does product skin test and I had 100 patches on my back and nothing.

Yes a journal is smart. You can also try using different blade, or cream but don't change more than one thing at a time or you won't know what's the source of the prob

Thx for hanging in there with me! Yeah I have went through millions of soaps, shampoos, detergents, shaving creams, etc. Believe me I have a pharmacy.. Personna and Dorco blades claim to be stainless steel, but I read online where there is a little nickel, chromium, and sometimes other metals in stainless steel. It even happens with a Norelco electric shaver.