Thu's face became intensely red, hot, and peeled in flakes two weeks after she began using a product without a Vietnamese sub-label or ingredient list. Sold on social media for one million dong, it promised "white and clear skin in 7 days." Initially, her skin appeared white and smooth, prompting her to use it every night. However, if she stopped for even one day, her skin would darken and itch.
Dr. Be Thu Thuy, from the Aesthetics Department at Tam Anh General Hospital Hanoi, stated that Thu suffered from severe irritant contact dermatitis on skin already compromised by corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory agents that can quickly reduce redness, diminish acne, and brighten skin by suppressing inflammatory responses and constricting blood vessels. This immediate effect often misleads users into believing their skin is improving. In reality, prolonged or uncontrolled use of high-concentration corticosteroid products can thin the skin, dilate capillaries, cause acne-like inflammatory breakouts, lead to pigment disorders, and result in drug dependence. Abrupt cessation often triggers a more severe inflammatory flare-up than before.
Treating cosmetic-induced dermatitis is complex and lengthy, requiring significant time for the skin to return to normal, with many cases only achieving 70% recovery. In Thu's situation, the treatment protocol focuses on completely stopping the old product, using prescribed medication, controlling inflammation, restoring the skin's protective barrier, and closely monitoring reactions over several months. Thu is currently on her recovery journey, with reduced redness and acne.
Dr. Thuy emphasized that Thu needs to be patient with her treatment, as her skin is prone to renewed redness, dryness, and breakouts during the initial stage. Incorrect management can lead to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, chronic dermatitis, or irreversible capillary dilation.
Many cases also involve fungal or bacterial infections, either due to products adulterated with antibiotics, harsh bleaching agents, or impurities, or because the skin's reduced resistance makes it susceptible to superinfections. In such instances, patients require additional oral medication, and sometimes high-tech interventions to manage complications. Treatment costs can far exceed the initial price of the cosmetic product.
Dr. Thuy advises everyone to educate themselves on identifying products containing potent active ingredients like corticosteroids, hydroquinone, or high-concentration retinoids. It is crucial to choose cosmetics with clear origins, officially declared ingredients, and distributed by authorized channels.
For persistent skin issues such as melasma, inflammatory acne, or hyperpigmentation, it is best to consult a specialist for advice rather than self-medicating based on online advertisements. If signs appear, such as abnormally rapid skin whitening, artificial smoothness, tiny visible blood vessels, easy irritation, or acne flare-ups upon discontinuing a product, seek early examination at reputable hospitals to prevent severe complications. Treating pigmentation, acne, or aging skin requires time and a suitable regimen tailored to individual skin types.
Thanh Ba
