Alexandra Maguire had always suffered with sensitive skin. But she never could have imagined what would happen after one day last year when she accidentally spilled hair dye on her face.
The new mum, from Manchester, suffered a horrific allergic reaction to the dye, and was prescribed a strong steroid cream by her doctor.
After five weeks, she hadn't seen any improvement so stopped using the cream. But to her horror, her face began to swell and flake, resulting in painful sore patches across her face.
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The 29-year-old became so self-conscious she would avoid leaving the house for fear of 'being stared at' by strangers, as she feared her condition would never improve.
She also couldn't face going to work as an office supervisor and had to take time off on sick leave, as her skin condition became worse.
"It got to a point where I worried that this was how it was going to be for the rest of my life, which was just horrible," she told the PA News Agency.
"Dropping my daughter off at nursery every day became a nightmare and I’d have panic attacks because I didn’t want anyone to look at me. I wouldn’t go to any family events and it really affected my work too."
Alexandra said she began suffering from sleepless nights and, after searching online, she realised she was suffering from topical steroid withdrawal (TSW).
TSW is a reaction that can occur after prolonged steroid use, with symptoms including redness of the skin which can extend beyond the initial area treated, a burning or stinging sensation, intense itching, peeling of the skin, and oozing open sores.
Alexandra said: "I just got into a horrible state of mind. I tried going private and spent over £1,000 on appointments and a further £700 on allergy testing, which is how I discovered that I’m allergic to hair dye. But it still didn’t solve the problem with my skin."
After searching online, Alexandra found Balmonds Skin Salvation through a YouTube video in March this year. Since using the high-street product, her skin has started to recover.
"I started using the Skin Salvation on both my face and neck morning and night and I can honestly say it’s the only product I have found that has helped my TSW and that I’ve not been allergic to," she said.
"I was so low when my skin was at its worst and I was at a point where I didn’t think anything would work and I would be stuck like that forever.
"Now I feel like I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, my skin is healing and I feel like I can socialise and leave the house again. The cream has helped me get my life back and, after a terrible few months, I finally feel like myself again."
Alexandra now swears by the cream, using it twice a day as part of her skincare routine. Now back at work, Alexandra said that the biggest difference has been in her self-confidence, with friends and family noticing a huge improvement in her moods since her skin cleared.
She said: "I feel so much better now. When I think about it, I’m shocked that was actually me. I can’t believe what a rollercoaster it’s been, I felt so lost, especially when nothing was working for my skin.
"During my skin issues, I found a TSW Facebook group and asked questions on it and people were really helpful. But now I definitely feel like I’m back to myself again, which is really nice for me and my family."
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