A 66-year-old woman was left suffering with horrifying blisters and swelling to the face within days after starting to use products from the L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Laser Renew anti-ageing range. Marlene Corrall, like so many patients who come to Medical Specialists, was looking for effective anti-wrinkle treatments that would leave her skin appearing refresher, replenished and rejuvenated. Unfortunately, Ms Corrall, from Leicestershire, was left feeling anything but all that after suffering an extremely severe allergic reaction following the application of three L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Laser Renew anti-ageing products on her face. Describing her horrific experience, Ms Corrall says: “When I went into my local chemist I spotted the L'Oreal Revitalift range and decided to give it a try, but it was the biggest mistake I ever made, after the reaction I had. Within two days of using the creams, my face started to swell and break out in painful red blisters which spread all over my face. I was really frightened, especially as I have always taken great pride in my skin.” She says she has been trying various anti-wrinkle creams since her mid-30s and has never previously encountered any such problems like this in those thirty years and puts effort into trying to keep her skin looking as healthy as possible. Ms Corrall says she had to take two weeks off work from her role as a senior carer due to the pain she was in and also go through a gruelling six months of recovery, which involved being prescribed steroids as well as penicillin by her GP to try and control the severe reaction her skin was having to the L'Oreal products. She continued: She said: “I have been left with acute dermatitis and there is still a bit of puffiness under my cheekbones. I try to look after myself so this has really knocked my confidence. I never had any problems with my skin. I am very healthy and look after myself but now I have been left with skin problems as a result when all I wanted to do was look my best.” Following an expensive £130 visit to a private doctor, the problem was found to be due to a chemical contained in the L'Oreal anti-wrinkle creams; methylisothiazolinone. Known as ‘MI’, it is used to extend the shelf life of household goods and cosmetics. It can be found in shower gels, deodorants, cleansers and moist tissue wipes. Ms Corrall added: “I cannot believe companies still use this chemical after what it did to my skin. It was terrifying to have my skin react so severely and it knocked my confidence. It took so long to clear up that I have decided that life is too short, and after that happened I had enough - you never know what’s around the corner so life is for enjoying. I am now very careful with products that I use to make sure the ingredients are only natural minerals.” MI has been blamed by health experts for a surge in dangerous allergic reactions. Only last month cosmetic giant Johnson & Johnson spoke of their concerns, and are now taking the chemical out of many products, including its best-selling Piz Buin sun cream. “I’d like to see methylisothiazolinone banned or for the industry to go back to levels it was using a few years ago,” says Graham Johnston, a consultant dermatologist at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, who treated Corrall. “People are needing nastier drugs to cure the reaction. One patient had to have an anti-cancer drug and another an anti-rejection drug.” This story highlights the questionable effectiveness and safety of off-the-shelf anti-wrinkle products. Proven and popular treatments for wrinkles include Akenmycin Plus, Differin Gel, Differin Cream and Epiduo Gel. They are all available today from Medical Specialists Pharmacy following an online consultation with one of our doctors, who will assess the information and medical details you provide to decide your suitability for that treatment. Once authorised by the doctor, your order will be dispense by our in-house pharmacy and dispatched the same day by Royal Mail Special Delivery.