A WOMAN has described how she thought she was going to die after being rushed to hospital with a severe reaction to hair removal cream.
Tracey-Anne Langley, 56, fears she may be scarred for life after suffering an allergic reaction that caused blisters across her face and left her unable to breathe.
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The grandmother had followed industry advice and carried out a patch test with the Veet hair removal cream the day before she used the product for the first time.
But within three minutes of applying it, her skin began burning and her right eye ballooned so she could not see.
She said: “The whole thing was absolutely terrifying.
“I thought I was going to collapse and die, it was the worst I have ever felt in my life.
“My biggest fear now is that I am going to be scarred for life.”
I thought I was going to collapse and die, it was the worst I have ever felt in my life
Tracey-Anne Langley
Tracey, from West Malling in Kent, first went to her GP after using the product last week.
She was prescribed a course of antibiotics but the symptoms continued to get worse.
Hours later she woke in the night, struggling to breathe and rang 111, where an operator told her to head to her nearest A&E.
Tracey says she was diagnosed with cellulitis – a bacterial skin infection, which was ravaging her face.
She said: “They managed to soothe the infection and prescribed me medication so I am on 11 different types of tablets now.
“When I woke up I couldn’t breathe, I had really severe chest pains, it was so scary.
“The original medication they gave me just did not help, I should have gone to hospital straight away.”
What is cellulitis and what are the symptoms?
Cellulitisskin
The infection develops suddenly and can spread through the body quickly. Severe infections can spread deep into the body, and can be life threatening.
Most cases are successfully treated with antibiotics at home, although sometimes it needs to be treated in hospital.
Symptoms of cellulitis include red, hot, or swollen skin which can be painful and tender to touch.
In more severe cases, people might also experience:
- a high temperature
- vigorous shaking
- nausea and vomitting
- dizziness
- confusion
Cellutitis tends to affect the lower legs, but it can occur anywhere.
It's important to see your GP or visit your nearest minor injuries unit as soon as possible if an area of your skin suddently turns red, painful and hot.
Call an ambulance or go to A&E if:
- your face or the area around your eye is affected
- your symptoms are rapidly getting worse
- you experience other symptoms in addition to changes in your skin, such as a fever or vomiting
- you have a weak immune system
Source: NHS
Veet said it has launched an investigation into the product and wished Tracey a "speedy recovery".
A spokesperson from the company to The Sun: "We are sorry to hear of the reaction a customer has had to a Veet hair removal cream product.
"We have been in contact with the customer who shared the product in question.
"We are currently investigating the product, in line with our standard procedures, to determine what has happened in this unfortunate case.
"We are continuing to liaise with the customer and will share results of our investigation with her shortly.
"At Veet, consumer safety is a key priority and we take all complaints seriously.
"We wish the customer a speedy recovery as soon as possible.”
Megan Barton-Hanson discusses allergic reaction to hair dye on This Morning
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