Unknown Reason for Swelling

What have your hands been into lately? I've had 2 occasions in my life where I had a substance on my hands that I thought I washed off thoroughly that made my face break out when I rubbed my face without realizing it. The first time was with jalapeno peppers (I washed my hands, but not well enough under the nails), then rubbed my eyes a few hours later - oh, the pain! The second time was soldering flux (I was making stained glass window sun catchers). I wiped down my work table when I was finished, washed off my hands, but when I rubbed my cheeks a few hours later, the skin turned red and peeled a few days later. I wash my hands now with soap and a nail brush all the time and I haven't had any trouble since. If it's a new hand lotion, there might be something in it that you are reacting to. You might have to stay with something hypo allergenic / fragrance free if your skin has become more sensitive. When I was pregnant, my face reacted to my usual favorite skin cleansing pad. I couldn't use it for awhile, but it was fine again after my baby was born.

I would make an appt with your regular physician just in case and get it checked out. There's no point in guessing.

If it causes you concern, maybe you should have a Dr. look at it. My 4yo son was playing outside last summer and 20 minutes after he came in, it looked like he slipped a golf ball under his lower eye lid! The ER Dr. said it was cellulitis... an infection of he skin that needed to be treated. He said anyone can get it, it was caused by itching an irritation, and the natural bacteria we carry on our skin got inside a tiny scratch. He did take antibiotics for 7 days and the swelling went down within 24 hours.

Of course, not everyone with swelling has cellulitis, I'm sure... and his was immediate and extreme swelling, so don't panic, but be sure to take care of yourself. Hope it all turns out well for you.
~J

Just because you've never had a food allergy in the past, doesn't mean you can't develop one. I developed a strawberry allergy when I was 16.

Also, you could have been bit by a spider or some other bug. My mother-in-law was bit by a spider a couple weeks ago and had to spend 10 days on an antibiotic and steroids to get rid of the swelling and pain.

I have Really Sensitive skin as well, this has happened to me,it was poison oak, i had only washed my sons clothes were he had played outside and i caught it? but thats only a suggestion ,its very itchy , causes swelling and looks like a rash but if it doesnt clear up i would see a Dr especially if it is irratating your eyes

L.~

Is it possible that you have come in contact or been bitten by a deer tick? The initial symtoms of a tick bite can vary from mild to almost non-existent - rash or no rash, evidence of the tick or no apparent bite, swelling or no swelling. If the possibility of contact exists at all, you should get tested (blood test) for Lyme disease. (A doctor familiar with Lyme will probably do the test at least twice as false positives are common).
I don't want to panic you, but if you have been bitten by a deer tick, this is one of those situations where it's better to be safe than sorry! Early treatment is absolutely essential to a positive outcome!
Good luck and I will pray that those insidious little creatures have not claimed another victim!

C. (Lyme "survivor" due to early detection and treatment!)

I don't know how long it's been since you were pregnant, but the body can sort of "reboot" and new allergies appear that you never had before. Personally, my experience with unusual swelling and bumps led to a diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Not as scary as it sounds. My husband convinced me to see a doctor, and boy was I glad I did. The moral of the story is, definitely see a doctor. It could be a small sign that something larger is brewing and better to find out now. Good luck.