A 37-year-old woman surnamed Gao from Jilin Province, China, has recently gone viral online due to photos of her severely swollen and hardened face, resembling the 'Guan Gong mask', sparking heated discussion among netizens. She recounted that ever since learning to put on makeup at age 15, she has gone nearly 22 years without properly removing it, usually only rinsing with water, and recently began suffering from severe allergic reactions including redness, swelling, purple discoloration, itchiness, and a burning sensation on her face. This has forced her to hide at home, not daring to see anyone.
According to Chinese media reports, Ms. Gao revealed that as a young woman, her family was of modest means so she was only able to use cheap foundation for makeup. She has been doing makeup for over 20 years now, and almost never properly removed it, at most just rinsing with water before bed. Recently as her skin condition worsened, instead of seeking help from a dermatologist, she went to a cosmetic clinic herself and received a 'skin booster' injection. Unexpectedly, her facial skin became not only stiff, but also changed color from red to purple and even almost black, becoming itchy, hot, and swollen—'like a hard shell'. As a result, she now hides at home every day, afraid to go out or see people, which has severely affected her life and social interactions.
The incident has triggered heated debate online. Some netizens questioned, 'It's simply impossible not to remove makeup for 22 years', pointing out that the skin around her eyes showed no swelling at all and suspecting that she deliberately painted her face red just for internet traffic; some also noticed apparent signs of plastic surgery on her face, saying, 'You have to remove makeup before surgery, don't you? How could it be overlooked?' Others suspected her reaction might actually have been caused by an infection from cosmetic injections or just a severe allergy.
In response, doctors reminded the public that makeup contains oily ingredients and pigments, and if not removed for long periods, these residues can mix with sebum and sweat to produce 'lipid peroxides', which clog pores, trigger blackheads, acne, redness, itching, and even blisters.
Long-term accumulation of chemical residues can also damage skin tissue, accelerate aging, and form fine lines and wrinkles. Additionally, overuse or unsterile injection of skin boosters can cause infections or cellulitis, which may be life-threatening in severe cases. The cumulative skin damage Ms. Gao suffers from years of improper skincare may take a long time to heal. This incident serves as a reminder to the public not to overlook the importance of daily makeup removal and the safety risks of cosmetic procedures.