It's a nightmare scenario: you seek out a spa treatment to rejuvenate and refresh your skin, and instead end up with a red and raw reaction so extreme that it has you ducking for cover.

And it's all the more worse when you're a recognizable celeb who is hounded by the paparazzi.

Just ask Cyndi Lauper -- who stepped out at the Los Angeles International Airport yesterday, sporting what looked to be a blotchy, burned and angry red face. (See a photo of Lauper here.)

While talk on the Internet has hypothesized that the 57-year-old star may have endured a deep chemical peel in an anti-aging conquest, Lauper's publicist was quick to clear up the speculation.

"Unfortunately, Cyndi had a bad reaction to a spa treatment while unwinding after a meeting about her upcoming reality show," the spokesperson told WENN.

Many of today's medical spas offer strong peels and lasers that can elicit such inflamed and red reactions, though the specific treatment Lauper received was not confirmed.

In the photos snapped at the airport, the pop star tries unsuccessfully to go incognito in all black, with a thick scarf wrapped around her head and face in veil-like fashion. We're guessing a big fabulous pair of shades would've been too much to place on the singer's clearly raw skin.

But that yellow-blonde head of hair that is Lauper's signature was most likely the tip-off to paparazzi, who often set up shop at Tinselown's major airport, waiting to pounce on a star-worthy lineup that shuffles in and out of the sliding doors.

Lauper's raw skin and shrouded disguise were in steep contrast to the flawless peaches 'n cream complexion and signature red lip the star showed off just four days earlier back home in New York, at an event held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Lauper flaunted a glow to cut the ribbon on her very own Gray Line New York double-decker bus that was graced in her image, in honor of her life-long career as an artist, and the positive influence she has brought to New York.

Other Ride of Fame honorees have included New Yorkers like Liza Minnelli, Donald Trump and Whoopi Goldberg.

The tribute especially touched Lauper, who told fans and press at the event that she had hired a double decker bus when she married husband David Thornton in 1991, as reported by the UK's Daily Mail.

We had recently caught up with Lauper just over a month ago, when the the star advocated on behalf of World AIDS Day, and raised funds for the cause with the 100% charitable MAC Viva Glam lipstick she jointly shot and campaigned with Lady Gaga.

The lipsticks have been the beauty giant's greatest charity success ever, with over $32 million raised all over the world since the coral and pink shades launched.

We wish Lauper a speedy recovery -- and next time, she may wanna have fun with our safe, all-natural DIY spa treatments.