Washing your face, putting on lotion, taking a bubble bath or applying a blush or foundation are all fun ways to practice a little self-care. Unfortunately, if you’re part of the 10% of people who experience side effects, hypersensitivity or allergy-related irritation to cosmetics,[1] these little self-care rituals can quickly turn unpleasant.
If you have sensitive skin, you need to be extra careful about the products you use. Let’s go over some signs of a skin allergy and some common products sensitive individuals avoid.
Signs of a Skin Allergy
A few physical signs of a skin allergy include:
- Red, raised bumps or patches of skin
- Blisters
- Dryness
- Hives
- Peeling or flaky skin
- Skin discoloration
You might also notice a skin allergy by feel; burning, itching, stinging or tingling are common.
Allergens in Cosmetics
It helps to know what ingredients to avoid when selecting a new cosmetic product. The Centers for Disease Control listed a few common allergens, including:
- Latex: also listed as natural rubber
- Fragrances: amyl cinnamal, amylcinnamyl alcohol, anisyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, benzyl cinnamate, benzyl salicylate, cinnamyl alcohol, cinnamaldehyde, citral, citronellol, coumarin, eugenol, farnesol, geraniol, hexyl cinnamaldehyde, hydroxycitronellal, hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde, isoeugenol, lilial, d-limonene, linalool, methyl 2-octynoate, g-methylionone, oak moss extract, tree moss extract
- Preservatives: methylisothiazolinone (mit), methylchloroisothiazolinone (cmit), formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing ingredients: bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol), 5-bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane, diazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin (1,3-dimethylol-5,5-dimethylhydantoin). imidazolidinyl urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, quaternium-15 (Dowicil 200; n-(3-chloroallyl) hexaminium chloride)
- Dyes: p-phenylenediamine (PPD) and coal-tar
- Metals: nickel and gold
The United States does not have a federal standard or definition restricting the use of the terms “hypoallergenic,” “for sensitive skin” or “fragrance-free.” It does, however, require companies to include an ingredients list with all their products. Some products won’t list a specific fragrance but instead write “fragrance” on the label; avoid those products if you have any fragrance allergy.
The best way to prevent a cosmetic-related reaction is to check the ingredients for allergens you’re sensitive to. If you aren’t sure which ingredients are causing your reactions, contact Midwest ENT Centre today to schedule an allergy test with one of our specialists.
[1] Zukiewicz-Sobczak, W. A., Adamczuk, P., Wróblewska, P., Zwoliński, J., Chmielewska-Badora, J., Krasowska, E., Galińska, E. M., Cholewa, G., Piątek, J., & Koźlik, J. (2013). Allergy to selected cosmetic ingredients. Postepy dermatologii i alergologii, 30(5), 307–310. https://doi.org/10.5114/pdia.2013.38360