Cosmetic allergy: Symptoms and treatment

Hello!

Did you know that spots, skin dryness, redness and other similar skin imperfections might be the result of cosmetic allergy? If you struggle with such skin ailments then you should start analysing the lists of ingredients of the products you use to condition your body and apply make-up with. Only then should you start combating the blemishes. But how to do this effectively? Go on reading my text so you can find this out.

Causes of cosmetic allergy

Contact allergy occurs when skin starts featuring lesions as a result of being exposed to allergens that a particular cosmetic happen to contain. The degree of sensitization depends on many factors, and among them there are: the frequency and time of using a cosmetic containing the allergen, skin condition and the body part the preparation was applied to. In most cases allergic reaction occurs on face, neck and eyelids; what’s interesting, scalp is fairly resistant to being affected by allergens. The allergic reactions can be caused by: fragrances, creams, balms and hair dyes. The least dangerous are shampoos, hair conditioners and scrubs.

Contact allergy – diagnosis

In order to diagnose contact allergy there is a scratch test run. It helps assess skin reactivity and contact hypersensitivity. A purified allergen is applied to a patient’s skin to examine the skin reaction after 48 hours. Moreover, a doctor conducts an interview with the patient to analyse the course of the disease along with the circumstances at which the allergic reactions appeared.

Cosmetic allergy – symptoms

Contact allergy is divided into two types: subjective and objective. The one listed as the first includes: prickling, itchiness, taut skin and stinging sensation (especially right after application of the cosmetic). The objective sensations are: redness, exfoliation, spots, lumps and blisters. Moreover, there are two types of allergic eczema distinguished that is caused by cosmetics:

• contact eczema that is frequently accompanied with irritations – it develops on the very same skin area where the cosmetic was applied to, it doesn’t enlarge nor it spreads to other body parts; its intensity depends on the allergen’s concentration;
• allergic reaction – touches people who are genetically predisposed to allergies, skin lesions can affect other body parts and their intensity doesn’t deepened on the allergen’s concentration.

What sensitizes us? Allergens in cosmetics

Did you know that every single, even a seemingly safe and natural substance can trigger an allergic reaction? Potential allergic substances that can be found in cosmetics are:

• fragrances – there are a few thousands of them and every single one can cause an allergic reaction;
• preservatives – despite protecting a cosmetic against bacteria multiplication, they may encourage allergies;
• vegetable extracts – they can cause photoallergies, and the very reaction is triggered by hypericum and citric fruit extracts, to name just a few;
• parabens – especially the ones which concentration is high, and when used in large quantities.

There is also another division that distinguishes the products and compounds that cause contact allergy. They include:

• nickel – it’s said to sensitize mostly women, it can be found in jewellery, zippers, scissors and watches, margarine can also contain trace amounts of nickel;
• cosmetics – basically all body and hair as well as colour cosmetic may cause irritations;
• chromium – it’s present in dyes, ink, cement and detergents;
• formalin – it’s used for fabric production as a preservative added to adhesives;
• medications – ointments that contain antibiotics may cause allergic reactions;
• abstergents – powders, washing liquids and washing-up liquids contain allergens;
• plastic materials – allergic reaction can be caused latex gloves, PVCs, toys, and even fitted carpets; this type of allergy reaction can sometime impede work;
• plants – skin lesions are encouraged by many plants.

Contact allergy – Treatment

The easiest way to prevent contact allergy is prophylaxis. Therefore, do your best to avoid being in contact with specific allergens, working with unknown substances without wearing gloves and using coarse grained scrubs. Furthermore, use paraben-free cosmetics that are free both from fragrances and colourants. Always wear gloves if you do the washing-up, if you wash delicate clothing by hand and do cleaning up – they will protect you from the abstergents. Run allergy tests every time you are about to be in contact with new substances and cosmetics. It’s also important to use protective creams.

What should be done when you get sensitized? There are two types of treatment to undergo: local and general. When it comes to local treatment, it includes the use of: emollients, antibiotics and antiseptics. General treatment depends on administering antihistaminic medications and retinoids combined with phototherapy. Allergy can be also counteracted by desensitization to allergens. It depends on giving a patient a small amount of pure allergens so the organism won’t react aversively, yet to let it get use to the allergen and develop resistance to it.