It’s nice to glam up every once in a while. Using beauty products including skincare, makeup, and hygienic products can boost your confidence. It can also help in improving your productivity at work and enhancing your social skills. It improves your appearance and can make you look more attractive for many people.
Unfortunately, some people are not able to use some beauty products due to allergic reactions. In such cases, it is best to consult an allergist specialist to manage the condition. Allergy to beauty products may not be as common as pet allergies or food allergies. However, there are a lot of people around the world who have what it is called cosmetic allergy.
Are you allergic to beauty products?
There are many reasons your skin breaks out. It can be due to stress or the foods you eat. On the other hand, it can be due to the beauty products you are using. Cosmetic allergy can cause adverse effects such as itching, rashes, swelling, and puffiness among a few.
It is said that there are two major types of skin reactions: irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis. The former occurs when a certain beauty product causes damage to the skin. Among these symptoms include burning sensation, itching, or redness, or oozing blisters in worst cases. If you encounter any of these symptoms when you use makeup, it is best to contact an allergist doctor immediately.
On the other hand, the latter may affect your immune system. Like irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis can also cause symptoms such as swelling, redness, and hives. The symptoms often manifest themselves on specific parts of the body such as the eyes, ears, lips, neck, or the entire face.
Regardless of the symptoms, it is important to consult an allergist immediately. These can lead to worse situations if left ignored. He or she should also help you manage your condition and advice for any treatments you need to undergo to minimize the onset of the allergic symptoms.
Common beauty products that can cause allergies
Among common beauty products that cause cosmetic allergies include:
- Eye makeup
- Skin moisturizers
- Soaps
- Shampoos or conditioner
- Antiperspirants/deodorant
- Lip stains
- Compact powder
- Nail polish (especially those with formaldehyde)
- Hair dyes
- Perfume
Most of these products contain ingredients that cause adverse reactions when come into contact on the skin and scalp. In such cases, it is best to consult an allergy physician before using these products. Among these potentially harmful ingredients include the following:
- Paraben
- Formaldehyde
- Phenoxyethanol
- Methylchloroisothiazolinone
- DMDM hydantoin
- Alpha-hydroxy acids (especially those with more than 10 percent AHA levels)
How to avoid cosmetic allergies
There are many ways you can avoid these cosmetic allergy symptoms. One way is to determine if you are indeed allergic to makeup or any beauty product. As mentioned, various symptoms will appear that will confirm your allergy to a specific beauty product. If this happens, it is best to visit an allergy clinic to treat the symptoms. Other tips to avoid the adverse effects of cosmetic allergies include the following.
- Check the label. The fewer the ingredients, the fewer the chances that it can cause adverse reactions to users. Better yet, choose products that are FDA-approved.
- Consider having an allergy testing procedure before buying a product. One way is by patch testing. Apply a small amount of the product on the inside part of your arm. Wait for about 48 to 72 hours and check for any signs of swelling, redness, or itchiness. If there is, you already know what to do.
- Do not apply perfume or cologne directly on the skin, but on your clothes instead. This will help lessen the risk of adverse reactions on the skin.
- Some products may be labeled as “hypoallergenic” or “dermatologist-tested”. However, these may not guarantee that the product is safe against adverse effects. Then again, you can try the skin patch test just to be sure.
Conclusion
We should all be careful with the products we choose. Just when you think you are not allergic to a certain product or food, it will appear that you are once it touches your skin or consumed one. If you experience any unusual symptoms after coming into contact with a specific product, make sure to visit an allergy physician in Manassas VA immediately for proper treatment.