A wide range of chemical ingredients in cosmetics and skincare products can cause allergy or sensitivity. To know more about what chemical sensitivity is and likely symptoms, >CHEMICALS. The most common causes are:
• Perfumes and fragrances
• Preservatives
• Hair dyes
• Lanolin
Perfumes and fragrances most frequently cause sensitivity to cosmetics, toiletries and skincare products. Perfumes, aftershaves and colognes are themselves common sensitisers. If you react to any products (for instance, soap, hair gels, bath lotions, hairspray or make-up), the most likely cause will be perfume added to disguise the smell of ingredients. Natural oils used as fragrances (such as cinnamic alcohol or musk ambrette) are known sensitisers and allergens. Musk ambrette, commonly used in aftershaves, is a known photoallergen, causing reactions under certain conditions of sunlight. Look for unperfumed products wherever possible. This move alone may solve any problems you have with toiletries.
Preservatives are also known to sensitise, especially chemicals known as the parabens. Preservatives are necessary to give any product shelf-life. Without them, products would grow mould and bacteria within a few days. For people with sensitive skin, some preservatives are more likely to cause reactions than others when used on already inflamed skin, but are virtually hypoallergenic when used on areas not already sensitised. Therefore they continue to be used in many hypoallergenic products, although it is known that they can sensitise.
It is virtually impossible to avoid preservatives if you use grooming and beauty products. To avoid problems with preservatives, do not apply products directly to areas of highly inflamed skin unless you absolutely have to.
The Allergy Shop and Cosmetics To Go (addresses above) sell a small selection of preservative-free products.
If you know you are sensitive to a specific chemical, you can identify products which do not contain it by using the National Eczema Society’s database of ingredients.
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