It Smells Great, But It's Giving You A Rash
Dermatologists Say One In 10 Are Allergic To Beauty Products, Other Fragrances
Up to 10 percent of American adults are prone to allergic reactions to some sort of cosmetic product, from hair conditioner to perfume, Florida dermatologist Anthony F. Fransway told his colleagues at a recent dermatology conference. While men and women seem equally prone to allergic reactions from these products, women actually have more problems because they use more cosmetic products, he told the conference.
Most allergies to personal care products are skin rashes, what doctors call "contact dermatitis." Put simply, something in the makeup, perfume or other product causes an allergic reaction in the use, leading to a skin rash.
While the number of potential offenders is huge, fragrance is most common cause of allergic cosmetic reactions, Fransway says. There are more than 5,000 basic fragrances, but this encompasses far more than cologne or perfume. Countless skin care products, soaps, shampoos, lipsticks, sunscreens and lotions contain fragrance.
Allergic reactions to cosmetics typically occur within a few days of initial use, but a true allergic reaction can take anywhere from a week to 10 days to show up, Fransway cautions. In some cases, an allergic reaction is years in the making, and the catalyst for reaction is the condition of the skin and the immune system.
Fortunately, there are ways to protect yourself from these reactions, he says.
- For clothing care, double-rinse all detergents and avoid all fabric softeners.
- Try to wear pure, untreated cotton in light colors. Avoid permanent press or cotton blends. Silk and polyester are acceptable.
- Wash all new clothing items five times before wearing.
- Use only fragrance-free soaps, body cleansers, shampoos and conditioners.
- Avoid all perfumes, colognes and aftershaves.
- Do not use any fingernail care products or hair spray.
