The beneficial effects of cosmetics on the skin are widely known and valued, less is said about their adverse sensitizing properties. Meanwhile, many cosmetics and personal hygiene products, or more precisely some of their ingredients are strong allergens capable of causing allergic contact dermatitis (or irritation), phototoxic or photoallergic changes.
WHAT IS HUMIDITY IN COSMETICS?
What cosmetics can be allergens?
Both patients and doctors are not always aware that cosmetics may be the cause of contact eczema. Meanwhile, research proves that the cause of symptoms of this type are often: perfumes, deodorants, aftershaves, eye shadows, creams, milks, lotions and tonics. Cosmetics for nails and hair, toothpaste, are less likely to be sensitized.
What substances from cosmetics and hygiene products most often sensitize?
According to the research of Swedish allergologists in cosmetics, fragrances are most often sensitizing, and only in the second row are preservatives, cream bases and some resins. Particularly dangerous are cosmetics ingredients such as: mixtures of aromatic synths, some essential oils, Peru balsam, rosin, cream bases (lanolin, eucerin), some cosmetics preservatives, e.g. nipagins.
Ambushes in perfumes and deodorants?
Perfume fragrance composition (sometimes a deodorant) usually contains about 50 ingredients in the form of synthetic fragrances, essential oils, balms, preservatives, and each of these ingredients can become the cause of contact allergies. Synthetic fragrances are most often sensitized (some alcohols - benzoic, cinnamon, cinnamaldehyde, geraniol), Peru balsam, and natural essential oils - bergamut, cinnamon, peppermint, pine, orange, geranium, etc. Fragrances can also cause photoallergic reactions. The best known for this reason, bergamut oil, although it causes only slight erythema, this photoallergic discoloration lasts for many months on the skin. Therefore, from many perfumes, this popular oil has been turned down or its amount has been reduced to a minimum.
What makes you sensitive in creams?
They sensitize the bases of creams, which are often lanolin obtained from sheep wool fat, as well as its eucerine derivative. A particularly allergenic substance contained in lanolin is the so-called alcohol of sheep's wool. Eucerine is a product of lanolin purification, so it is usually the same people who are allergic. Secondly, they sensitize the cream preservatives. Strong allergens are: preservative compounds releasing the so-called formaldehyde, formalin (the latter should not be used anymore). Less dangerous is sorbic acid and parabens. Of the popular fragrances for creams - most often sensitize aromatic synthetics (cinnamon alcohol, cinnamaldehyde, geraraniol), and natural fragrances: Peru balsam, coumarin and essential oils (cinnamon, peppermint).
Allergens in toothpastes
Sensitive mainly to fragrances - cinnamon aldehyde and oils - cinnamon, peppermint. In allergic patients, they cause inflammation of the mouth, gums, tongue and lips.
Simple preventive rules for people with hypersensitive skin:
►try to use cosmetics in the form of powder, instead of ointments, gels, lotions and liquids;
► use washable preparations with water that less allergy;
► use only black mascara and pencil for eyebrows and eyelids, use light eye shadows,
► choose a loose foundation for the face, and if the liquid is the best on the basis of silicone oil, which rarely sensitizes;
► the fewer ingredients in the cosmetic - the less allergenic and safe to use;
► avoid anti-UV agents containing so-called PABA esters, para-aminobenzoic acid and methoxycinnamates;
► avoid preparations that do not have the full chemical composition of the ingredients on the packaging;
► Every 3 months, discard unused cosmetics and replace them with new ones.
Ed. Edward Ozga - Michalski
Consultation by prof. dr hab. Andrzej Danysz
