Cosmetics and skincare products have become part of our daily life. Reports show that the average adult uses at least seven different cosmetic products every day. Whilst cosmetics can boost our feeling of well-being, they can also cause skin irritation or allergic reactions. Certain ingredients used in cosmetics, such as fragrances and preservatives, can act as allergens and sensitizers.
The time it takes for symptoms of allergy and sensitivity to appear varies. For strong irritants, such as perfumes and chemical preservatives (e.g., parabens) a reaction may occur within minutes or hours of exposure. However, it may take days or weeks of continued exposure to a weaker irritant before symptoms appear. In some cases, a person can develop an allergic sensitivity to a product after years of use.
With irritant contact dermatitis the skin breaks down when it comes into contact with harsh substances - most often chemicals that directly injure the outer layer of the skin. Allergic contact dermatitis occurs because the body's immune system reacts against a specific substance (the allergen) that it considers foreign and harmful.
Although serious allergic reactions associated with cosmetics are rare, it is not unusual for a person to be sensitive or to develop an allergic reaction to an ingredient within a cosmetic product. Studies suggest that up to ten per cent of the population will have some type of reaction to a cosmetic over the course of a lifetime. Reactions to cosmetics occur more often in women, but this is probably because women tend to use more cosmetic products than men do.
To fully benefit from cosmetics and skincare products, it is important to be aware of each product's ingredients and to look for and avoid ingredients that are known allergens for you. To make this easier, the FDA requires cosmetic manufacturers to list the ingredients on the product label. Ingredients are listed in descending order of quantity. Keep in mind, however, that trade secrets (including certain fragrances) do not have to be specifically listed. Also, products labelled 'unscented' or 'fragrance free' may still contain small amounts of fragrances needed to cover the odour of other chemical ingredients. And 'natural' generally just means that the product includes ingredients extracted from plants or animal products.
Dr. Baumann skincare company hold a hugely popular series of ingredient awareness seminars across the country, where skincare professionals are given an ingredient dictionary and are educated on the benefits and potential dangers of ingredients used in cosmetics. TT
For further information on the Dr. Baumann Bionome skincare range or to attend an ingredient awareness seminar call today on 0845 8335505 or email stephen@dr-baumann.co.uk.
MarApr 07