Introduction
Cosmetics are products applied topically to enhance our beauty and protect our skin. They should not have active ingredients as they may affect the structural and functional integrity of the skin. These cosmetics are also found to be therapeutic due to the drugs added to treat skin conditions. Allergens per se are found in all the cosmetics used daily such as skin care products, hair care products, nail care products, shaving creams, deodorants, sunscreens, etc. However, they cause some reactions in our skin if we are allergic to them.
What Are Cosmetic Allergens?
The cosmetic allergens are
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Fragrances: More than 5000 fragrance ingredients are incorporated into cosmetic products to enhance the product's smell. Some of the fragrance ingredients are benzyl alcohol, benzyl salicylate, eugenol, farnesol, isoeugenol, oak moss extract, tree moss extract, etc. They are present in shampoos, conditioners, perfumes, moisturizers, facial cosmetics, and deodorants. Some formulas of these fragrances on exposure can cause contact dermatitis, headaches, coughing, and wheezing.
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Preservatives: Cosmetics containing water usually have preservatives added to prevent bacterial and fungal growth. The preservatives commonly added to cosmetics are parabens, formaldehyde, isothiazolinone, and methylisothiazolinone. Parabens are found in makeup, moisturizers, hair care, shaving, etc.
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Acids: The acids such as salicylic acid and glycolic acid, which are incorporated in chemical peels present with redness, skin irritation, dryness, and a burning sensation on contact.
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Hair Dyes and Bleaching Agents: The ingredients in hair dyes that are allergic are phenylenediamine, lead, mercury, ammonia, and toluene. Phenylenediamine is an ingredient used in permanent hair dyes. If they are allergic to an individual, they can cause dermatitis in the upper eyelids or rims of the ears if they have a mild effect. It can also cause swelling of the scalp and face in severe cases. Ammonia can irritate the skin. Lead and mercury can lead to dermatitis of the ears, scalp, and face.
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Metals: It is important to beware of certain metals in cosmetics such as nickel, cobalt, chromium, and lead which are incorporated into hair dyes and antiperspirants.
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Nail cosmetics: The chemical in nail cosmetics that is found to be allergic is toluene sulfonamide formaldehyde resin. It causes allergic contact dermatitis in individuals who are prone to allergic reactions. Benzoyl peroxide and hydroquinone present in artificial nails are also allergy-causing ingredients found in artificial nails.
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Sun Protection Products: The common ingredients in sunscreen products that are allergic are benzophenones and cinnamates. They cause swelling, pain, bleeding, and scaling of the skin.
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Antiperspirants: The use of antiperspirants can sometimes lead to redness on the armpits because of the aluminum compounds present in them. The product causes allergic reactions if they are too powerful in its action.
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Emulsifiers: These are commonly found in skin lotions which can lead to allergic contact dermatitis.
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Emollients: They are used to soothe the skin and feel good but certain emollients such as cocoa butter, coconut butter, and lanolin can lead to skin breakouts in acne-prone skin.
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Surfactants: Surfactants are ingredients added to cosmetics for cleansing, foaming, antimicrobial effects, and emulsification. Laureth and laurel sulfates are the common surfactant groups that are found to be allergic. They lead to allergic contact dermatitis.
Who Gets Allergic to Cosmetics?
Women are the ones who use cosmetic products in everyday life. So they are most prone to allergic reactions due to cosmetics. Though there are plenty of allergic reactions encountered among them, most of the reactions are self-treated at home and have not led to serious complications.
What Are the Cosmetic Allergic Reactions?
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Contact Urticaria: It occurs one hour after application of the product presenting with a burning sensation initially then leading to swelling and redness. The rashes formed usually resolve within 24 hours.
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Anaphylaxis: It is characterized by nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, acute urticaria, and angioedema on exposure to the allergen. There are certain cases of death also reported due to allergens in a permanent dye.
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Irritant Contact Dermatitis: On exposure to the allergen, patches, red rashes, scaly skin, and itching are noticed. There are also cases of oozing blisters. Reactions occur within minutes and hours of exposure if it is a strong irritant. If it is a weak irritant, it may take weeks or months.
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Allergic Contact Dermatitis: It is characterized by redness, swelling, and itching, on the face, lips, eyes, ears, and neck. It usually occurs in individuals whose immune system is sensitive to the allergen. It starts with a rash 12 hours after exposure and attains its peak after 48 hours.
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Photo Contact Dermatitis: It is an allergic reaction occurring due to the interaction of sunlight with the ingredients in cosmetic products.
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Cosmetics-induced Acne: Sometimes, the foundation creams and moisturizers left on the skin for a long time can lead to the formation of blackheads and acne.
How to Prevent Cosmetic Allergic Reactions?
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Avoid products containing the ingredients you are allergic.
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Read the list of ingredients before using the product.
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Test the new cosmetic product by conducting a patch test. Apply the product to your elbow and allow it to stay for 48 to 72 hours. If you can notice any redness, swelling, itching, and burning do not use the product.
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Choose the products containing a few products to minimize the allergens.
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Apply perfumes on clothes and not on your skin to prevent allergies.
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Do not assume that products mentioned with a fragrance-free label do not contain fragrances in them. There may be added fragrances to compensate for the chemical odor.
What Are the Treatment Options for Cosmetic Allergies?
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Contact dermatitis does not require specific treatment. It resolves on the retrieval of the allergen which causes it. So the individual has to identify the ingredient he or she is allergic to and stop using those ingredient-infused products.
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The symptoms such as redness, swelling, and itching can be treated by applying creams or ointments containing hydrocortisone (corticosteroids).
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Antibiotics are also prescribed to prevent secondary infections.
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In certain allergic conditions, emollients or moisturizers are used to escape the dryness of the skin.
Conclusion
The cosmetics we use in our daily life are usually safe, but rarely, they may cause adverse reactions because, more often, the products are checked for safety and quality before they are marketed. However, if adverse reactions occur, the individual should identify which ingredient they are allergic to and swap the product that best suits their skin.
