Permanent Cosmetics Procedures a Viable Option for those with Cosmetic Allergies/Sensitive Skin
People with allergies commonly complain of allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, skin rashes, and pruritus caused by pollen. In particular, allergic dermatitis from sensitive contact to allergic antigens such as trees or weeds, along with atopic dermatitis, worsens in the spring. In existing chronic dermatitis, such as xerotic eczema, atopic dermatitis, or pruritus, erythema and the symptoms of dermatitis become worse, caused by frequent exposure to the cold, dry air from increased outdoor activity.
The use of cosmetics including foundation and color make-up should be avoided in allergic contact dermatitis commonly found in people with sensitive skin. In general, skin with allergic contact dermatitis might have a negative reaction to cosmetics that had previously been used. Therefore, make-up should be avoided until dermatitis is treated with complete recovery. The best skincare to prevent skin troubles is thorough and careful cleansing _ cleansing with mild soap or foam-cleansing soap is favorable for people with sensitive skin who suffer from allergic dermatitis. In addition, massage that irritates the skin should be avoided, and applying moisture cream to dry skin is also desirable.
For most women, "putting on their face" (a.k.a. applying cosmetics) is an important step in their morning routine. However, for those with sensitive skin, this beauty transformation can prove to be tricky as they do their best to avoid cosmetic irritation and unsightly breakouts. While some of these women feel the need to steer clear of make-up altogether, the solution to protecting their sensitive side could lie in permanent cosmetic procedures.
Beauty products are a great way to enhance a woman’s appearance, but if you have sensitive skin and are finding that cosmetics do more harm than good.
Fragrances and preservatives, ingredients commonly found in skin care products and cosmetics, cause most skin problems.
Fragrances - Fragrances cause more allergic contact dermatitis than any other ingredient. More than 5,000 different fragrances are used in cosmetics and skin care products. Hypoallergenic fragrances have been developed to minimize the problem.
Remember that a product labeled "unscented" may in fact contain a fragrance to mask other chemical odors. A product must be marked "fragrance-free" or "without perfume" to indicate nothing has been added to make it smell good. Some fragrance reactions occur only when the skin is exposed to sunlight.
Preservatives - Preservatives in cosmetics and skin care products are the second most common cause of skin reactions. They prevent bacterial and fungal growths that can cause skin infections, and protect products from oxygen and light damage. Cosmetics that contain water must include some type of preservative. Consumers who react to one preservative will not necessarily react to others. Examples of preservatives include paraben, imidazolidinyl urea, Quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, phenoxyethanol, methylchloroisothiazolinone, and formaldehyde.
Studies suggest that up to 10 percent of the population may have some adverse reaction to a cosmetic item over the course of his or her lifetime. These reactions are not gender-specific, but typically women are affected more than men since they tend to use more cosmetic items. Men see the most reactions from after-shave, cologne and shampoos. Women react most commonly to moisturizers/sunscreens, make-up ingredients (specifically make-up bases and eye care products like mascara, eyeliners and eye shadows), perfume, hair care products, and nail products.
Fragrance is the No. 1 cause of allergic cosmetic reactions. 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. Some people are sensitive to the fragrance chemical used in these various products. Other antigens in cosmetics may include preservative chemicals, which are needed to prevent skin care products from spoiling, antioxidants, sunscreen ingredients, and other inactive ingredients.
The face, lips, eyes, ears, and neck are the most common locations for cosmetic allergy. Additionally, hands can be affected by moisturizers or nail products. Adverse reactions include irritant contact dermatitis, which produces burning, stinging, itching and redness. The most common skin irritants are bath soaps, detergents, antiperspirants, astringents, eye makeup, moisturizers, permanent hair solutions and shampoos.
Allergic contact dermatitis afflicts those who are allergic to a specific ingredient or ingredients in a product. Symptoms include redness, swelling, itching and fluid-filled blisters. Reactions can occur whenever an individual is exposed to the ingredient, although symptoms may take several days to appear.
Irritant reactions to cosmetics typically occur within days of initial use, but a true allergic reaction can take anywhere from a week to 10 days. 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.
For some people, saying that they have sensitive skin means that their acne seems to worsen whenever they try a new skin-care product. Others develop rashes when they use fragrance containing foundations. Still others experience a burning or itching sensation whenever the salesperson applies a different make-up product at the local cosmetics counter. Therefore, whether or not a cosmetics user has sensitive skin is a subjective distinction based largely upon that person’s beliefs. The following represents an attempt to categorize the symptoms and conditions commonly experienced by women and men with sensitive skin.
Subjective Irritation
Individuals who describe themselves as having sensitive skin, most commonly exhibit what has been referred to as "subjective irritation." These cosmetic users frequently complain of burning, stinging, itching, or other discomfort shortly after cosmetics are applied, but do not demonstrate objective signs of inflammation. Typically, the unpleasant sensations increase in severity over a five to ten minute period following exposure. They then abate, with complete resolution occurring in about fifteen minutes.
Dermatologists often refer to such individuals as "Stingers," a category that may represent from one to ten percent of cosmetics users. Stingers are unable to tolerate certain cosmetics products, despite any physical evidence of allergic reactions or irritation. This conspicuous lack of observable inflammation may reflect its genuine absence, or the medical profession’s limited ability to detect it.
Objective Irritation
Some cosmetics purchasers develop visible irritation after applying specific products. Referred to by doctors as "Irritant Contact Dermatitis," this reaction is the most frequent observable adverse reaction to cosmetics products. Affected individuals experience redness, burning, and itching, with the formation of tiny vesicles, and subsequent peeling. Causes include: cosmetics formulations that are of high or low pH or which dissolve protective skin oils, rubbing during application, and abrasive particles within the products.
Identifying and eliminating the offending agent may prove difficult, since almost all chemicals can cause irritation under the right conditions. Moreover, multiple exposures may be necessary to produce the reaction, which further obscures identification of the causative substance. Finally, individuals vary in their responses to different chemicals, and their susceptibilities to irritant reactions depends on the integrity of the skin's protective barrier. Conditions such as psoriasis and eczema, create vulnerability because they involve compromise of the skin’s outer protective layers. This can translate into increased susceptibility to the irritant effects of products that under ordinary circumstances would be utilized without incident.
Allergic Reactions
Less often, users may experience allergic reactions to cosmetics products. These are generally the easiest responses to diagnose and manage. Allergy involves an inappropriate response of the immune system to a chemical exposure. Its symptoms of redness, itching, peeling, and vesicle formation are caused by the body’s ordinarily protective, but in this instance misguided, reaction.
After identification of the responsible chemical, one need only avoid products that contain it to prevent future reactions. Skin and hair products are a considerably more frequent cause of allergic reactions than are facial cosmetics. Nail products and fragrance products are even less likely than facial cosmetics to cause such responses. Paradoxically, however, when facial cosmetics users do have allergic reactions to products, added fragrances are the most likely culprits, followed by preservatives. When evaluating a patient for cosmetics allergy, a dermatologist, allergist, or other trained physician often performs specialized testing called "patch testing" on all of the patient’s cosmetics products, as well as on a standardized set of potentially allergy inducing substances. When the diagnosis is confirmed, and the offending chemical or chemicals identified, the patient is simply instructed to avoid them. Customers with known allergies to fragrances should purchase fragrance-free formulations.
Contact Urticaria
Another type of skin reaction experienced after cosmetics exposure is referred to as "Contact Urticaria." It is characterized by the development of hives in response to cosmetics exposure. Contact Urticaria may or may not be allergic in nature. Symptoms range from simple itching and burning to generalized hives, and in rare circumstances may involve a life-threatening systemic reaction that includes wheezing, airway obstruction, and shock.
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