Contact Dermatitis
Sensitive Skin Irritation -What Ingredients Can Cause Skin Sensitivity?
Skin care for sensitive skin
According to a recent Marie Claire Magazine Dr. David Bank stated that at least 50% of women believe they have sensitive skin,and have a difficult time finding products. Skin irritation or sensitive skin reactions are the most often acknowledged side effects of using lotions,moisturizers,shampoos,conditioners,perfumes,anti aging skin care products and other personal care products.
Skin reactions can fall into two distinct categories.
1. Allergic usually involves the immune system,and can affect other parts of the body
2. Irritant means that the reaction is by in large contained on the skin surface.
External factors such as the sun,pollutions,smoke,humidity,air conditioning and heating can all affect the skin in different ways,and affect each skin type differently. However,many of us are not just reacting to external factors that we are reacting to irritants that can be found in many products,and if you look closely by read the labels you may find the culprits.
1. Acids
You will find that there are two types of hydroxyl acids-alpha hydroxyl acid and beta hydroxyl acid.
Alpha hydroxyl acid is mainly used to exfoliate and is derived from fruit. Milk sugars produce lactic acid,and glycolic acid are created or extracted from sugar cane.
There is only one beta hydroxyl acid which is called salicylic acid.
You may see them on labels listed as:azelaic,alpha hydroxyl,benzoic,lactic,sobirc,and cinnamic.
2. Balsam Of Peru
Fragrance is the number one source of allergic reaction and allergic contact dermatitis. The ingredient that can be traced back to many allergic reactions is Balsam of Peru which is a resin that encases a multitude of scents. It is very photo toxic which means that when you spray the fragrance on your skin,go out into the sun or about your day,you can eventually end up with permanent brown or reddish dots,streak or spots on your skin where the fragrance was sprayed. The UV rays come together with the balsam of peru creating a toxic reaction,and permanent discolorations on the skin. This is reaction is known as berloque dermatitis.
Look for products that are fragrance free verses unscented which can still contain fragrance ingredients,but use other chemicals to mask the scents in the product.
3. Formaldehyde
You may not read the word formaldehyde,but what you may see could be:imidazolidinyl urea,quaternium 15. Formaldehyde is a common ingredient in nail polish,and can lead to many cases of eyelid dermatitis. I did not realize and perhaps you might not either,but it can take 24-48 hours before nail polish dries to the rock hard stage,and during this time formaldehyde can be released. When the formaldehyde comes in contact with skin or mucous membranes it can contribute to contact dermatitis,red eyes,or swollen lips.
4. Parabens
Paraben are preservatives that are found in darn near every product in some form or another. They can contribute to rashes,redness,and dryness of the skin. Look for names like methyl,propyl and benzyl hydroxbenzonate.
5. Phthalates
It is important to look for products free of phthalates as they are considered potential carcinogens,thought to contribute to birth defects,rashes,and other allergic reactions. Banned in Europe it may be possibly still be found in some nail polishes on the market.
Listed on labels as DBP or di-n-butyl phthalate
6. PPD
Paraphenylenediamine can be found in permanent hair dyes,and can create an allergic reaction such as a rash,redness and blisters on the scalp,but not necessary around the hair line,or forehead area. According to sources PPD allergies seem to increase as we age,but it is possible to request PPD free dyes or use henna that do not contain this irritant.
Sensitive Skin
7. Retinoid
Retinols are derived from vitamin A which is a fat-soluble vitamin. They are the reigning king of anti aging ingredients at the moment,but are a definite skin irritant. They can make skin more sensitive to the sun and drier in winter time. A trick for using this powerful anti aging ingredient while decreasing skin sensitivity is to apply your retinoid for 15 minutes at night,and then wash it off after the 15 minutes with a mild skin cleanser.
You may see them on product labels as; 3,7-dimethyl-9-(2,6,6,trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)-2,4,6,8-natetraen-1-ol,3-dehydroretinol,antixerophthalmic vitamin,Aquasol A®,axerophtholum,beta-carotene oleovitamin A,Palmitate-A®,retinaldehyde (RAL),retinyl acetate,retinyl N-formyl aspartamate,retinyl palmitate,Solatene®,vitamin A,vitamin A1,vitamin A USP,vitaminum A.
8. Shea Butter or Coco Butter
These may not on the top list of irritating ingredients,but if you have a nut allergy they may be ingredients that you avoid applying to your skin.
9. Triclosan
Triclosan is an antibacterial or an agent that interferes with the growth and reproduction of bacteria. It can be found I in products used to disinfect surfaces. It is also put in many soap products,acne products,hand sanitizers,detergents,health and skincare products and household cleaners. It can cause your hands,wrists and palms to develop an itchy rash.
Sodium fluoride Triclosan can be found in many types of toothpaste,and can cause skin irritation around the mouth.
I hope you found this list helpful,and you are better informed on skin care for sensitive skin. I learned a few things as I did my research,and I will be reading my anti aging skin care product and personal skin care product labels a lot more closely for these ingredients.
You can find helpful Anti Aging Skin Product Reviews just click on the link,and I will see you there!
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- The Latest News On Parabens,Are They Dangerous?
- What Age Should You Start Using Anti Aging Products?
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