Treatment

Cosmetics allergy: What to do

On April 23, 2019 by

A cosmetic bag full of decorative and care products is the real wealth of any woman. It is in this small (or not small) box that everything necessary to create not only a beautiful image, but also a wonderful mood for the whole day is stored.

Unfortunately, prices for betwear products are growing much faster than we would like. So, despite the many claims of dermatologists that it is necessary to periodically thin out the stock of cosmetics, many women do not do it. And not everyone will raise a hand to throw away expensive shadows or powder, even if their shelf life has long expired.

Sometimes it turns out that the next use of old cosmetics cause itching, swelling and redness of the skin.

Dermatitis is all the blame.

After another application of the old carcass, shadows or eyeliner women can get swelling of the eyelids, red eyes and involuntary tears. And the skin itself will become more sensitive, it will have tiny cracks and scratches, burgundy stains and swelling.

The culprit of all these sensations is dermatitis.

True, the question arises: why the same cosmetics have not caused these sensations before? The fact is that the basis of allergic dermatitis is the development of sensitization (sensitivity to an allergen). This means that the reaction time may take from a few days to several months or even years. That is, if the cosmetics did not cause an allergy at the first, second or hundredth application, unpleasant symptoms may appear at the first hundred first application of it on the skin.

By the way, most often “victims” of dermatitis are people with existing allergic diseases. This group includes patients with hives, eczema, bronchial asthma or psoriasis.

The most common allergens in cosmetics

The composition of many cosmetic products can terrify even an experienced chemist. There are oxides, metals, salts, preservatives, and thousands of other terrible, long and terribly incomprehensible phrases. Amazingly, we may have a whole Mendeleev’s table on our face!

Most often the culprits of allergies are essential oils, lanolin, various colorants and alcohols, preservatives and extracts of plants and herbs.

Item one: detect and neutralize the allergen.

What to do when unpleasant symptoms develop? Of course, the first thing to do is wash off all the makeup. Even if there is a slight burning or tingling sensation after using betty products, this is the first bell that indicates the possibility of allergies. Make-up should be removed with cotton pads and a special product (micellar water or oil), as water will not be able to completely clean the skin.

Another important step is allergen detection. Of course, in most cases the woman already “knows the enemy in the face”, but sometimes there can be many suspects. In order not to get rid of all the cosmetics at once, you can undergo a special examination.

Most often an allergic sample, called a panch test, is used for this purpose. With the help of special patches, alleged allergens (cosmetics) are applied to the skin and their number is indicated next to them. After 1-2 days, the reaction at the application site is assessed.

Appearance of redness, itching or burning at the site of application of a certain product indicates the development of sensitization.

Paragraph two: eliminate the consequences

In most cases, allergic symptoms go away for several days without any intervention. But which woman would agree to walk for so long with a questionable “decoration” on her face? Therefore, both systemic and local remedies are used.

Antihistamines cope well with swelling and itching: only one pill makes the condition much easier.

Specialists advise to buy the latest generation of drugs, as the old cause sleepiness and lethargy, which is completely inappropriate in the middle of the day. The duration of antihistamine drugs is relatively short and ranges from 7 to 10 days. This is usually enough to make the symptoms disappear.

If the skin rashes persist for a long time, you should consult a dermatologist. Not all medications can be used to treat allergic dermatitis localised on the face. The doctor will recommend certain ointments and creams that are suitable for sensitive skin.

Item three: do not forget about prevention

So how do you protect yourself from potential trouble? The answer is simple: do not ignore the recommendations of doctors to use cosmetics. No matter how pitiful it is to part with cherished, but expired jars and tubs, their place – in the trash can, not in the cosmetics bag.

You should also keep an eye on the composition of the purchased beauty products (especially if there have been reactions to this or that product before). Most cosmetics brands have websites or hotlines where you can clarify this information.