Cosmetic Allergy Prevention

Cosmetic allergy reactions are not diseases, but appropriate treatment should be followed once a person gets a reaction. The first thing to do is stop using the products that cause an allergic reaction. After the symptoms subside, start using one product at a time to determine the exact culprit ingredient. Consult a dermatologist if the symptoms do not subside and stop using the product completely if you experience the same reactions with the cosmetic products.

Diagnosis of the reactions will depend on the symptoms and history of use of various cosmetic products. It might be difficult for your specialist to identify one particular product which is causing reactions if you are using a list of products. For exact diagnosis your specialist may perform a patch test to identify the allergen or the substance that is causing the problem. He may then prescribe some over the counter available ointments or creams to heal the condition. The cortisol present in the prescription in the form of hydrocortisone acetate and hydrocortisone will help reduce the itching, swelling and redness. In cases where the blistered skin is infected, some anti-biotic medications may be needed.

Prevention Tips

• Keep tract of the products that has caused allergic reactions in the past. Read the product labels carefully; select a product with simple and known formulation. Avoid buying the product which you know can cause allergic reaction.

• Before trying any new makeup or other products it is wise to perform a mini patch test. For this, test the product on your inner wrist and wait for 24 hours. If no reaction occurs, it might be safe to apply.

• Select makeup products carefully, as they are in constant contact with your skin. Choose fragrance-free, hypoallergenic or non-comedogenic products.

• Rather than applying perfumes and deodorants directly on the skin, prefer applying them on your clothes.

• Maintain personal hygiene; wash off the makeup every night before going to bed. Especially never go to bed with your foundation and eye makeup.

• Make appropriate sense of the product labels, read all the ingredients carefully. Remember ‘fragrance free’ products might have small amount of fragrance to mask the unpleasant smell of the chemicals. When it is mentioned ‘natural’ on a product, it is made from plant or animal extracts and not made chemically.

It is important to remember that no cosmetic product can ever guarantee that it is allergic free. So to be on a safer side it is better to take prevention rather than treating the reactions as like other allergies cosmetic allergy is also not curable but only treatable.