Walk into any drugstore or by cosmetics counter and you can be overwhelmed by the sea of cleansers, toners, astringents, moisturizers, masks, exfoliants, self-tanners, acne products, botox alternatives........any skin condition you may think of. You will find your remedy, usually scientifically packaged to appear to be the "new magic potion" just released from the lab. For sensitive skin types this may be not only be a challenging shopping experience, but quite costly as well. Retail skincare products can be pricy and if you have a reaction to merit a trip to the Dermatologist, the costs can rise quickly!

Hypoallergenic Products

Hypo is a Latin prefix, meaning "less than normal." So products that are hypoallergenic have FEWER ingredients in them that may cause irritation. Not zero ingredients, just less ingredients to cause irritation than other products. Not very reassuring.

The major irritants in beauty and skincare products are fragrances, detergents, dyes and botanicals. These are the same ingredients that are most commonly left out of hypoallergenic products, but even super sensitive skin types may still suffer from a reaction to products labeled hypoallergenic.

Common Allergic Skin Reactions

Redness and stinging are usually the first signs of a skin reaction to a product. Within 12-36 hours, swelling may also develop. Other reactions that may occur is skin that is red, bumpy, scaly or itchy.

When some substances come into contact with skin, they may cause a rash called contact dermatitis.
Some of these reactions are the result of an allergic reaction that involves the immune system, but
many are the result of a non-allergic, or irritant, reaction. Often, it is difficult to tell the
difference between these two types of reactions. The hallmark of allergic contact dermatitis is that
it occurs almost exclusively where the offending agent-such as a plant or chemical-comes in contact
with the skin.

Irritant contact dermatitis is often more painful than itchy, and is the result of an
offending agent that actually damages the skin with which it comes into contact.
The longer the skin is in contact-or the more concentrated the agent-the more severe the reaction.
Water with added soaps and detergents is the most common cause. Thus, it is not surprising
that these reactions appear most often on the hands, and are frequently work-related.
Individuals with other skin diseases, especially eczema, are most susceptible.

Some ingredients in medications applied to the skin also can cause an
allergic reaction, most commonly neomycin, an ingredient in antibiotic creams.
To avoid reactions, any cream that ends in "caine" should never be applied to damaged skin.

Treatment for allergic contact dermatitis depends on the severity of the symptoms.
Cold soaks and compresses can offer relief for the acute, early, itchy blistered stage
of the rash. When the rash is limited to small areas of the skin, topical corticosteroid
creams may be prescribed to offer relief. When large areas of the body are involved, oral
corticosteroids may be prescribed.

What Type of Products are Best for Sensitive Skin Types?

Look for products that are Dermatologist-recommended, labeled for sensitive skin and ones which are dye and fragrance free. Normally, these are formulated with fatty-acids to form a protective barrier on the skin, making it less prone to irritation.

If you still are experiencing any type of reaction consult a Dermatologist or Allergist. They will be able to pinpoint specific ingredients that are causing your skin's allergic reaction.

Kristine, oper8ionsmanager

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