Who is most likely to have an allergic reaction to a skin product?
Occasionally allergic reactions occur in people with normal skin, but more often then not, they occur in people in which the skin barrier has been broken. This includes someone with a little bit of flaking on their face—something doctors call seborrheic dermatitis—or someone with eczema or someone who just has dry skin.
What products cause allergic reactions?
Lotions and creams, foundations, moisturizers, sunscreens, shampoos, salon hair care products and nail care products are most likely to cause allergic reactions.
What ingredients in skin care products are most likely to cause an allergic reaction?
It depends on the product, but the most common problems are caused by preservatives. Any agent that contains water requires a preservative to keep bacteria or fungi from growing in it. The most common preservatives associated with allergy are those that release formaldehyde. A good example of that is quaternium 15 found in various lotions or creams, shampoos and cleansing agents. There’s also a collection of moisturizing lotions that are preserved with a chemical called methyldibromo glutaronitrile.
Parabens are another type of preservative that are used in thousands of products, but it causes fewer allergic reactions. If you are allergic to any chemicals, then it is important to read the label and make sure they are not included.
