Are you allergic to cosmetics and think, "I'm okay?"

Cosmetic allergies on the rise

Nowadays, most people use cosmetics on a daily basis.

This is true even for people who say they "don't wear makeup." Cosmetics include a wide range of products, such as soap , body wash, shampoo, deodorant, and hair care products. Most people probably use at least one of these.

We use cosmetics to keep ourselves clean and neat. But did you know that cosmetic allergies have been increasing in recent years ? And that anyone can develop an allergic reaction to any type of cosmetic.

10-15% of people have cosmetic allergies

Studies carried out in Denmark and Poland have shown that as many as 10 to 15 percent of people have experienced allergic reactions to cosmetics.

However, no such surveys have been conducted in Japan, so there is no concrete figure for how many people in Japan suffer from cosmetic allergies.

However, Japan is known worldwide for being very beauty conscious.

It's possible that Japanese people are more likely to be exposed to cosmetics than Europeans, which means that the percentage of people suffering from allergies may be higher (this is just speculation).

What happens if you have an allergy to cosmetics?

"I've never had any symptoms like that, so I'm fine."

Some people may think so.

However, allergic reactions to cosmetics can suddenly occur one day. Here are some symptoms that may appear:

This is a photo sent to CONCIO by a person who said that after using a certain brand of skin care product, she suddenly found herself in this state.

I took some medicine prescribed by a dermatologist and it improved a little.

Since then, she has apparently improved to this extent (no make-up or retouching whatsoever).

He said that it was so sudden that he was surprised and had a difficult time.
He provided the photos in the hope that people would know that this can happen to anyone.

By the way, the product that this person used was not harsh at all. It was not a suspicious cosmetic product, and it was a product that anyone could potentially buy.

The main causes of cosmetic allergies

The two main causes of cosmetic allergies are fragrances and preservatives. This is a common understanding around the world.

In other words, if any cosmetic product contains these ingredients, there is a possibility of developing an allergic reaction. For example, the following products are no exception.

• Hair color and gray hair dye
• Hair Care Products
• Styling products
• Antiperspirant
• Nail care products
• Sunscreen
• Wet wipes
• Baby Lotion

Causes of cosmetic allergies: Fragrances and essential oils

I had a rash from cosmetics. My skin turned red. I had a skin reaction.

The first thing to suspect in such a case is fragrance , as reactions often occur on the face, neck, and hands immediately after using strongly scented cosmetics.

Fragrance ingredients are themselves allergens to humans, but sensitizing substances such as limonene and linalool that they contain can also be the cause.

Furthermore, it is not just synthetic fragrances that contain these sensitizing substances. Natural essential oils also contain sensitizing substances such as limonene, linalool, and geraniol.

In addition, essential oils are naturally derived. Therefore, they are more likely to contain impurities. For this reason, it has even been pointed out that they may pose a higher risk of allergies and irritation than synthetic fragrances.

Reference articles:
Limonene: A cosmetic fragrance to avoid if you have sensitive skin
Linalool: Fragrance that can cause cosmetic allergies

Cause of cosmetic allergies② Preservatives

For many years, preservatives have been known to be the leading cause of cosmetic allergies, but since then, a lot has changed in the cosmetics industry.

For example, the following preservatives are often mentioned:

Methylisothiazolinone and Methylchloroisothiazolinone

It was widely used in the 1980s, but it was discovered that it was highly likely to cause allergies. Since then, restrictions have been put in place in Japan, and currently only up to 0.1% of it is permitted in wash-off cosmetics such as shampoos. However, this does not mean that it is prohibited.

DMDM Hydantoin

Some preservatives release formaldehyde. The most common ingredient is DMDM ​​hydantoin .
Formaldehyde is an allergen known to cause sick building syndrome. Therefore, it is not uncommon for people to have allergic reactions to DMDM ​​hydantoin. It is known that women with chronic skin diseases are particularly susceptible to the condition.

Parabens

Parabens are a preservative that many people dislike and avoid.
However, in reality, parabens rarely cause cosmetic allergies. The real risk with parabens is not that they pose an allergic risk, but that they affect hormones in the body.

Propynyl iodide butylcarbamate

A preservative that has recently seen increased use is iodopropynyl butylcarbamate , which is increasingly being used in paraben-free cosmetics and baby wipes.

However, a study conducted in Denmark in 2013 suggested that this preservative also poses an allergic risk.

In addition, it has been pointed out that iodopropynyl butylcarbamate may affect the development and reproductive function of fetuses and infants. For this reason, in some countries, such as New Zealand, it is prohibited from being used in cosmetics for children under the age of three.

Causes of cosmetic allergies 3. Surfactants and detergents

Petroleum-based surfactants such as sodium lauryl sulfate are known to be highly irritating, so many people may avoid them.

However, even if a surfactant is considered to be less irritating, it cannot be said that there is no risk of allergies.

Skin care products labeled "dermatologist recommended," "for sensitive skin," or "for babies" often contain mild surfactants and cleansers.

However, if you continue to use such cosmetics, you may become sensitized to these mild ingredients and develop an allergy.

If you experience an allergic reaction to skin care products or shampoos that are generally considered to be "gentle on the skin," you may want to be careful of the ingredients listed below.

• Cocamidopropyl Betaine
• Alkyl glucoside
• Coconut oil alkyl glucoside
• Lauryl glucoside
• Cetearyl Glucoside
• Decyl glucoside

Many of these ingredients are naturally derived. Therefore, they are often included in organic shampoos. Although many people can use them without any problems, they may not suit everyone.

Causes of cosmetic allergies #4: Natural ingredients

With the growing trend towards natural products, the number of cosmetics containing natural ingredients is on the rise.

At first glance, natural ingredients seem safer and more gentle on the skin than synthetic ingredients, but in fact, from the perspective of contact allergies, this is not necessarily the case.

For example, there are many types of essential oils that are highly sensitizing and likely to cause dermatitis or allergies.
Also, because plant-derived proteins are effective against dry skin, there are many cosmetics that use the following ingredients.

• Oats
• Hydrolyzed Wheat
• Soybean extract (lecithin, hydrogenated lecithin)

Prolonged contact with these substances can cause allergic contact dermatitis.
Furthermore, using cosmetics containing these ingredients can even pose a risk of developing severe allergies to foods containing wheat or soy .

Related article: The risk of developing food allergies from cosmetics

Why hairdressers are prone to allergies

Did you know that many people suffer from allergies to the hairdressers who do their hair?

The main reason is hair dyes, especially the ingredient paraphenylenediamine, which causes many people to suffer from respiratory problems.

Hair dyes, bleaches, shampoos, treatments, and other products used in beauty salons contain numerous chemicals. Continuous contact with these substances for long periods of time every day can make your hands and fingers rough. Inhaling chemicals during treatments can also affect your respiratory system.

And it's not just these chemicals that are affecting hairdressers' health.

There have also been reported cases of immediate allergic reactions to ingredients derived from plant proteins such as wheat, oats, and soybeans, as mentioned above.

Conclusion

Not everyone develops allergies to cosmetics. There are many people who use a lot of cosmetics every day without experiencing any problems.

On the other hand, some people continue to suffer from skin problems due to allergens contained in cosmetics, and in some cases they can even trigger food allergies or respiratory diseases.

Even if you think you're okay, you never know when something like that will happen.

I don't mean to scare you in any way. But I hope that knowing that cosmetics that "seem good" may not be "good" for you will help you make more secure choices.