Grace is grumbling: I have severe allergies to dust and pollen and it really bugs me when I hear my friends say they’re “allergic” to cosmetics. I don’t think they’re allergic, the cosmetics are probably just irritating their skin. Please tell me who’s right so I can make them shut up!
The Right Brain Has An Allergic Response:
Actually you AND your friends might be right. Certain cosmetic chemicals can cause negative reactions in some people. There are two basic types of reactions: irritation reaction (also known as Irritant Contact Dermatitis, or ICD) and allergic response (known as Allergic Contact Dermatitis or ACD). In general terms, irritation occurs when your cells are attacked by harsh chemicals. An allergy occurs when your immune system develops antibodies in response to a chemical you’ve been exposed to. (Just like your hayfever.)
It’s important to understand if you’re irritated or allergic because it will help your doctor determine the right course of treatment. Here’s how you can tell the difference.
What They Do To Your Skin
Irritation: Gives you redness with possible oozing sores. Your skin may develop a chapped, glazed or scaled appearance. You’ll feel burning, stinging, pain and soreness. You may also have some itchiness.
Allergies: The skin appearance may be similar, but the main symptom is itchiness.
Where The Response Occurs:
Irritation: The effects are usually limited to the part of the skin that was contacted by the chemical.
Allergy: Because you’re producing antibodies, the effect is not limited to the contact point. The effects may be worse in the contact area, but you can develop symptoms any where on your body.
How Long It Takes For The Response To Develop
Irritation: Symptoms develop after a single exposure. They usually appear in a few minutes, at most within a few hours, after contact.
Allergies: After the first exposure, you typically have no symptoms. That’s because your body hasn’t developed an antibody response to the agent yet. After subsequent exposures, Symptoms may take 24 to 72 hours to develop.
Source:
Dermatotoxicology, 6th edition. Edited by Hongbo Zhai and Howard I. Maibach
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thebeautybrains.com » Blog Archive » Another Cosmetic Ingredient To Be Afraid Of? Says:
[...] By the way, if you’re not sure if you have contact dermatitis or not, read our previous post on how to tell the difference between skin allergies and skin irritation. [...]
The Beauty Brains » Blog Archive » When Natural Ingredients Attack Says:
[...] Do you have an allergy that makes your skin break out? Leave a comment and let the rest of the Beauty Brains community know. And if you’re not sure, read our previous post on how to tell the difference between irritation and an allergic response. [...]