The use of any cosmetic products can cause allergies. Nivea face cream, a serum for the skin of a well-known American manufacturer, a light emulsion of a Korean brand - no matter what a good, well-known, advertised product, the sensitization reaction may appear unpredictably for the user.
Relevance of the issue
Almost any modern woman has some kind of face cream, or even more than one. In everyday life, ladies, and recently men too, use a huge variety of personal care products, as well as foundation creams designed to mask defects. There are tightening agents designed for aging skin, there are moisturizing and nourishing compounds and products presented as unique and miraculous creams that relieve wrinkles. The use of any of them can cause allergies. Photos of face creams that provoked such a reaction are presented in a variety of sources, accumulating reviews and user experience.
Nowadays, people are faced with the problem of allergies more and more often. Cosmetic products were no exception. The main variety of the assortment presented on the pharmacy shelves is made using a huge number of ingredients, chemical components that give color and smell, ensuring a long shelf life. More often it is such inclusions that provoke skin sensitivity.
Maximum risk
If you study special sources for information on how to check face cream for allergies, you can come across recommendations for analysis of the composition. Of course, just studying the list of ingredients will not allow us to conclude for sure that sensitization will not occur: substances that do not provoke allergies in some cause it in other users. But if a person knows for sure that some chemical compound leads to such an answer, before buying a new product you need to make sure that there is no dangerous substance in the composition.
An allergic reaction is due to the ability of the immune system to determine the dangerous compounds present in cosmetics. In response to this, the body generates histamine, the excessive content of which provokes rashes and itching.
What to look at?
As observations have shown, there are some ingredients that are more likely to cause allergies to face cream. This is lanolin, designed to moisturize the skin, tocopherol acetate, which is an antioxidant, as well as butyloxytoluene. Hazardous substances are those that provide a shelf life of: methyl, propyl paraben.
Before you buy an attractive cosmetic product, you need to study the list of ingredients used by the manufacturer. If possible, it is recommended to purchase goods that do not have the indicated compounds. The best and least dangerous from the point of view of the sensitization reaction are cosmetic products made with natural substances. The more there are, the less danger.
Product Groups and Risks
Some products are known that are more likely to provoke allergies. Photos of face creams, packages of such products demonstrate: most often the problem is caused by the use of foundation for the face or designed to protect from the sun. Among tonal ones, the most dangerous from the point of view of potential sensitization are products manufactured by Maybellyn, Loreal, and Black Pearl. These products include chemical ingredients that provide a special shade. Their prolonged interaction with the skin leads to allergies. Higher risk of reaction in owners of oily skin. When choosing cosmetics for yourself, you need to pay attention to the special one created for such integuments. The package should read oil free.
Among those protecting from the sun, the most allergenic are products of the manufacturers Nivea, Biokon and Maximum Protection. In the composition of such products there are a lot of additional ingredients that protect the skin from ultraviolet radiation. Potentially dangerous for humans, RABA, oxy-, avobenzone, used in sunscreen cosmetics.
Objectives and Methods
If a person knows well how an allergy to a face cream manifests itself (foci of rash, itching of the skin), and the reaction is due to the use of sun-protecting compounds, you should try using a moisturizer before applying this product. As shown by studies of dermatologists, sensitization with this combination is found at times less.
Quite often, undesirable effects provoke funds to combat age-related skin changes. The greatest risks are associated with the use of products of the Nevskaya Cosmetics and New Pearls brands. Prolonged use of a single product can cause sensitization due to the cumulative effect. Hazardous compounds included in the product do not affect the body immediately, but when quite a lot of such substances accumulate in the skin, an allergy begins.
About manifestations
It is usually easy to see the appearance of allergies to face cream. Photos in special medical directories show the foci of redness and rash characteristic of this case. Typically, manifestations appear almost immediately after application of the drug or in a short time after using the product. Relatively slower responses are less common: appearing in a day or two. As professionals say, skin manifestations are in the form of dermatitis of an allergic nature or contact.
Allergic dermatitis
In case of an allergy to a face cream, a symptom of such a sensitization reaction will be the appearance of foci of skin rashes immediately after contact with an aggressive cosmetic product. Most often, the skin burns. Itchy foci may appear. In the area of direct contact, the integuments acquire an unhealthy reddish tint. May cause a minor rash. In some, the reaction is accompanied by the formation of acne, blackheads, blisters. The areas of rashes can be limited to the area of interaction of the skin and cosmetic products. A more severe case is accompanied by rashes all over the face. Damage to the neck area is possible.
Contact dermatitis
In the case of this type of allergy to a face cream, the symptoms may initially be completely absent. Manifestations are observed when quite a lot of aggressive compounds accumulate in the skin. This is recorded with prolonged use of a cosmetic product. The main manifestations resemble those described above. Differences in severity are possible. If contact with a hazardous product is not eliminated, serious complications are likely. The most negative cases are anaphylactic shock, angioedema.
What to do?
In case of an allergy to a face cream, treatment begins with the exclusion of a dangerous chemical compound from your life. When the first signs of a skin reaction appear, they wash themselves using a hypoallergenic soap. Assuming exactly which cosmetic product caused sensitization, they get rid of it, do not repeat the application. If the condition is serious enough, you need to see a doctor. The doctor will probably prescribe antihistamines.
An antihistamine treatment is necessary for any sensitization factor, if the condition requires medical treatment. Before you start taking the drug, consult a doctor about an allergy to a face cream. What to do, the doctor will explain in detail, as well as select the most suitable pharmaceutical product. Antihistamines in a short time improve the well-being of the patient and weaken the symptoms of the condition. The most common means in modern medical practice are presented in pharmacies under the names "Zodak", "Claritin".
Treatment options
If the symptoms of an allergy to a face cream are severe, the doctor will probably suggest treatment with hormonal drugs. Use "Hydrocortisone", "Prednisone". These steroidal agents quickly stop the activity of inflammatory foci. It is not worth using them at your discretion because of the increased risks. Corticosteroids can also provoke sensitization of the body.
Safe treatment
To eliminate the return of symptoms and quickly cope with current manifestations, elimination therapy is indicated. This is a safe treatment that is painless and does not require the use of dangerous drugs that provoke adverse reactions. The task of man is to completely eliminate dangerous cosmetic products and wait until the manifestations disappear. Further, adhering to the weekly interval, various means are introduced into use, controlling how the body responds to this.
In order to notice the symptoms of an allergy to face cream in time and not to doubt what caused them, for the entire period of such a safe treatment they refuse alcoholic beverages and spicy foods, exclude tobacco products.
What else to try?
If allergies are accompanied by severe skin manifestations, special means should be used to alleviate them. There are creams, gels, ointments. When choosing pharmaceutical products, you must first study the instructions - not all allergy medications for local application are approved for use on the face. In the general case, the products quickly eliminate the manifestations of sensitization, so the patient's quality of life returns to normal.
Dosage formulations intended for local application are non-hormonal, steroidal. The former are safer, they can usually be used for a long time. Most of these products do not provoke a side effect. The classic pharmacy product that is popular with allergy sufferers is Actovegin. It will be possible to notice the result of its use in a week (sometimes a little less or longer) after the start of the course.
If the reaction is very pronounced, hormonal ointments should be used. These are sold under the names Advantan, Elkom. Means soon remove unpleasant manifestations. You can not use them for a long time - there is a risk of addiction.
Pharmacy products and more
If the areas of skin lesions are large enough, you can use the pharmacy products "Futsidin", "Levosin". The Levomekol means has a pretty good reputation. All of these products are designed to disinfect skin. Before starting the course, you need to consult a doctor for advice. These drugs can also cause allergies. People prone to such reactions need to be extremely careful so that the condition does not become worse.
To ensure that the main treatment is as effective as possible, you can supplement it with the use of homemade drugs prepared according to alternative recipes. You can make chamomile decoction. To do this, take a large spoonful of dried plants, combine with a glass of freshly boiled water and insist 30 minutes. After this, you need to strain the liquid and use it to treat diseased areas of the body. In the infusion, a cotton pad is moistened and the affected skin is rubbed with it. You can repeat this procedure as often as sensations require.