Cosmetic caused skin irritation is a type of contact dermatitis.
Dermatitis is simply the medical term for inflammation within the skin's layers.
Here's a look at what causes the condition.
Then let's look at How to Heal Skin Irritation Caused By Cosmetics.
Contact dermatitis may be caused by allergens or irritants.
Exposure to irritants accounts for 80% of all cases.
Cosmetics contain numerous allergens and irritants.
If the dermatitis is an allergic reaction, it may take several days for the symptoms to appear.
If redness, itching, burning or irritation occurs immediately, the cause is an irritant, not an allergen.
Allergens Trigger Allergens trigger an immune system response involving inflammatory molecules such as cytokines.
The allergens are chemicals of low molecular weight that interact with the proteins found in the skin's cells and are able to penetrate through the barrier layer.
Once the presence of the allergen is sensed, specialized T cells are created as a response.
These T cells are meant to attack the intruder, but it is something of an overreaction.
The T cells actually end up causing the symptoms.
If exposure to the allergen occurs again, the symptoms will occur sooner, as the T cells become more aggressive.
The delayed reaction in this type of allergy-related cosmetic caused skin irritation can make it difficult to identify the allergen responsible.
Contact dermatitis caused by irritants appears faster, but the ingredient responsible for the irritation may still be difficult to identify.
Sensitization can occur over time.
So products that could be used at one time without irritation may eventually cause problems.
Allergens present in cosmetics include: -Balsam of Peru-a fragrance ingredient derived from tree resin -Other fragrance ingredients and perfumes, including concentrated distilled plant fragrances and aromatic hydrocarbons -Formaldehyde-used as an artificial preservative or present as a contaminant -Thimerosal-mercury based preservative -Antibacterial agents including neomycin and bacitracin -Quaternium 15-artificial preservative These are not the only allergens responsible for cosmetic caused skin irritation, just some of the most common.
They are also irritants.
Other irritants present in cosmetics include: -Sodium laurel sulfate -Ethylene oxide -Alcohol -Xylene -Dyes Psoralens are unique compounds that are only irritating after exposure to sunlight.
In combination with UVA therapy, they are used to treat psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo and sometimes alopecia (hair loss).
The ingredients are also found in tanning activators or accelerators.
In addition to being a source of cosmetic caused skin irritation, Psoralens stimulate the production of melanin, the pigment responsible for the skin's color.
So exposure to the chemicals could cause dark patches or uneven pigmentation.
Psoralens are classified as photo-carcinogens; compounds causing the formation of cancer cells only when exposed to UV light.
Some sunscreen ingredients have the same effect.
The symptoms of allergic and irritant reactions are related to the inflammatory process.
So we sometimes say that "inflammation is the underlying cause".
What You Can Do It is important that you learn how to heal cosmetic caused skin irritation.
If left untreated, the irritated area can become dark, leathery and cracked.
You learn about how to heal and fade any darkened areas quickly in my next article: How to Heal Skin Irritation Caused By Cosmetics.