Short answer: Fragrances are indeed a potential allergen. You might react to them, especially if your skin is prone to reactions or if your skin barrier is damaged. Here’s a look at some other ingredients to watch out for:
Fragrances
Fragrance is still a powerful way to sell products to us. Fragrances and essential oils are found in skincare and makeup products, personal care products, and household items. They can contain over 50 ingredients, some of which can indeed cause allergic reactions.
In ingredient lists, fragrances are noted as “fragrance” or “parfum.” Some online retailers often claim a product is “fragrance-free.” However, you might still find ingredients like Citronellol, Hydroxycitronellal, Geraniol, Linalool, Limonene, Citral, Benzyl Salicylate – common fragrance components. These must be listed in the ingredients if their concentration exceeds 0.001% in leave-on products (like moisturizers) and 0.01% in rinse-off products (like shampoos).
Lanolin
Considered a potential allergen, lanolin is an animal-derived product obtained from sheep’s wool. It contains hundreds of different chemicals, making it difficult to isolate contact allergens. Unfortunately, allergy tests don’t always reproduce or capture an allergic reaction to lanolin. False-positive results are also common. Therefore, you might react to one product with lanolin but not another.
Urea
An effective emollient and moisturizer, urea has been shown to irritate the skin in some studies. The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) conducted tests and concluded that urea is safe for use in cosmetics and personal care products at low concentrations.
Propylene Glycol
Often used in cosmetics as a solvent, the CIR determined that this component is safe to use at concentrations up to 50%. However, they also found that people with a damaged skin barrier are at a higher risk of irritation or skin reaction, even at low concentrations of propylene glycol in products. If you experience skin reactions to any product, you might want to avoid this ingredient.
Plant Extracts
These can also cause sensitization, irritation, and even allergic contact dermatitis in susceptible individuals. Here are some examples:
- Tea Tree Oil
- Peppermint
- Lavender
- Lichens
- Henna in cosmetics
- Citrus Bergamia and Citrus Limonum in soaps and cleaning products
- Rose Flower Oil in air fresheners
Conclusion
If your skin is sensitive or prone to reactions, it’s crucial to be mindful of these potential allergens in your skincare and personal care products. Always check the ingredient lists, and opt for fragrance-free and hypoallergenic products whenever possible to minimize the risk of irritation and allergic reactions.
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