Sneaky Skincare Allergens in Products

Are there allergens in your skincare products?

It’s easy to pick up a new lotion or shampoo without reading through all the multi-syllabic ingredients listed on the back of the container. In most people, these plant oils, fragrances and preservatives are hardly a cause for concern. But sometimes, even after using the same products for years, a slight tweak in the formula can cause you to break out in a new, itchy, irritating rash called allergic contact dermatitis. Here are some common skin allergens to watch out for in products: 

• Fragrances. Fragrances can be found in most products to give them a pleasant scent or flavor, and “Fragrance mix A” is the most common allergen found in skin creams and lotions. “Fragrance mix A” is a dermatology term that includes eight common scents: geraniol, cinnamaldehyde, hydroxycitronellal, cinnamyl alcohol, a-amylcinnamaldehyde, isoeugenol, eugenol, and oak moss. Browse products containing fragrance

• Kathon CG. This preservative, also known as Methylisothiazolinone (MCI) or Chloroisothiazolinone (CI), is a frequent culprit of rashes caused by shampoo. If you have an allergic rash only on your forehead, the back of the neck, or behind the ears, a hair care product is the most likely culprit. Browse products containing this ingredient

• Formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers. Formaldehyde is a great disinfectant and preservative, but dermatologists know that it is hard on the skin. Many skincare products still use preservatives that can release formaldehyde when the product comes in contact with water, such as when you rinse shampoo out of your hair or wash your hands after applying lotion. Look out for: Formaldehyde, Quaternium-15, Diazolidinyl urea (Germall® II), DMDM hydantoin (Glydant),  Imidazolidinyl urea (Germall®),  and 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (Bronopol™). Browse products containing these ingredients.

• Phenoxyethanol. This preservative is found in shampoos and hair dyes, and is a leading cause of allergic contact dermatitis in moisturizers. Browse products containing this ingredient

• Cocamidopropyl betaine. This thickening and emulsifying agent, also known as cocamidopropyl dimethyl glycine (CADG), is commonly found in lotions. Browse products containing this ingredient

We can help you understand and treat new rashes or itching.  Call our office today to set up an appointment! 

Sources: 

1. 1. Jacob, Sharon E, and Shehla Admani. “Wash-Line Dermatitis: A Diagnostic Clue.” The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology vol. 11,10 (2018): 12.
   2. Lazzarini, Rosana et al. “Allergic contact dermatitis by shampoo components: a descriptive analysis of 20 cases.” Anais brasileiros de dermatologia vol. 95,5 (2020): 658-660. doi:10.1016/j.abd.2019.12.009
   3. Xu, Shuai et al. “Consumer Preferences, Product Characteristics, and Potentially Allergenic Ingredients in Best-selling Moisturizers.” JAMA dermatology vol. 153,11 (2017): 1099-1105. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2017.3046
   4. Allergen Database. The Contact Dermatitis Institute, 2024, https://www.contactdermatitisinstitute.com/database.php
   5. Skin DeepⓇ Database. Environmental Working Group, 2024, https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/