Contact eczema results from prolonged contact with a wide variety of allergens. Some of them are used in the composition of many cosmetics, which can sometimes complicate daily cleansing and care.
Summary
This type of contact eczema appears following the use or application of a cosmetic:
In some cases, it is not a genuine contact allergy, but rather an irritative, non-immune dermatitis due to humidity, rubbing, repeated washing of the skin or hair, etc. Irritant dermatitis and contact eczema can develop successively in the same person, further altering the condition of the skin.
There are many cosmetics that can cause an eczema flare-up, but please note: cosmetics allergy is not an allergy to a type of product or brand. It is a contact allergy to a substance present in a cosmetic and which is a source of dermatitis. Most frequently, it is an allergy to a fragrance, dye or preservative. In case of doubt, allergy tests can reveal the substance responsible. It can be present in many cosmetics, hence the importance of reading product labels. In some cases, allergy tests are negative and the diagnosis of irritant dermatitis is then more likely.
There is nothing inevitable about allergic eczema and it can be treated like any other type of eczema, i.e. with anti-inflammatory creams and soothing repair creams applied to the lesions, as well as emollients over the long term. However, in order to avoid daily flare-ups of contact eczema and long-term changes in the skin condition, it is best to stop using the cosmetic(s) in question.
