These days increasing pollution, changing lifestyle habits, dietary deficiencies and sedentary lifestyles have aroused many skin related issues. From blemishes, dark spots, fine lines, and pigmentation disorders to premature aging, every person complains of one skin problem or another. Simultaneously, with the rising skin concerns many cosmetic companies have also launched new skin care products to help prevent and cure such skin troubles. Stores these days are flooded with numerous skin care products and cosmetics. This often confuses the customer as it becomes difficult to select one from many available products options. For one kind of skin concern about 8 to 9 different products from different brands are usually available.
What does your skin cream contain?
There are a variety of active and inert ingredients in products. Some claim to be herbal and have natural or natural based ingredients while others have synthetic or chemical based contents. Apart from the basic working elements, those ingredients which are said to work against the skin issue, there are other compounds added to these products as well. Sometimes extracts from certain flowers or fruits might be used but at other times artificial or chemically made components are added.
Some skin care products might cause allergy.
The added ingredients many times add lots of value to the product. Also the user gets an option to select a product with a particular scent or color of his liking. But you should be careful if you are trying a new product. Sometimes it happens so, that our skin might be allergic to certain coloring or fragrance agent or other ingredient. As a result, the application of such compounds can cause rashes, itching or redness on the skin. Sometimes it might not be the coloring agent but some other chemical component of the product which can lead to an allergic reaction. In some cases, some people’s skin behaves sensitive towards zinc oxide or titanium oxide present in the sunscreens and lotions.
Test before using a new skin care product
With numerous skin care brands and products available you get plenty of options to select from. Never shy off from trying a new product, but at the same time you should be conscious to avoid any unwanted allergic reactions to the skin. So try to know the ingredients you are allergic to and if the product is used on face, avoid first application directly on the facial skin. Instead you can try and test the product by applying a small amount on the inner side of the wrist. Look for the appearance of any allergic symptoms within 24 hours of application.
When trying a new skin care product, always remember:
1) Never try new products on the face first.
2) Avoid trying new products on the day or one day before some function or party. The allergic reaction if occurs, will take at least 2 days to be healed completely.
3) If you have sensitive skin, avoid skin care products with added fragrances or colors and take suggestions from your dermatologist before switching from one product to another product.
4) There are products available from known brands like Obagi, iS Clinical, Skin Care Heaven and others which have been tested to be non allergy causing. These products are made keeping in mind the requirements of those with sensitive skin and thus are safe for use.
Naomi Andrews is a skin care expert from Hawaii. She has gained training for anti aging treatments, acne skin treatments, chemical peels and many other skin care and cosmetic procedures and treatments.