What’s in the products you put on your skin?
Navigating the world of ingredients found in topical skincare, cosmetics and scalp care can be daunting when you or your child are living with irritated skin conditions. 60% of the chemicals applied to the skin penetrate and enter your blood stream and can often cause allergic reactions, worsen eczema symptoms and dry out the skin. We have put together a list of some of the irritating ingredients to be aware of, particularly if you or loved one experience dry, itchy skin.
Steroids
While many cases of severe eczema will be prescribed steroid creams, continued use of topical steroid creams can cause the skin to develop a resistance (called tachyplaxis) to the medication over time. As a result, in order to have the desired medical effect, a stronger and more potent steroid may be needed, which may cause even more potential side effects and thinning of the skin.
Petro Chemicals
Petrochemicals are derived from petroleum or natural gas and will often present on your skincare ingredient list as benzene, ethylene, and propylene. Many of these can cause allergic reactions and skin rashes and can interfere with the body’s own natural moisturizing mechanism, not to mention being bad for the planet.
Parabens
Used in a variety of cosmetics as preservatives. Suspected endocrine disrupters and may interfere with reproductive functions.
Alcohol
Irritation from alcohol causes dryness and free-radical damage, and hurts the skin’s ability to heal.
Parfum/Artificial Fragrance
Those with sensitive or irritated skin should avoid artificial fragrances, which can further aggravate symptoms. Check your products for terms such as ‘fragrance free’ and ‘unscented’ or use natural formulas.
Petrolatum
Used in some hair products for shine and as a moisture barrier in some lip balms, lip sticks and moisturizers. A petroleum product that can be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which may cause cancer.
SLS (Sodium Laureth Sulfate)
Found in many cosmetic and topical products. In addition to being a skin irritant not recommended for eczema sufferers, there is also debate over whether the ingredient may cause cancer.
Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and retinol.
While these ingredients are not bad for the skin when used correctly and are used often for anti-ageing and exfoliation, they are known to irritate eczema and can trigger flare-ups and dry the skin. Mostly found in cosmetic creams and lotions.
To find out what is in the Hope’s Relief range of products, check out our all-natural ingredients here http://www.hopesrelief.tw/natural-skincare-ingredients/