How to Avoid Irritation Caused by Natural Skin Care Products

Desi89

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posted on 8 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Thousands of skincare products are marketed as natural, and many people believe that this means they can't irritate your skin. Unfortunately this isn't true, and natural products could potentially irritate your skin as much as other products. In the US, the FDA doesn't have strict regulations on the term "natural," so items that aren't necessarily safe could receive that label.[1]
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While most of these reactions are harmless, they're still something you'd want to avoid. It takes some careful shopping and testing to prevent adverse side effects. Luckily, if you're patient, you can avoid any problems with natural skincare products.

Steps

Avoiding Irritating Ingredients

Check all products for irritating ingredients like alcohol or AHA. Just because a product contains natural ingredients doesn’t mean that it’s entirely safe or that it won’t cause a skin reaction. Check the labels on any product you’re considering and don’t buy something that contains harsh ingredients like alcohol, retinoids, and alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). If you’re using a product on your face or lips, some ingredients known to cause dryness are camphor, eucalyptus, lanolin, menthol, oxybenzone, phenyl, and propyl. Products labeled “for sensitive skin” or “hypoallergenic” have less chance of irritating your skin.

Avoid preservatives, sulfates, and dyes if you have sensitive skin. These ingredients are very harsh on your skin and could cause irritation or allergic reactions. They can be tough to spot because they're usually listed by their chemical names, which most people don't know off the top of their heads. Keep an eye out for some of these common ones. Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI) and methylisothiazolinone (MI) are common preservatives that cause irritation in many people. They're responsible for a recent spike in reactions to skincare products. Paraphenylenediamine (PPD) is used in many hair dyes and is also responsible for allergic reactions. Sodium laureth, sodium laurel, and other sulfates strip oils off hair and skin, which is very irritating for some people.

Get a fragrance-free product to avoid irritation. Perfumes and fragrances are irritating, even if they’re in natural products. If you have sensitive skin, avoid any fragranced products. Check all labels and only buy something that’s fragrance-free. Some products labeled as “unscented” might still contain some slight fragrances. The packaging should specifically say “fragrance free” to ensure there are no irritants. Most hypoallergenic products are fragrance free.

Dilute all essential oils before applying them to your skin. Many people assume that because essential oils are natural, they're safe for all uses. This isn't true. While some essential oils are good for your skin, concentrated oils can cause a bad reaction. Never apply undiluted oils to your skin. Always get a diluted product, or dilute it yourself with neutral diluting agent like olive oil. Most essential oils are safe in 1-3% dilutions. Get a product in this concentration, or dilute it yourself to that level. Follow the dilution guidelines from the American College of Healthcare Sciences at https://info.achs.edu/blog/aromatherapy-essential-oil-dangers-and-safety. Never ingest an essential oil unless you investigate it and are sure it’s safe. Some essential oils are toxic if swallowed.

Avoid any ingredients that you have an allergy to. Even gentle ingredients will cause a reaction if you have a particular skin allergy. If you do have allergies, make sure to check any skincare products for the allergen and avoid it. If you haven’t been diagnosed with any allergies, pay attention to how your body reacts to certain ingredients. If you have breakouts or irritation from gentle products with no fragrances, then you’re probably allergic to one of the ingredients. Only a doctor can diagnose allergies, so visit your doctor for a professional test.

Testing Skincare Products

Apply a dab of the product onto a small part of your skin. This test mimics an allergy patch test to see if you have any sensitivities to certain ingredients. When you get a new skincare product, put a small dab onto your finger and rub it into your skin in a small area. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes before doing anything that could wipe it off. The inner arm is a popular spot for this test because the skin is paler and it’s a harder spot for the product to get wiped off. Do this test every time you use a new skincare product to avoid irritation.

Repeat the application in the same spot once a day for a week. Squeeze the same amount of product onto your finger and dab it in the same spot. Continue this same treatment once a day for a week to confirm that you won’t have any adverse reactions to the product. Monitor the area. Even if you don’t feel any itching, your skin might turn red. This indicates that you have a sensitivity. If at any point your skin starts itching, burning, or turning red, wash the product off with running water and gentle soap.

Use the product if you don’t experience any adverse reactions. If a week goes by and you haven’t experienced any itching, redness, or irritation, then it should be safe to use. You can then apply it normally. Still limit the amount that you use. Apply a thin layer to avoid covering your skin too much.

Stop using the product if you have any reactions to it. If at any point during the week you experience redness, burning, itching, swelling, or other reactions, then you have a sensitivity to this product. Don’t use it, or you could have a worse reaction if you apply it to a larger area. If you do have a reaction, it could indicate that you have a skin allergy. Visit a dermatologist or allergist to have yourself tested. Bring the product with you so the doctor can see the ingredients.

Seeking Medical Attention

See your doctor if you have a skin reaction to any natural products. If you have any sort of reaction to a natural skin care product, stop using it right away. Contact your doctor to schedule a visit and determine what caused the reaction. If you have a rash that is painful and seems to be spreading, go to the emergency room. Blisters and fever mean that you could have an infection or chemical burn. Go to an emergency room immediately for treatment.

Get emergency medical care for a serious allergic reaction. On rare occasions, something you put on your skin can cause a serious allergy reaction. If you have symptoms like difficulty breathing, dizziness, an increased heart rate, vomiting, or if your throat feels like it’s closing up, you need emergency medical treatment. Call an ambulance or to the emergency room. Wheezing and changes in breathing are a sign of a severe allergic reaction. Raised, itchy red bumps, or hives, are also a sign of an allergic reaction.

Talk to your doctor if you have skin irritation that doesn’t go away. If your skin is itchy and irritated and it doesn’t subside, stop using any skin care products and see your doctor to make sure the problem isn’t more serious. Your doctor may refer you to a dermatologist if they believe you need additional attention. If your skin is irritated for more than 2 weeks, see your doctor.