Cosmetics and contact dermatitis

Modern cosmetic and skin care products are safe for most users and adverse reactions to them are very rare considering the number of people in contact with numerous products over a lifetime of use. Improvements in safety, tolerance, and skin compatibility will not prevent cosmetic product side effects from increasing in the future because of the continuing goals of intensifying their biological activity and therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, now more than ever, dermatologists should be familiar with all possible untoward reactions to cosmetics. Adverse reactions include an extreme variant of sensitive skin, called “cosmetic intolerance syndrome,” describing individuals who are no longer able to tolerate a wide range of cosmetic products. “True” allergic reactions to cosmetics occur much less commonly than irritant reactions. These are of great importance to the dermatologist because they are more serious, more difficult to treat, and require absolute abstention from the causative agent. Eczematous, damaged skin is especially prone to develop allergies.