I have struggled with a peanut allergy my entire life. It has hindered me in a variety of ways, from not being able to touch any sort of candy to having to book special "peanut free" flights when I leave town. I've always considered it to be a nuisance, but I also understand that food allergies are extremely common and I am not suffering alone. What is more unrecognized however, is an allergic reaction to skin care and cosmetics, an issue obviously rarely advertised and yet common among thousands of Americans.

Makeup and skin care products are everyday necessities for almost every American woman. The American Academy of Dermatology reports the average adult uses at least seven different cosmetic products each day. While most of us find that these products help boost our self esteem and help us to feel more beautiful, unfortunately many experience moderate to severe allergic reactions to these products. Particular ingredients used in makeup and skin care, including fragrances and colorants, can work as antigens. In otherwords, substances that trigger an allergic reaction.

There are two different kinds of reactions to cosmetics.: irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis. The website Web MD describes these two conditions.

Irritant contact dermatitis is more common than allergic contact dermatitis and can occur in anyone. It develops when an irritating or harsh substance actually damages the skin. Irritant contact dermatitis usually begins as patches of itchy, scaly skin or a red rash, but can develop into blisters that ooze, especially if the skin is further irritated from scratching. It generally occurs at the site of contact with the irritating substance. Areas where the outermost layer of skin is thin, such as the eyelids, or where the skin is dry and cracked are more susceptible to irritant contact dermatitis. Allergic contact dermatitisoccurs in people who are allergic to a specific ingredient or ingredients in a product. Symptoms include redness, swelling, itching, and hive-like breakouts. In some cases, the skin becomes red and raw. The face, lips, eyes, ears, and neck are the most common sites for cosmetic allergies, although reactions may appear anywhere on the body."

While these conditions affect many Americans, in the grand scheme of things, the instances continue to be rare. Serious reactions are extremely uncommon, however mildly negative responses to beauty products affect about 10% of the population. Reactions occur much more often within the female population, more than likely because women tend to experiment much more with skin care and beauty products.

If you find yourself with a mild allergic reaction, stop using all of your products immediately until you are able to determine which ingredients have triggered it. A dermatologist can help you to determine this, and get you on the path again for clear, vibrant, irritant free skin.