The product elimination strategy
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Dermatitis
The biggest challenge: Identifying the culprit.
When people develop dermatitis, they tend to label products that they have recently added to their routine as the likely culprit. The logic is sound after-all. The reaction is new, so it must correlate with the introduction of that new product, right? Unfortunately, it is not that simple. Often people continue experiencing these reactions even after they stop using the new products. So, what is really happening here?
If you notice symptoms such as a rash, redness, or increased sensitivity, it may indicate that you're encountering a substance to which your skin has accumulated an intolerance.
Identifying accumulative irritants can be challenging, as it often takes years of exposure before an intolerance manifests. Additionally, reactions can vary significantly from one person to another and attempting to target the culprit substance with allergy testing often proves futile.
To understand more about the differences between an allergic reaction and the symptoms of accumulative irritation check out the blog.
What to do about it: Product elimination strategy
Level 1 skintervention: avoidance and baseline
Until you see an improvement in your symptoms, you must cease the use of every product that contains a fragrance or botanical.
Learn how to identify these substances here.
Here are some common allergens and irritants.
This includes but is not limited to:
Shampoo, conditioner, laundry detergent, face wash, cologne and perfumes, fabric softener, any natural soaps (this is a big one), make-up, sunscreen, personal hygiene products, sun-less tanning products, leave-in conditioners, hair sprays, gels, pomades, etc.
Begin with a baseline of a gentle, fragrance-free, synthetic cleanser like Cera-ve, laundry detergent, deodorant, and moisturizer. As far as I know, a fragrance-free shampoo and conditioner does not exist so use gentle, fragrance free, synthetic cream facial cleanser. Skuuuuurrrrch! He said what? Yep. Shampoos and conditioners are VERY OFTEN THE OFFENDING PRODUCT! As a stylist with 20 years of experience behind the chair, I can tell you that your expensive hair-color and keratin treatments will be just fine. The only thing that you may notice is that your hair might not be quite as shiny. This is because the face wash does not contain any silicones. Dinna fash! It is just for a few weeks!
Oh, and by the way, skin reactions to ingredients in shampoo and conditioner generally do NOT occur on the scalp. They are more likely to manifest around the eyes, ears, hairline, and other parts of the body.
Level 1 and 2 skintervention: Reintroduction
Simply reintroduce your other products one at a time, weekly, to isolate the offending product.
Level 1, 2, and 3 skinterventions: Phone or email a professional.
Once you have identified the problem product, reach out to us or your dermatologist (or both) and we will assist in dissecting the ingredient list, identifying potential culprits, and helping you create a personalized list of ingredients to avoid.
Moving forward:
When shopping for cosmetics, don't rely solely on "buzzwords" like "hypoallergenic" or "for sensitive skin". Many products marketed for sensitive skin still contain one or more irritants. It's crucial to become adept at reading ingredient lists and employing the process of elimination. This approach will assist you in pinpointing the specific substances that irritate your skin.
Every redness, itch, or discomfort is a communication from your skin. Be attentive, and proactive.
And also.... Please
Have a quality day!
MBM
Source: Though I did not directly quote the book, "Beyond Soap" By Dr Sandy Stotnicki largely influenced the material in this blog. I highly recommend this quick read to anyone who has skin and lives in the modern world. Dr. Sandy Skotnicki: Toronto Dermatologist, Skin Allergy Expert (drsandyskotnicki.com)
