Makeup, Cleansers and Eczema

No make-up or facial cleanser is 100% safe to use on your skin if you have eczema. However, there are a number of products designed for sensitive skin that are hypoallergenic. There's a bit of trial and error to discovering which products are best for you. Ask your healthcare provider what they recommend, and you can talk to the people who work at the make-up counters. Always test a bit of the product before using it all over. Fragrances, preservatives and lanolin, ingredients commonly found in cosmetics, cause most skin problems.

More than 5,000 different fragrances are used in skin care products. Common sources include toilet water, perfume, cologne, bath powder, toilet paper, soap, shampoo and household products. Products labeled "unscented" may in fact contain a fragrance to mask other chemical odours. Look for products marked "fragrance-free" or "without perfume". Some fragrance reactions occur only when the skin is exposed to sunlight. Preservatives are used to prevent bacterial and fungal growths that can cause skin infections, and to protect products from oxygen and light damage. Cosmetics that contain water must include some type of preservative. People who react to one preservative will not necessarily react to others. Lanolin is used in cosmetics and skin care products as a conditioner. Some people develop swelling, itching and redness of the eyelids when using lanolin-based products around the eyes. Many products labeled "hypoallergenic," meaning "causing reduced allergy" contain lanolin.Select make-up carefully, since it remains in contact with the skin for a long time. Ideally, make-up should be hypoallergenic, noncomedogenic and nonacnegenic - meaning it produces few allergies and won't plug pores or cause acne. Look for cosmetics with sunscreen, to help prevent skin cancer and wrinkles.

Eyelids are the most sensitive skin area of the body and need to be treated with care. Eye cosmetics, including eye shadow, eye liner and mascara should be lighter coloured. Powdered eye shadows should have a matte-finish because they are less irritating. Generally water-soluble cosmetics will help reduce irritation often caused by the solvents required to remove waterproof eyeliner and mascara. Remember that other irritating and allergenic substances can be introduced to the eye area by the fingers. Eye cosmetics should never be shared and should be replaced every three to four months.