How To Read Product Labels To Keep You And Your Skin Safe
However
reading labels carefully does not mean this will fully protect you.
For example, if you have a perfume allergy you will need to be extra
careful.
Words
you will need to watch for are:-
- fragrance
- EDT
- parfam
- perfume
- toilet water.
So
that seems obvious, doesn't it?
However
relying on the words fragrance-free, non-perfumed, and the like does
not always mean there is no added fragrance to the product. It may be - but you cannot assume.
Sometimes
fragrances are added to products not to make them smell nice but to
mask the unpleasant smell of the other ingredients, the amounts may
be small but if you are allergic it can cause you a problem.
Other
times a fragrance may be added for its use as a preservative, not as a
perfume, yet it is still an issue to those who are allergic.
If
you are allergic to fragrances it may also be wise for you to be
careful or to avoid products with the following ingredients as
well:-
- acetone
- camphor
- musk
- essential oils
- benzyl alcohol
- benzyl acetate
- benzyl salicylate
- anisyl alchohol
- amylcinnamic alcohol.
Ask your doctor or dermatologist for guidance.
If
you are allergic to any specific ingredient or chemical also do make
sure you know all its other names. If you have been Skin patch
allergy-tested your dermatologist should give you a list of what you
need to avoid with all its other chemical names as well. Do read and understand all the names of what you are allergic to.
In my experience-unless, there is a full list of ALL the ingredients
listed- I need to ask the manufacturer for ingredients and to specify
what I am allergic to.
I must have written to more than 50 companies
so far to check their ranges and specific products within the ranges
to check if they might be suitable for me. Sadly not all responded to me and they are Off my list now. The ones that responded are the ones I consider.