How do consumers determine if they are having a reaction to a chemical in their products? Some of the most common reactions are dermatitis, acne, rosacea, and perioral dermatitis.

Dermatitis

Dermatitis can be a result of a beauty product containing sodium lauryl sulfates. Many shampoos, conditioners and face washes contain sodium lauryl sulfate. It’s the first chemical I tell my clients to search for in their beauty products.

Acne

Alcohol (ethanol, denatured, isopropyl, methanol, ethyl) is in a lot of skin care products for acne and will leave your skin feeling squeaky clean. However, it is stripping the natural oils from your skin and can actually make it produce more oil.

Rosacea

Rosacea is a delicate skin condition and it needs delicate products that reduce inflammation and redness. Harsh cleansers with sodium lauryl sulfate and toners with alcohol should be avoided. Choose products with calming, soothing ingredients, like aloe vera, cucumber extract, chamomile and calendula, to name a few.

Perioral Dermatitis

Perioral dermatitis, which is a scaly rough rash around the mouth and nose, can be caused by toothpaste containing triclosan and sodium lauryl sulfate. By removing the chemicals, many times the dermatitis will heal itself without the 21-day antibiotic regime.

Artificial coloring and fragrance can also be the cause of skin reactions. It’s recommended to stay away from any fragrances that are not from essential oils, although some people are sensitive to those as well. Artificial colors in makeup can cause all kinds of skin care problems.

The top ingredients to avoid are BHA and BHT, triclosan, sodium lauryl sulfate, siloxanes, petroleum, formaldehyde, parabens, dibutyl phthalate, DEA-related ingredients, fragrances and artificial dyes.

The skin is the largest organ in the body and the filter for all things external. What goes on the body also goes inside the body. Be kind to your body and use products with good quality ingredients, avoiding the chemicals as much as possible.

Shannon Anderson is the owner and founder of Organic Ahh, an online organic beauty store based in Minneapolis. For more information, call 763-360-4642 or visit OrganicAah.com.