Rosacea and the Use of Cosmetic Terms

Beware of the Terms Hypoallergenic, Natural and Fragrance Free. Confusion about exactly what "cosmetics" are and some of the marketing terms used to describe them can cause problems for those trying to avoid allergens.

The term cosmetics to most people refers to the make-up women wear. The definition of cosmetics according to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act includes any product that cleanses (other than soap), beautifies, or alters the appearance of the human body without affecting the body's structure or functions.

Therefore, the term cosmetics not only refers to women's makeup but to any skin-care creams, lotions, powders, sprays, perfumes, fingernail polishes, permanent waves, hair colors, deodorants, baby products, bath oils, bubble baths, or mouthwashes.

Misleading Terms- The U. S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition states the terms presently used by the cosmetic industry are virtually without restriction.

The manufacturers of cosmetics use various terms to sell their products to people who are prone to be allergic.

There are no Federal standards or definitions that govern the use of these terms. Some of the terms to watch out for include:

Hypoallergenic means only that the manufacturer feels that the product is less likely to cause an allergic reaction. Manufacturers of hypoallergenic cosmetics are not required to submit substantiation of their hypoallergenic claims to FDA. Dermatologists agree that the term hypoallergenic has very little meaning.

Products with labels that contain the words fragrance free or unscented do not guarantee they do not contain fragrance chemicals, they imply that they have no perceptible odor. If fragrance is added to a product to mask or cover up the odor of other ingredients, it is not required to be put on the label.

The term natural on a product label implies that ingredients are extracted directly from plants or animal products as opposed to being produced synthetically. Products containing natural ingredients can cause allergic reactions.

Alcohol free when used on a cosmetic label usually means that the product does not contain ethyl or grain alcohol. Cosmetic products, however, may contain other fatty alcohols, such as cetyl, stearyl, cetearyl, or lanolin, therefore voiding the alcohol free term.

Known Irritants. According to a study of cosmetic reactions conducted by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group the most common cause of allergic and irritant reactions are fragrances and preservatives in cosmetics.

The most widely used preservatives, in the United States, are the Parabens (methyl-, propyl-, and butyl-). They are commonly used in products like shampoos, foundations, facial masks, hair-grooming aids, nail creams, and permanent wave products.

Lanolin, extracted from sheep wool, is an ingredient in many moisturizers and is a common cause of allergies.

Some other cosmetic ingredients that may cause an allergic reaction are formaldehyde, PABA, parabens, quaternium-15, 3-diol (Bronopol), 2-bromo-2nitropropane-1, ureas, and wool wax.
Use Common Sense. Consumers concerned about allergic reactions from cosmetics should understand that according to FDA there is no cosmetic that can be guaranteed never to produce an allergic reaction.

FDA regulations now require the ingredients used in cosmetics be listed on the label, so consumers can avoid substances that they know are troublesome. Consumers should become familiar with what cosmetics contain by only using the ingredients list and ignoring the marketing strategies of the manufacturer to buy their product.

For a person who is prone to have an allergic reaction to cosmetics, it is recommended that they do a patch test with each new product.

For additional information on cosmetics, please refer to the collected Internet links. From Judy Tidwell,