Allergies to cosmetics in infants

Allergy to cosmetics in infants: Reaction to care

The infant's skin is extremely delicate, thin, and its protective barrier is not yet fully formed. This makes it highly vulnerable to any external irritants, including components of baby cosmetics. Reaction to care products is a common problem and can appear as simple irritation or as a true allergic reaction.

Irritant vs. Allergic contact dermatitis

It is important to distinguish two conditions that may look similar:

• Irritant contact dermatitis (more common): This is not an allergy, but direct damage to the skin by aggressive cosmetic ingredients (alcohols, alkaline soaps, some preservatives). The skin becomes dry, red, and flaking. The reaction can occur in any child.
• Allergic contact dermatitis: This is a true allergic reaction of delayed type to a specific ingredient of the product. It occurs only in susceptible children and manifests as an itchy, red rash, sometimes with vesicles, 24–72 hours after application.

What can an infant's skin react to?

Most often the reaction is caused not by active ingredients but by auxiliary substances:

• Fragrances and scents: These are allergen #1 in cosmetics. Choose products labeled "unscented" or "fragrance-free".
• Dyes.
• Preservatives (parabens, formaldehyde releasers).
• Plant extracts: Despite being "natural", many plants (chamomile, calendula) can cause allergies.

Safe care rules

The main rule for infant skin care is "the less, the better". Avoid unnecessary products. Before using any new product, perform a test on a small skin area. In the presence of atopic dermatitis the choice of cosmetics must be especially careful. Read about general care in the article "Skin care".