Human beings have a long history of applying cosmetics. With the development of society and the improvement of people’s living standards, the types of cosmetics and the people who apply them are increasing, and the resulting cosmetic skin diseases are becoming a topic of increasing concern.
1.The types of cosmetics
With skin cleaning, protection, beautification, change the body surface odor of the substance are cosmetics. Specifically include: soap, shampoo, bath, hair dye, perfume, eye shadow, lipstick, toothpaste, deodorant, whitening agent, spot remover, sunscreen, lip tattoo agent, eyebrow tattoo agent, hair transplant, etc.. Common cosmetic allergens include fragrances, p-phenylenediamine, preservatives, pigments, emulsifiers, sunscreens, antioxidants, antibacterial agents, etc.
2.Cosmetic skin diseases
(1) Cosmetic irritant contact dermatitis
No individual differences, often occurring rapidly after contact, lesions are confined to the contact area, clear boundaries, with obvious pain or burning sensation. The rash is characterized by erythema, edema, blistering, and vesicles.
(2) Cosmetic allergic contact dermatitis
Cosmetic allergic contact dermatitis is what we usually call “cosmetic allergy”. This type of dermatitis has significant individual differences and occurs only in people who are allergic to one or more components of cosmetics and require a period of sensitization before the rash occurs. It is characterized by erythema, papules, blisters, oozing, and itching. It often occurs at the site of contact, but can also occur as a result of the absorption of local sensitizers or degenerative necrotic material and the emergence of systemic disseminated lesions, known as self-sensitizing dermatitis.
(3) Pigmented cosmetic dermatitis
Hideo Nakayama, a Japanese dermatologist, observed a large number of Japanese women with gray-black pigmented spots on the face after using cosmetics, and confirmed that the disease was caused by cosmetics through histopathology and patch testing. The pigmentation spots caused by cosmetics are often overlooked because they occur slowly.
(4) Cosmetic hypopigmentation spots
Some whitening and depigmentation cosmetics can cause skin hypopigmentation or even loss of pigment. It is easily misdiagnosed as vitiligo or white furfuraceous diagnosis clinically.
(5) Cosmetic phototoxicity/photosensitivity dermatitis
Some cosmetics contain phototoxic substances or photosensitive plants, which can cause skin erythema, papules, and even blisters and vesicles after contact with skin and then ultraviolet radiation.
(6) Cosmetic acne
Certain cosmetics can cause mechanical blockage of the hair follicle opening and the formation of an anaerobic environment within the follicle opening, allowing acne vulgaris to multiply, and its lesions are often scattered over the entire face.
(7) Foreign body granuloma
Foreign body reaction caused by lip tattoo, eyebrow tattoo or hair transplant is called lip tattoo granuloma, eyebrow tattoo granuloma and hair transplant granuloma. They are characterized by local itching, erythema and nodules. Because cosmetics are implanted in the skin dermis, or even deeper parts of the subcutaneous tissue, it is difficult to get rid of, so it is more difficult to cure.
3.Prevention of cosmetic dermatitis
The United States, Japan and certain European countries require cosmetics to label the ingredients. Because China does not yet have the provisions and requirements, for the prevention of cosmetic dermatitis brings difficulties. Immediately after the disease should stop using all suspected allergic cosmetics, which is a prerequisite for cure, and at the same time should be correctly applied under the guidance of a doctor anti-allergy drug treatment. At the same time, a patch test should be done to clarify the allergen and avoid re-exposure.