Bay Dermatology Centre

Ask the Dermatologist

Dr. Sandy Skotnicki-Grant answers questions about sensitive skin for readers of Allergic Living magazine. Her column Ask the Dermatologist appears quarterly. These articles are reprinted with permission from Allergic Living magazine www.allergicliving.com.

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Dr. Sandy Skotnicki-Grant answers...

  • I get severe skin breakouts to parabens. They seem to be in so many cosmetics, body creams and sunblocks. Can you tell me what causes this and what I can do to avoid them?

    Parabens are one of the most commonly used preservatives in the cosmetic and toiletry industry as well as in the food industry. They are so widely used because – contrary to what most people believe – they are one of the best and least reactive preservatives.

    With the new wave of using everything natural, they get a bad name because they are synthetic preservatives. The actual incidence of true allergic contact dermatitis to parabens is very low, less than 2 per cent. They are also not very irritating. So it is unlikely that the skin reactions you are having are related to parabens.

    The one area where parabens can cause problems is with inflamed skin. This is known as the “Paraben Paradox”. In essence, parabens almost never cause a problem on normal skin, but can cause allergic dermatitis when used on active skin disease, such as wounds or eczema. This is why parabens are never used to preserve topical hydrocortisone creams or antibiotic ointments.

    What is more common to cause both allergic and irritant skin reaction or dermatitis is the fragrance added to toiletry products. Fragrance is still the number one cause of allergic contact dermatitis to toiletry products, with an incidence of about 4 per cent within the North American population. It would be wise to see a dermatologist to figure out whether fragrance is behind your breakouts.

    (Summer 2007, Allergic Living magazine)

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  • I recently used a new shampoo and it caused my scalp to go bright red, itchy and flaky. My doctor said this was a reaction to sulfates in the shampoo. Can you tell me more about what happened?

    Most shampoos today contain fragrance, and fragrance that includes botanical ingredients is the number one cause of allergic contact dermatitis for all cosmetics and toiletry products. On the scalp, allergic contact dermatitis can manifest as itchy and dry, red patches. You may also experience irritation rather than true allergy, with immediate burning on the scalp, itching or redness.

    Troublesome shampoo ingredients are:

    • Fragrances
    • Botanicals such as mint, rosemary, lavender, ylang-ylang, tea tree oil and chamomile
    • Surfactants, which create foam or lather

    The most important one to avoid is cocoamidopropyl betaine, derived from coconut. Dermatologists are seeing many cases of allergic contact to this ingredient. Patients don’t always react to it on the scalp, but get dry patches on the eyelids, face, ears and neck.

    There is really only one shampoo available in Canada that does not contain fragrance or cocoamidopropyl betaine, and that is Cliniderm Gentle Shampoo.

    My advice to patients who may be getting irritation rather than allergy is to avoid the shampoos that have the extras like ylang-ylang or lavender. Plain but mildly fragrant shampoos are a good start. Sulfates are not an issue and remember, botanicals are not safer.

    (Spring 2007, Allergic Living magazine)

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  • I’m a 40-year-old woman with sensitive skin, and I get some flaking around the eyes. What anti-aging products would you suggest?

    The best anti-aging product is still sunblock. Unless you’re spending a lot of time outside, a moisturizer with added SPF 15 is enough for the winter. Steer clear of products that contain glycolic acids and Retin-A, which can be irritating.

    I like the fragrance-free Kinerase line, which has some good science behind its anti-aging promises. In terms of ingredients, matrixyl is non-irritating and has scientific data to support its anti-aging claims. (Look for it in StriVectin and Olay’s Regenerist line.)

    Stabilized vitamin C, found in Active C by La Roche-Posay, is also gentle and proven to decrease fine lines, increase collagen production and reduce pigmentation.

    (Winter 2006-07, Allergic Living magazine)

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  • My teenage daughter just found out she has a sun allergy. Can you explain what this means, and what type of sun products she should be using to best protect herself?

    Many patients develop itchy, red, raised lesions while on a sun holiday, or during the spring in Canada. Though this reaction is often referred to as a sun allergy, it’s not a true allergic reaction. The correct medical term is Polymorphous Light Eruption, and it’s characterized medically as an abnormal cutaneous (skin) reaction to ultraviolet light.

    Lesions usually occur on the second or third day of prolonged sun exposure, with reactions lasting about seven days. The condition improves after repeated sun exposure as the skin “hardens” and the abnormal reaction to the sun decreases – which is why it occurs during the spring in Canada and improves over the summer months.

    The best treatment is prevention. Happily, the newer sunscreen technology is enough to block most reactions. I recommend Ombrelle SPF 45 for kids as it contains titanium dioxide, stabilized Parsol 1789 and Mexoryl SX – all ingredients that block the longer UVA wavelengths, thought to be the primary cause of Polymorphous Light Eruption. I also like La Roche-Posay Anthélios Lait SPF 45, which is fragrance-and preservative-free, and the Anthélios L SPF 60 sunscreen, for heavy-duty protection.

    Remember to apply sunscreen 30 minutes before sun exposure and reapply every two hours.

    (Summer 2006, Allergic Living magazine)

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  • In the spring, the skin around my eyes seems easily irritated, and becomes flaky and peels when I wear most eye shadows or use certain moisturizers. What causes this, and what do you suggest?

    Because the skin around the eye is the thinnest on the body, it’s easily irritated by toiletry products, cosmetics, ophthalmic medications, even the elements. If you have a genetic tendency towards eczema or dermatitis, you’ll also be more prone to developing irritation around the eye.

    Don’t use creams meant for the hands or body on the face because they’re formulated differently, and might have concentrations not meant for the more delicate face and eye areas. Make sure you choose products that are fragrance-free and that list their ingredients, such as Marcelle and Clinique. Olay has a great eye cream for sensitive skin, too. Remember that many lines labelled “sensitive skin” or “hypoallergenic” might still have allergens or irritants in their formulations, so look for a complete list of ingredients.

    If flaking and itching continue, see a dermatologist, because you may have developed allergic contact dermatitis (flaky, red, itchy skin resulting from a reaction to a chemical) to an ingredient. Only about 3.4 per cent of North Americans have allergic contact dermatitis to fragrance – so it’s more likely that you’re experiencing irritation to chemicals in your skincare and makeup products.

    Common irritants include perfume, sunscreen and many botanicals. Remember, just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it will work for you – poison ivy is natural!

    (Spring 2006, Allergic Living magazine)

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  • My eczema always flares up during the winter. What can you suggest?

    Characterized by inflamed, scaly and red skin, eczema is a problem that those with asthma, allergies and/or hayfever are particularly prone to developing. The good news is that eczema can be managed.

    Here’s how:

    1. Avoid fragrance. It’s an unnecessary additive and a potential irritant. I suggest using unscented laundry detergents such as Tide Free and Cheers Free, and unscented dryer sheets like Bounce Free.

    2. The same goes for beauty products. Facial and body soaps should be mild and unscented, like the bars from Dove, Cetaphil and Allenbury. Stay away from body washes, which are often scented and contain irritating ingredients.

    3. Moisturize the entire skin daily. Go unscented with moisturizers like Vaseline Creamy Problem Skin Therapy Unscented, Glaxal Base and La Roche Posay Lipikar Baume.

    4. Take short showers. Too much water can dry out the skin, so keep showers and baths to between 10 and 15 minutes, and make sure the water isn’t too hot. Pat dry – don’t rub, and always moisturize after bathing. Moisturizer is most effective when applied to damp skin.

    5. Cool down. If you don’t have much control over your central heating, a cool mist humidifier can add moisture to your air.

    6. See a doctor. Painful or inflamed areas should be treated by a dermatologist.

    (Winter 2005-06, Allergic Living magazine)

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  • I’m a busy mother of two, and I recently found out that I have rosacea. Can you suggest a daily cleansing routine that will fit my skin and lifestyle?

    Rosacea, or acne rosacea, is a condition characterized by facial redness, flushing, pimples and broken blood vessels. The most important thing to remember regarding skin care for rosacea is that less is more. Avoid scented cleansers and moisturizers, which can aggravate. Also steer clear of cleansers that strip the skin, and those that contain sodium lauryl sulfate, a harsh ingredient used to make cleansers foamy.

    A product line that I often recommend to rosacea patients is Toleraine, made by La Roche-Posay. The brand is made specifically for people with intolerant skin – it’s unscented and contains few irritating ingredients.

    In terms of a routine, I suggest using Toleraine Dermo-Cleanser, a milk cleanser that does not foam, twice daily. (A less expensive alternative is Spectro-jel.) The next step is to use a moisturizer – I usually don’t suggest a toner for those with rosacea, as it is drying. I like moisturizers from the Toleraine line and other unscented lines such as Marcelle and Clinique. With this condition, it’s best to pick moisturizers without anti-aging ingredients.

    If you do apply makeup, try to buy unscented lines. I like Clinique, Marcelle, Almay and some MAC products. For more information, I recommend visiting www.rosaceainfo.com.

    (Fall 2005, Allergic Living magazine)

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