Safe Handling

What dangers lurk in your medicine chest, makeup bag or in that tub of eye shadow at your local department store cosmetics counter?

According to a Food and Drug Administration survey, nearly one-quarter of respondents said they experienced some type of allergic reaction from makeup. The problems ranged from itchy red bumps to blisters.

While most reactions don’t land victims in the emergency room, officials said cosmetics can cause annoying skin maladies, such as hives and, on rare occasions, result in major health problems. Heavily scented products, the agency reports, cause the most problems.

Dr. Nancy Silverberg, a Newport Beach dermatologist and assistant clinical professor at UC Irvine, said many of her patients suffer from poision-ivy-like dermatitis that can be traced to heavily scented, high-end cosmetics.

“I treat an incredibly high number of patients” who complain about such reactions, she said.

Silverberg suggests using “fragrance-free” makeup and cleaners. She warns to stay clear of “unscented” formulations because they might contain masking scents that hide the smells but can still cause skin irritation. Good fragrance-free products, according to Silverberg, include low-cost brands like Almay and Physician’s Formula and more premium brands, like Clinique and Prescriptives.

But she warns that high-cost products doesn’t guarantee fewer problems.

“There’s a general feeling out there that if you buy the ‘good’ stuff, that you have somehow bought insurance on the product,” she said. “But some of those higher-end products are some of the biggest offenders.”

Right now, Silverberg reports an increase in patient complaints from glitter or sparkle makeup--made with mother-of-pearl and other minerals--that can cause eye irritations or exacerbate acne.

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Adverse reactions should be reported to the FDA, said Dr. John E. Bailey, the agency’s director for cosmetics. “For each report we get, there are 50 to 100 others” undocumented.

Silverberg is also quick to point out that adverse skin reactions can be caused by a web of issues. Bad reactions to products, she said, can vary by individual and by occasion. Sometimes reactions can even suddenly appear after years--even decades--of use.

“It’s a very complicated puzzle,” she said. “There are no rules in this field . . . For a woman or a young girl trying to do the right thing, it can be a real complicated minefield.”

So how can you be sure to keep yourself and your makeup healthy? Silverberg says once a breakout has happened, throw out any new items and restock with hypoallergenic products.

“Just keep things simple,” she said.

The FDA also suggests never sharing makeup and always using a disposable applicator when sampling products at the cosmetics counter. Insist that salespeople clean container openings with alcohol before applying the makeup on your skin. Wash you hands before using makeup to prevent introducing bacteria.

While relatively few products are ever removed from the marketplace, the FDA has worked in other ways to ensure consumer safety, Bailey said. The agency lobbied department stores to use disposable makeup applicators when offering samples because they are more sanitary than applicators used by multiple customers.

A decade ago, a nationwide survey found that 5% of department store makeup samples were contaminated with molds, fungi and pathogenic organisms.

Currently, complaints can be forwarded to the local FDA district office in Irvine at (949) 798-7701. For more information visit the FDA web site at https://www.fda.gov.

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Making Up (Safely) Isn’t Hard To Do

MAKEUP TIPS

Here are some tips to avoid problems with makeup:

* Never share makeup. Always use a disposable applicator when sampling products at the cosmetics counter. Insist that sales persons clean container openings with alcohol before applying the makeup on your skin.

* Wash your hands before using makeup. This will help prevent introducing bacteria.

* Don’t sleep while wearing eye makeup. Mascara can flake into your eyes, which might create itching, bloodshot eyes and possibly infections or eye scratches.

* Don’t allow cosmetics to become covered with dust or contaminated with dirt or soil. Keep all containers clean with a damp cloth.

* Never add liquid--including the biggest offender, saliva--to a product to bring it back to its original consistency. Doing so could introduce bacteria.

* Stop using products that cause allergic reactions. Return products to where you purchased them.

* Throw away makeup if the color changes or if an odor develops. Preservatives degrade over time and may no longer be able to fight bacteria.

* Don’t use makeup if you have an eye infection. Throw away all products you were using when you discovered the infection.

* Keep makeup out of sunlight. Light and heat can degrade preservatives. Don’t store cosmetics at temperatures above 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

* Keep makeup containers tightly closed when not in use.

* Never use aerosol beauty products near heat or while smoking because they can ignite.

* Never inhale hair sprays or powders. They can cause lung damage if inhaled regularly.

* Read and follow all directions carefully. Look for “rule of thumb” expiration dates, on some products. Cosmetics, stored under usual conditions, typically have a shelf life of one to three years.

* If you are prone to allergies, pay special attention to makeup labels.

* Never apply mascara while riding in a car, bus, train or plane. Hitting a bump--or unexpected turbulence--could scratch an eyeball, which would lead to contamination resulting in serious injury, including blindness.

Glossary

* Natural: Implies ingredients have been extracted directly from plants or animal products. There is no scientific proof that “natural” products are good for the skin.

* Hypoallergenic: Implies that the product is less likely to cause allergic reactions. No scientific proof is necessary for substantiation. Same with: “dermatologist-tested,” “sensitivity-tested,” “allergy-tested,” or “nonirritating.”

* Alcohol-Free: Traditionally meant that the product does not contain ethyl alcohol, but may contain other types of alcohol such as cetyl, stearyl or lanolin.

* Fragrance-Free: Implies the product has no perceptible odor. May have a masking fragrance to cover up any offensive odors, however.

* Noncomodogenic: Product does not contain pore-clogging ingredients.

* Shelf Life: The time a product should be good under normal conditions of storage and use. Generally, a rule of thumb only as a product may expire before that date if not properly stored.

* Cruelty-Free: Implies that the product has not been tested on animals. Most ingredients used in cosmetics have been, however, so look for the label: “no new animal testing” instead.

Source: Food and Drug Administration