WE'VE ALL HEARD OF ALLERGY...
BUT WHAT EXACTLY IS IT?

Article Read Duration 3 min read

Key event in all allergic reactions is histamine release triggered by “allergy bombs” called mast cells that are primed to react to specific allergens. This is what causes all the characteristic symptoms that drive us crazy: redness, itching, burning, swelling… Link here directly to paragraph below: “My skin reactions are driving me crazy… what can I do”?

SKIN : THE #1 SITE
OF ALLERGY MANIFESTATION

There are 3 main types of allergic skin reactions:

  1. Urticaria or “hives”: A super common instant reaction to substances that touch our skin, as well as the foods we eat or medications we take. It is a widespread, raised, red and incredibly itchy rash.
  2. Contact dermatitis: A scaling, itching, burning rash sometimes with vesicles and/or oozing. This red skin rash can take weeks to fade. It can be either irritant or allergic in origin and crops up around 48 hours after exposure. The commonest causes include nickel, harsh alkaline soaps and household cleaning products. Some cosmetics with additives may cause similar reactions as well.
  3. Atopic dermatitis(eczema): In eczema, the skin barrier is “defective” which allows allergens and irritants to break through the barrier, reach the deeper skin layers and cause irritation. This causes an itch-scratch cycle that can interfere with sleep and quality of life, especially for children. A well-tolerated emollient is always the first step of a soothing skincare routine that helps repair the skin’s barrier function.

MY SKIN REACTIONS ARE DRIVING ME CRAZY…
WHAT CAN I DO?

Increasing numbers of people experience allergic skin type reactions to the wrong cosmetics, the wrong washing powder and even household products. The on-skin results? Itching, burning, surface dryness, sometimes dramatic visible reactions… sound familiar?

Here are 3 top strategies for dealing with these reactions:

  1. Strengthen your skin’s barrier with a cream you can trust. That means well-tolerated ingredients and minimal preservatives and fragrances. This barrier will help protect skin from contact allergens such as pollen and laundry detergents.
  2. Keep your cool as there are many little things you can do to take the sting out of skin reactions. For a start, keep your creams in the fridge.
  3. If all else fails… Hide your “allergy face” with make-up! A few simple tips can make all the difference to distract from the symptoms of allergy:
  • Red, watering eyes: distract from redness with black lashes and opt for a waterproof mascara if tearing and smudging are issues.
  • Dark circles: these can be worsened by allergic rhinitis. Pick a supersoft penbrush to dot over the area with intense concealer pigments in a yellow tone, before blending with a clean fingertip.
  • Facial flushing and redness: correct excessive red pigment in your complexion with a green corrector pen, then follow up with a soothing fluid foundation.

(Product links: Respectissime mascara, LRP waterproof mascara, Toleriane Teint Corrective Pens, Toleriane Teint Fluide)

Click HERE for more SOS tips on relieving the tell-tale signs of allergy, and HERE for the bad habits to avoid in your daily and beauty routines.

Look HERE for basic information about allergies.

TRUE
OR FALSE

True-or-false-visual-3

YOUR MAKE-UP BRUSH
CAN GIVE YOU ALLERGIES.

TRUE TRUE-ANSWER

Make-up brushes and applicators can be real dust and allergy traps, so need to be washed regularly. Clean your brushes with hypoallergenic soap, or make-up brush cleanser to get a clean bill of health.
Learn More
True-or-false-visual-2

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
ARE NEVER ALLERGENIC.

FALSE WRONG-ANSWER

Certain fruits and vegetables contain high levels of compounds called salicylates(related to aspirin). In salicylate-sensitive individuals, foods rich in these compounds can actually make allergic symptoms such as hay fever, asthma, eczema and skin reactions worse.
Learn More
True-or-false-visual-2

DIY RECIPEES ARE BANNED
FOR SENSITIVE SKINS.

TRUE TRUE-ANSWER

Fun though it may be, raiding your kitchen cupboards and concocting your very own skin treatments is a recipe for reactions if you have allergic-type skin. Indeed, many natural ingredients can be highly irritant.
Learn More
True-or-false-visual-1

ALCOHOL CAN MAKE
YOUR ALLERGIES WORSE.

TRUE TRUE-ANSWER

Alcohol is a potential cause of skin allergy. In fact, scientists have shown that alcohol can make any allergic reaction worse, whether it’s asthma, allergic rhinitis, or different kinds of skin rash. It is partly due to the histamine and sulphites molecules contained in these alcoholic beverages.
Learn More

OUR SAFETY
COMMITMENTS

Safety standards beyond international cosmetics regulations.

laroche posay safety commitment product allergy tested model close up

100% PRODUCTS
ALLERGY TESTED

See More
One Prerequisite = Zero Allergic reactions
If we detect a single case, we go back to the labs and reformulate
laroche posay safety commitment formula protection product head

FORMULA PROTECTION
OVER TIME

See More
We select the most protective packaging associated with only the necessary preservatives, to guarantee intact tolerance and efficacy over time.
laroche posay safety commitment essential active dose product head

JUST THE ESSENTIAL,
AT THE RIGHT ACTIVE DOSE

See More
Developed in collaboration with dermatologist and toxicologist, our products contain only the necessary ingredients, at the right active dose.
laroche posay safety commitment sensitive skin model baby

TESTED
ON VERY SENSITIVE SKIN

See More
Our products' tolerance is verified on the most sensitive skin: reactive, allergic, acne-prone, atopic, damaged or weakened by cancer treatments.

SEE ALL ARTICLES
ABOUT ALLERGIC SKIN

placeholder BACK TO BASICS
READ MORE
placeholder SKIN ALLERGY AND OTHER MAIN TYPES
OF ALLERGIC REACTIONS
READ MORE