I have extremely sensitive skin. Unfortunately, my daughter also inherited the condition and was diagnosed with eczema as an infant. As such, I have spent a great deal of money on “natural” skincare products for both of us.
When my daughter was first diagnosed with eczema her doctor recommended Eucerin. So I went out and dropped nearly 20 bucks for 10 ounces of the cream. It worked for about two weeks. I then tried a litany of other “Purely Organic” and “All Natural” products. I even considered slathering Crisco on her skin as recommended by another doctor whose children suffered with the same skin condition. In the end I found Johnson’s “natural” skincare line for babies worked the best on her skin. (So far anyway.)
Given that it worked so well on her I decided to use it on my skin as well. BIG mistake. Soon after applying the “Intensive Moisture Cream” on my skin I broke out in a rash. Red, patchy splotches covered the areas where I had applied the cream that had worked so well on my daughter.
I ended up contacting my own doctor who explained that there is a downside to “natural” skincare products. Apparently, some people with extremely sensitive skin can further irritate their skin with “natural” or “organic” products. I happen to be one of them.
According to my doctor, common ingredients found in some natural skincare products such as fruit acids and nut oils increase the possibility that a person with eczema or very sensitive skin will have an allergic reaction to the product.
In addition, “Purely Organic” and “All Natural” products often have no preservatives in them, which means they contaminate faster. It also means they have a much shorter shelf life than non-organic brands. However, it is up to the retailer to make sure that the product is taken off the shelf at the appropriate time. If they are not diligent about doing so the comsumer stands to suffer.
In an effort to be better safe than sorry, it is a good idea to read the label carefully before buying an organic skincare product. Look for ingredients you may be allergic to. Also, check the expiration date. And, learn from my mistake: be sure to test the product in an unaffected area like the crease of your arm to see if any irritation develops BEFORE taking the cream to the cash register.
Now, before someone mislabels me as an “organic hater” know this: I am not denying that organic and all-natural skincare products have their pluses, such as eliminating artificial fragrances or other ingredients that can bother some skin types. I am merely suggesting you take into consideration the fact that your “all natural” product may not yield the results you hoped it would. Frankly, at the prices they’re sold at you’d think they’d be a cure all, but alas, I learned that this is not always the case.
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