Why Cosmetics Can Cause Acne

2008-01-01 Word Count: 515 Category: Acne

The beauty and health of our skin is being undermined by one of the largest campaigns ever waged in the history of merchandising. Every day on television, magazine, radio and newspapers, we are encouraged to put aside elemental skin care ingredients like soap and water in favor of such complexion "aids" as cleansing creams, daytime moisturizers, night creams, face foundations and rouges.
While some people have skin capable of withstanding the damaging effects of cosmetics, an estimated 30% of all cosmetic users have skin which is acne prone. This can be a negative factor when looking for an acne treatment.
Women and men alike, in their teens, twenties and even early thirties, are potential candidates for cosmetic acne. The condition is characterized by many prominent small whiteheads appearing over the cheeks and chin and even the forehead. While cosmetic acne seldom leaves scars, it can be disgusting, persistent and bothersome. The skin's pores have a tough time dealing with the skin's own oil sebum, so applying more irritating oils is one of the worst things you can do.
Even people who are not acne sufferers can actually develop acne through the use of their cosmetics. Since cosmetic acne commonly shows quietly after several months of repeated use of a comedogenic (acne-causing) product, many women do not relate their outbreaks with the given product. The female with cosmetic acne is in a vicious circle; the more she breaks out, the more make-up she uses to cover it up... which only causes more blemishes.
Advertising confuses the issue. "Oil Free"--the Darling of Madison Avenue.
"Oil free" is fast becoming a popular term of the cosmetic industry. Many cosmetic producers are substituting chemicals which, legally speaking, are not considered oil free simply because they derive from synthetic sources rather than from natural sources, i.e., animal, vegetable or mineral.
These artificial oils, however, are often more acne producing than a natural oil such as mineral oil. Publicity claims for many cosmetic terms such as "oil free," "dermatologist tested" and "hypoallergenic" can be very misleading. Hypo-allergenic can mean the product is perfume-free, yet it could still have ingredients harmful to acne-prone individuals. "Dermatologist-tested" may be authentic but not entirely helpful. The product can have been tested for skin allergy or skin irritancy and its effects on skin pores may have been missed.
The Oil Migration Test
Not all "oil-free" moisturizers for cosmetics are oil free; some contain oil-like synthetics that can provoke acne-prone skin. How to tell? Dab the moisturizer on good-quality stationery (imprinted 25% cotton fiber). 24 hours later, hold the paper up to daylight and look for oil rings. The extent of migration will show the proportion of oil in the cosmetic.
The oil migration test is great to discover certain oils in cosmetics, but it is more important to learn to read the labels and evade conflictive ingredients. Remember, not all oils are bad. Petrolatum and some lighter oils like mineral oil and sunflower oil don't permeate down into the pore.

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