Antifungal agent Nizoral Janssen Pharmaceuticals N.V., Belgium

Allergy to shampoo: what are the signs and what can cause it?

An allergy to shampoo can occur either immediately after using it or within 1-2 days.
Allergies manifest differently for everyone, but the main symptoms are redness of the scalp, rash, itching and burning, and flaking of the scalp (dandruff). Some experts claim that allergies occur when switching from one shampoo to another. Other experts, on the contrary, advise changing shampoo every three months to avoid scalp addiction. In any case, before using a new shampoo, you need to test it for an allergic reaction. Apply a small amount to the crook of your elbow and check the results the next day. Even slight redness can be a signal of an allergy to the shampoo. And its use is not recommended.

What exactly can cause an allergy? Purely theoretically, absolutely all components of shampoo can cause it. They are classified into 3 main blocks of “allergenic” substances.

• Dyes. There are no shampoos of any color. Manufacturers are trying to make them memorable to the eye, so they make not only bright packaging, but also the contents. It is worth considering that the brighter the content, the more dangerous it is and can cause an allergy to the shampoo.
• Preservatives. The shelf life of shampoos is from 1 to 3 years. This is possible thanks to the addition of preservatives. Their concentration is so high that it can naturally cause an allergy to the shampoo. But there is a certain catch. Shampoos with a shorter shelf life use beeswax and if you are allergic to honey, then it is no longer a shampoo allergy, but a food allergy.
• Fragrances. Shampoo with caramel or strawberry flavors is very similar to the production of yoghurts, but if there you can still assume that they put real fruits in them, but here it’s unlikely. We remember smells - we remember shampoo. This is the power of advertising, but fragrances can cause allergies.

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Allergy to shampoo: prevention and treatment measures

Before buying a new shampoo, read its ingredients label. There are a number of substances that are potentially dangerous to the scalp and the body as a whole.

• DMDM Hydantoin is a highly allergenic component that causes not only allergies, but also threatens more serious consequences, including cancer.
• Fragrance – contains toxins, can cause allergies, and also affect the nervous and hormonal systems.
• Ceteareth- and PEG- are petroleum products; they may contain dangerous toxins, which in turn cause an allergic reaction.
• Sodium lauryl sulfate is what gives the shampoo its foaming property and removes impurities from the hair and scalp. It is less dangerous than the above components, but, nevertheless, can also cause allergies.

If after using shampoo the scalp becomes red and you feel itchy, immediately rinse it thoroughly and use chamomile lotion, it will soothe the skin and relieve irritation. And instead of store-bought shampoo, you can use natural, home-made shampoo. To do this, you need one yolk and half a glass of kefir (if you have long hair, the dose of ingredients can be increased). Rub the resulting mixture into your head, rinse with running water, and then rinse with alkaline water (for 3 liters of water, ½ teaspoon of soda).

Shampoo allergies are quite common. If the reaction was quickly suppressed and you took all the necessary measures, then the next step may be a trip to an allergist. It is important to identify the allergen, since it can be used not only in shampoos, and you must know the enemy by sight in order to recognize it the next time you encounter it in the same face cream.

Allergies in animals

Animals often have an allergic reaction to detergents. Typically, veterinarians advise choosing shampoos designed specifically for a specific type of dog or cat coat.

Dermatitis in animals is manifested by symptoms:

• itchy skin, the pet is constantly itching, especially in the places behind the ears;
• red spots appear under the fur, which can be noticed upon examination;
• with a strong reaction, blisters and a small rash appear that peel off.

Animals may develop allergies due to insufficient rinsing during bathing. In any case, the owner should consult a veterinarian.

For treatment, experts prescribe:

• "CytoDerm" - shampoo for allergies and itching or another similar product;
• avoiding contact with the allergen;
• treating the affected area with an antiseptic - hydrogen peroxide or furatsilin.

If an animal is prone to allergies, it is necessary to reconsider the pet’s diet, since some foods can aggravate the situation. It is also recommended to wash the animal less often and thoroughly wash away the foam from the fur.

Treatment

If negative symptoms occur soon after washing your hair, you should rinse your hair in running water and take an antihistamine. Naturally, you need to stop using this detergent. If the condition worsens, a visit to the doctor is required.

Until the unpleasant symptoms disappear, you cannot switch to another shampoo. You should wash your hair only when it gets dirty.

• 5 tbsp. l. mustard dissolved in 2 liters of water;
• egg yolk;
• whey;
• baking soda solution;
• white clay diluted with water into a paste;
• as a conditioner - water with lemon juice or 1 tbsp. l. apple cider vinegar per 200 ml of water.

Hair is washed well with the help of the fruits of the soap tree - soap nuts. They include a full range of useful substances, and the saponins they contain do not provoke intolerance. Nuts also have balm-conditioner properties. True, there is some inconvenience: when it gets into the eyes, burning and lacrimation begin.

Drug therapy

The doctor may prescribe:

1. Antihistamines (taking into account the patient’s age, tablets, drops or syrup may be recommended) - Fenistil, Zyrtec, Loratadine, Claritin, Suprastin, Zodak, Erius, etc.
2. Ointments, gels and creams to eliminate skin symptoms - Fenistil-gel, Iricar, Gistan, Elidel, Lorinden, etc.
3. Hormonal drugs, if the lesions are severe - Hydrocortisone, Prednisolone, etc.

Folk remedies

They can alleviate the patient’s condition, but in case of pronounced symptoms they should only complement the main prescribed treatment. Before use, you should obtain the consent of a doctor, since in people with hypersensitivity, herbs can cause additional negative effects and worsen the condition.

1. Rinse the reddened areas with a decoction of chamomile or chamomile (1 teaspoon of dried flowers or herbs, brew 200 ml of boiling water).
2. Mash the fresh pumpkin pulp and make a compress for 15 minutes.
3. Combine freshly squeezed cucumber and apple juices in equal proportions and treat the affected areas.
4. Grind plantain juice and Vaseline in equal proportions in a glass bowl. Gently rub into scalp and rinse after an hour.
5. Mix castor oil and calendula tincture in a ratio of 1:5. Treat the affected areas with the composition.

Basic requirements for shampoos for allergy sufferers

1. Many trichologists advise allergy sufferers to use baby shampoos, as they are pH balanced;
2. Cosmetic products must be selected with a minimum content of dyes, fragrances and other negative components;
3. It is ideal if the cosmetics are “gentle”, for example, “Shampoo without tears”;
4. It would be great if the cosmetic product contains a variety of vitamins, natural oils, and extracts of medicinal plants. The best fortified complex would be the group of vitamins B, as well as A and E - they effectively relieve irritation on the scalp, restore the structure of each hair, nourish and protect the strands from negative external influences;
5. It is not recommended to use multifunctional cosmetics, for example, gel shampoo or balm shampoo;
6. Before purchasing cosmetics, you need to study the label of its bottle. It should be labeled “Hypoallergenic” or “For children.”

Diet

Dietary nutrition is of great importance in the treatment of allergic rashes. The diet must be balanced and developed for each individual patient. For example, if a child or an adult develops allergic itching and other manifestations of the disease due to eating eggs, all products containing eggs and egg powder are prohibited from being used in the diet.

In cases where an allergic disease occurs due to secondary causes, or it is not possible to determine the allergen (especially in a child), it is recommended to keep an allergic food diary, gradually eliminating harmful foods from the daily diet.

Diet adjustments should only be made with the assistance of a physician. Otherwise, general deterioration of the body and skin may occur.

It must be remembered that a nursing woman must also adhere to a strict diet until the allergic skin rash is completely removed. After this, a consultation with a nutritionist is necessary, who will conduct a comparative analysis of the patient’s condition and adjust the menu.

Itching of the scalp is a permanent or temporary sensation of irritation of the skin area, causing us a lot of inconvenience. In most cases, itching manifests itself as a response of the body to an irritant, but in some situations this phenomenon may indicate the presence of any diseases.

It should be noted that skin itching cannot be ignored, especially in cases where it is accompanied by severe hair loss or the appearance of sores or red spots on the skin. It is important to identify the cause of this phenomenon, for which you should consult a dermatologist and trichologist, who, after diagnosis, will prescribe optimal therapy.

Symptoms

Most often, allergies manifest themselves as atopic or allergic contact dermatitis. The reaction does not begin when a person washes his hair. The first signs begin to appear in the period from 30-40 minutes to 10-12 days after contact of the product with the skin, when enough antibodies have accumulated in the body.

Patients complain of:

• redness and slight swelling, which can spread to the cheeks, forehead, neck;
• irritation, burning, itching;
• peeling, crusts, cracks, weeping rashes and (or) excessively dry areas on the skin.

All these phenomena cause concern for at least three days, then gradually stop (provided that there is no repeated contact with the irritant). If hives appear, most likely it is not an allergy, but a reaction to too high or low water temperature. Dandruff is most often a symptom of fungal diseases or inflammation of the sebaceous glands (seborrhea).

A respiratory reaction occurs less frequently. This happens if aggressive particles get into the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx.

• 20-40 minutes after hygiene procedures, burning and itching begins in the nose, watery mucus appears, the secretion of which intensifies in the morning;
• swelling of the nasal mucosa occurs;
• suffer from headaches;
• there is swelling of the eyelids, redness of the eyes, lacrimation;
• hearing decreases, a feeling of congestion and tinnitus occurs.

These phenomena continue while interaction with the stimulus continues. They get worse when a person lies on his back. More often they occur if the patient suffers from dysbiosis.

It is extremely rare for a food allergy to occur when the product enters the gastrointestinal tract. This happens if a small child, attracted by the sweet aroma, tastes the shampoo. Then nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea are possible.

A child's reaction to shampoo can occur at any age. Children suffering from atopic dermatitis are more often prone to it. Parents usually try to choose baby shampoo. The advantage of such products is that they do not irritate the eyes. But hypoallergenicity, as mentioned above, is highly doubtful. It is better to use natural formulations that are well tolerated by the child.

Rules of application

It is very easy to use the products, as each one contains instructions. Before this, it is necessary to conduct a test on a separate gray strand to evaluate the result. Almost all balms are used as follows:

1. Gloves should be worn and the neck and shoulders covered with a towel. This will protect against balm getting in.
2. To prevent skin staining, a thick cream is applied along the hairline and on the ears.
3. The balm is distributed onto damp, clean hair.
4. The exposure time must be looked at in the instructions.
5. After this, the curls should be thoroughly washed with water.
6. You can fix the result with a regular balm for colored hair.

According to reviews, tint balms are easy and pleasant to use. An overview of popular brands is presented below.