You probably wouldn’t run out to the auto parts store to pick up a bottle of engine degreaser to clean your hair, but some of the chemicals we use in our everyday beauty regimen have some industrial uses that can easily explain why they can irritate sensitive skin.

For instance, propylene glycol, an ingredient found in many shampoos and moisturizers, is also the agent used to produce that theatrical smoke you see at concerts. It is also used in automotive antifreeze, in the deicing fluid they use to clean off airplane wings, as an industrial fluid in hydraulic presses and to kill and preserve ground beetles. Sodium lauryl sulfate is another ingredient that has a variety of industrial uses as a degreaser in automobile engines and even as a floor cleaner.

Of course the concentrations of these ingredients in shampoos, conditioners and other haircare products are safe according the FDA and, despite Internet and email rumors to the contrary, your shampoo isn’t going to kill you. But it just might irritate your already sensitive skin.

Here are Just a Few Ways a Shampoo can Affect Sensitive Skin:

·           The pH of your skin can change, leading to other product interaction issues you never experienced. Look for pH balanced shampoos and other haircare products.

·           Your skin’s surface oil layer (the sebum) can be removed. Without this layer to keep your skin’s natural moisture from evaporating off the surface, you may develop excessively dry skin. This can also lead to an increased sensitivity to other products, as the chemicals can be more readily absorbed by your unprotected skin.

·           Some shampoos can actually cause dandruff by interacting with the bacteria and yeasts already on your scalp.

·           If you already have dry skin, certain detergents (like sodium lauryl sulfate) can provoke an allergy-like reaction called irritant contact dermatitis where your skin becomes red and chafed.

·           The fragrances in the product can cause contact urticaria, an immediate redness, itching and swelling of the skin as well as an allergic reaction.

·           Certain botanicals like chamomile, lavender and rose oil as well as preservatives like Kathon CG and quaternium-15 can all cause allergic reactions in individuals with sensitive and even normal skin.

What you Can Do

There are a variety of natural shampoos on the market that do not contain even the minor concentrations of the harsher chemicals in most shampoos. If you think your haircare products may be aggravating your sensitive skin, give one ot them a try. If you don’t have a reaction to botanicals, there are a number of pH balanced products that use botanicals to help normalize your scalp oils and soothe your sensitive skin.

Above all, read the labels. It might take some trial and error and the elimination of a few ingredients before you find the right formula for you. The good news is that you’re not alone. The sensitive skin market is a big one and almost every major manufacturer offers products designed for people who react to some combination of the ingredients in normal shampoo, so the odds are really in your favor for finding one that works for you.

Related Articles
	Protect Your Sensitive Skin Does your skin react to just about anything that touches it? Do you flush easily or sometimes break out in unexplainable bumps or hives? Does the idea of trying new makeup or skincare products fill you with dread? Chances are, you have sensitive skin. Technically, sensitive skin is a condition   ...Read more		Selecting Cosmetics for Each Skin Type How many times have you purchased a powder eye shadow only to have it crease and slide by noontime? Or you purchase an oil-free foundation and compact yet it leaves your dry skin looking caked and lined? The right makeup for each skin type is crucial not only to create a fresh , natural look ...Read more