Got sensitive skin? What in this picture should you be wary of? If you guessed the chemicals on the piece of paper on the left, you’d be wrong.
Everything in the photo above is a common allergen:
- The chemicals on the paper on the left (more on these below);
- The organic sprigs of lavender (top right);
- Mint (bottom right);
- Tree trunk (propolis — from beeswax — which can be present in the resin and the bark); and
- The grass (because of common insecticide ingredients or, even if completely wild, because of the pollens that fall on it from surrounding plants and flowers).
Bonus point: if you also said the adhesive tape on the edges of the paper on the left, you’re a rockstar skintellectual!
Natural is good for you, right?
Yes! Natural and organic things are SOOOO good for you on so many levels. Eating antioxidants in fresh fruit and vegetables is far better than taking nutritional supplements. Less processed foods means less added chemicals and allergens, many of which your body cannot process normally.
But natural does not mean hypoallergenic.
Many natural substances (like those above) are allergenic.
Should those with sensitive skin avoid natural or organic ingredients?
Not necessarily. Just because something is an allergen (an ingredient known to cause allergies) does not automatically mean you cannot use it…even if you have sensitive skin. Instead of random trial and error (which can be expensive and painful), ask your doctor about a patch test. This painless test can tell you exactly which allergens you need to avoid. Armed with accurate information, you can enjoy the goodness of natural foods and ingredients that you know you’re not allergic to.
Want to know what the thing on the left is? Those are Finn Chambers, which are aluminum pans on a paper that is then stuck on your back in a patch test. Similar to a prick test for food allergies, patch tests help identify which allergens (natural or not) you in particular are sensitive to. Thinking about getting one? Check out CC’s own patch test experience now.
To learn more about the difference between natural and hypoallergenic, check out Is Natural Hypoallergenic? The Answer May Surprise You (But Shouldn’t) or browse through Skintelligencenter.com.
