For many people with acne, the decision to use new skin products isn’t always easy. This is because of the nature of their sensitive skin as any wrong choice of product can cause breakouts and other skin allergies.

But what choice of products do people with sensitive skin use to tackle skin conditions like acne? Thankfully, the cosmetic industry is an ever-improving one and there are now products specifically designed for people with sensitive skin to treat acne. They are called hypoallergenic products for people with sensitive skin. But first, what does hypoallergenic mean?

What does hypoallergenic mean?

The word “hypoallergenic” was first used in the early 1950s in a marketing campaign, and ever since its first use, it has mainly been associated with breeds and other items. However, hypoallergenic refers to free from allergic products. Although “hypo” implies less, lower, or smaller than normal, so many hypoallergenic makeup or skin care may still contain small amounts of allergens.

As of writing, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to draft a standard to classify hypoallergenic foods. To ensure safety and accuracy, you should read more about the product and every product or additive added.

What is hypoallergenic skin care?

Hypoallergenic skin care products produce fewer allergic reactions when compared to other skin care products. The manufacturers of these products claim hypoallergenic products are made with gentler compounds that do not clog the skin or worse acne.

What are common skin-allergic reactions?

When your skin gets exposed to allergens, it triggers the immune response, which treats this allergen as a foreign object, causing a wide range of reactions like:

Contact dermatitis: This type of skin allergic reaction occurs when you come into contact with an object containing an allergen. For instance, when your skin comes into contact with allergens in jewelry (e.g., nickel), pollen, or even dust, you can experience contact dermatitis, which comes along with symptoms like redness, blisters, bumps, and more. Usually, symptoms take at least 1 hour to develop, and treatment can last for 1 month or even more.

Hives: Have you ever experienced itchy red bumps on your skin, usually after being diagnosed with contact dermatitis? Those bumps are called hives and are signs of allergic reactions to medications and even food. Unlike contact dermatitis, hives appear almost immediately and clear within hours.

Allergic rash: Allergic rash is another skin allergy reaction that appears as red clusters of bumps that may look like scaly, dry skin upon initial glance.

Ingredients to Avoid

If you are prone to skin allergies, there are specific products to avoid; otherwise, they may flare up your allergies. They include:

Metal or aluminum compounds

Many cosmetic companies include metals in antiperspirants to increase their efficiency. If your antiperspirant promises extra hours of dry protection, there is a high tendency for it to contain a considerable amount of metal that can inflame your armpits or even cause them to peel.

Certain acids

Many hypoallergenic products have chemicals such as salicylic acid and azelaic acid that perform one or more functions. In skincare, the preferred chemicals are designed to treat acne and encourage collagen production. Yet, these chemicals can trigger allergic reactions in people with sensitive skin.

Fragrance or perfume

Perfume additives, or synthetic fragrance compounds are common in many skincare products, yet more than 20 percent of people in the United States are allergic to synthetic fragrances. To cater to this audience, manufacturers are choosing to produce more unscented and fragrance-free alternatives.

Sulfates

Sodium laureth sulfate is a common compound in soap, detergents, and other products used for washing. It is known to cause blemishes and irritation, as well as dry hair.

Overall, the U.S. the Food and Drug Association highlights five common allergens: natural rubber, fragrances, preservatives, dyes, and metals.

What are the benefits of hypoallergenic products?

Hypoallergenic products are beneficial to sensitive skin and also acne-prone skin; they are free from additional compounds that can trigger allergic reactions. Some of the many benefits of hypoallergenic products are:

Reduces inflammation

When sensitive skin comes into contact with an allergen, the body almost immediately produces a reaction, such as inflammation. With the absence of these triggers in hypoallergenic skin care, there is little or no skin inflammation.

Reduced dark spots

The neutrality of hypoallergenic product makes it an excellent base for other products. Since they rarely react with other skin compounds, they can help prevent future breakouts and also serve as a good skin primer for other melanocyte-reducing products.

Increased skin moisture

Many non-hypoallergenic skin care products contain moisture-reducing chemicals, especially alcohol, that dries the skin. You can restore your skin's barrier and flexibility by using hypoallergenic skin care.

Building Your Hypoallergenic Skincare Routine

The widespread popularity of hypoallergenic products has fueled attention to odorless and chemical-free skin care alternatives. Yet, despite the wide use of hypoallergenic products, the Food and Drug Administration does not have specific standards or outlines for cosmetic products called "hypoallergenic.” The following are some hypoallergenic skin care products you should know about:

Hypoallergenic Facial Cleanser

A hypoallergenic facial cleanser is a gentle cleanser for sensitive skin that removes oil and dirt without affecting the skin's barrier or stripping the natural oils. Hypoallergenic skin cleanser is free from alcohol and other dehydrating agents and usually has natural skin compounds like aloe vera to cool and soothe the skin.

Hypoallergenic toners

Another alcohol-free skin care product is the hypoallergenic toner. Unlike traditional toners that contain alcohol, these toners are made with natural formulations that ensure hydration. They are made with skin ingredients like aloe vera, rose water, hyaluronic acid, and more.

Hypoallergenic Skin Moisturizer

After using your hypoallergenic toners, it's time to moisturize your face with a hypoallergenic skin moisturizer. This kind of moisturizer is free from oil, fragrances, and chemicals. They moisturize the skin properly without clogging the pores, making them perfect for oily and acne-prone skin.

Hypoallergenic sunscreen for sensitive skin

When highly sensitive people use non-hypoallergenic products, it can cause photoallergy. Hence, they should opt for hypoallergenic sunscreen to prevent contact allergies with sunscreen brands with allergens to protect their skin from the harmful UV radiation that can sunburn.