Advantages and Disadvantages of Perfumes Fragrance

Fragrances are widely used in skin cream, perfumes, hair and nail care products, make-up, body spray, cologne, and other consumer products such as shampoos, soaps, and deodorants.

Data shows that the average woman uses 12 such products on a daily basis while the average male uses six such products. These products expose the skin to over 150 unique chemicals every day. Clinical data strongly indicates that some of these components have marked adverse effects on the skin.

Most countries including India have detailed guidelines on the manufacture, distribution, and import of medical and cosmetic products, but the global benchmark is largely the rules of the Food and drug administration (FDA)  of the USA, where fragrances are concerned, there is no strict regulation by the FDA too.

As a result, only a fraction of the cosmetics and fragrant products that are put out in the market undergo toxicity screening. This has left a large gap in the knowledge of the actual impact of such substances on the skin.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Fragrance:

Studies have shown that fragrances present in various consumer products can cause skin sensitivity, rashes, and dermatitis. Fragrances and preservatives are the two commonest causes of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) or eczema caused by cosmetics.

Avoid and Be Aware:

Avoiding the allergen is a sure way of preventing contact dermatitis. A wide range of unscented chemical-free perfumes and body sprays are available for daily use and for the management of sensitive or irritated skin. Cosmetics, soaps, and other such products are retailed as ‘natural’ or ‘organic’ may not always be perfume oil-free, as advertised.

Know the Common Allergens in Your Cosmetics:

1. Balsam of Peru:

Balsam of Peru, a chemical derived from a tree resin, is commonly used as a fragrance, food additive, and therapeutic component in various topical medications.

Balsam of Peru and Fragrance mix (a set of 8 chemicals frequently used in consumer products) are among the commonest allergens found responsible for allergic contact dermatitis.

2. Bergamot:

Some fragrances are commonly implicated in causing allergic or toxic reactions when the skin is exposed to light after the application of scented products. A common culprit in such photo-allergic reactions is bergamot, which contains psoralens.

Sun exposure following the application of bergamot scented products or massage with bergamot oils is known to cause prominent redness and pigmented streaking of skin, called Baroque Dermatitis.

Or ‘organic’ may not always be perfume-free, as advertised. Therefore, it is recommended that people, especially those with sensitive skin, stick to only dermatologist-prescribed products, which have undergone stringent safety screening. Switching to mild and unscented medicated products is vital for maintaining good skin health.