FRAGRANCES: YOUR COMMON QUESTIONS ANSWERED
June 25, 2020
Written by Eric Stewart, MD
Q: What are fragrances?
A: Thousands of chemicals have a pleasing odor. Some occur in nature and some are created in a lab. To create a modern perfume, a perfumer carries out a series of experiments to determine the optimal balance of ingredients. A perfume consists of a few to several hundred compounds, often a mixture of fragrant materials.
Q: Where are fragrances found?
A: Everyone knows fragrances are found in perfumes and colognes, but they are also found in almost every personal care product. Common household items include: deodorants, aftershaves, makeup, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, other cosmetics (both leave-on and rinse-off products), topical pharmaceuticals, essential oils, foods, and, to a lesser degree, industrial products.
Q: Are fragrances bad for you?
A: In general, fragrances are wonderful additives that give a pleasing odor to our products. We like putting them on, and the manufacturer is happy you are buying their items. Win-win, right? The only problem is some people develop an allergy to one or more fragrance materials over time. A recent study showed that about 3% of men and 4.5% of women (most over age 40) will develop sensitization to a fragrance within their lifetime.
Q: What does a fragrance allergy look like?
A: Dermatologists call an allergy to any substance that touches the skin - including fragrance - allergic contact dermatitis. This manifests as an itchy, red rash that appears several days or up to a week after exposure. Wherever the substance touched the skin is where the rash appears. And it lasts a long time - often weeks - even if the substance is not reapplied.
Q: How do you know if you are allergic to a fragrance?
A: If you suspect you have a fragrance allergy, or if your dermatologist suspects this, he or she can perform a special type of testing known as patch testing to diagnose the problem.
Q: Is there a cure?
A: Yes! Just one, and it's simple: avoid the fragrance to which you are allergic. Once exposure is eliminated, the problem will subside. Note: Rare instances of persistent rash have been reported in people who had the allergy for years before being diagnosed.
Q: If I’m allergic to one fragrance am I allergic to all?
A: Not necessarily, although cross reactions can occur. Generally, if you have confirmed diagnosis of fragrance allergy, it’s best to avoid all products with fragrance until the rash clears. At that point try reintroducing one product at a time.
Q: If a product says "hypoallergenic" does that mean fragrance free? What if it says "fragrance free"?
A: “Hypoallergenic” is a marketing phrase. It does not mean fragrance free, and likely contains numerous other compounds that can cause allergy. Even products that claim to be “fragrance free” are not. Again - another marketing phrase. Patients with confirmed fragrance allergy can be given tools by their dermatologists to navigate this problem.
If you or a family member struggle with any skin reactions that are bothersome, recurrent, or have questions, feel free to cal l 479-443-5100 to scheduled with one of our board-certified dermatologists or extensively trained physician extenders.