Reactions to ingredients (Was Re: Giving Gold Bond a try..)

[Guest guest]

> by the way, dr nase, in his book, clearly explains to avoid

> menthol, camphor, eucalyptus oil, and peppermint oil.

The ingredients you listed are among those likely to cause irritation

to sensitive skin; it's not a complete list of the usual suspects,

and it will not cause irritation to all sensitive skins. All skins

react differently to different ingredients, and the sensitivities

change as the skin becomes more or less healthy.

So I'd disagree with Dr. Nase if he's truly advising all rosaceans to

avoid those ingredients, or any ingredient out of hand, as you worded

it above. I believe it's more realistic and helpful to view these

ingredients -- and others -- with higher suspicion if they appear as

an ingredients that has already proven to cause a reaction.

Note that irritation from ingredients as described above is different

than the breakouts from comedogenic ingredients, which you've

thoughtfully warned the group about. Comedogenicity has to do with

the size of pores and other skin characteristics rather than the

health of skin. Those who react do, those who don't won't, and it has

nothing to do with rosacea per se (except that many rosaceans have

larger pores that are easier to clog).

The point is, comedogenic ingredients may cause breakouts in some

rosaceans that make skin look worse, but that's not the rosacea

worsening, as may well be the case with irritation from ingredient

sensitivities.

It's a subtly, but important in understanding the different reactions

possible from skin products. For example, if one takes antibotics

while using a comedogenic skin product that causes acneform (acne-

like) reaction, it may seem as if the antibiotics aren't working or

causing one type of pustule is being replaced by another, when that's

not what's happening at all.

Marjorie

Marjorie Lazoff, MD