Cosmetics include not only makeup but also hair care products, nail polishes, toothpastes, moisturizers and deodorants. Around 10 percent of Americans and Europeans develop cosmetic allergies, Aukland Allergy Clinic reports. You can develop hives on your eyelids from cosmetics used directly on your eyelids and around your eyes as well as from cosmetics used far from your eyes.
Causes
Allergic reactions develop when your immune system responds to substances called allergens. Almost any substance can be an allergen. When your immune system encounters an allergen, it releases histamines that can cause hives. Hives, also called urticaria, develop when fluid leaks out of the blood vessels into the skin. Hives often move from one area to another, causing itchy welts. Hives may develop far from the contact site. In 80 percent of cases, it may not be possible to determine exactly what caused an allergic reaction, Allergy and Asthma Associates of DuPage states.
Types of Reactions
Although all hives may look the same, different types of reactions can cause hives. Contact urticaria syndrome causes a fairly rapid reaction, within a few minutes to an hour, after exposure to an allergen. Localized hives may appear at the site of contact or as a systemic reaction. Allergic contact dermatitis, also called delayed hypersensitivity reaction, develops 12 hours or more after exposure. Allergic contact dermatitis can cause reactions beyond the original contact site. Fragrances cause most cases of allergic contact dermatitis.
Avoidance
Buying hypoallergenic cosmetics doesn't guarantee that you won't have an allergic reaction or develop hives. Manufacturers do not have to substantiate claims as to what makes their products hypoallergenic. Products labeled "natural" can also cause an allergic reaction. Products listed as "unscented" aren't always necessarily fragrance-free.
Complications
Hives on the skin normally don't cause any lasting damage, although hives on your eyelids can make it hard to see until the swelling goes down. However, if hives develop inside your throat or mouth, you may have difficulty breathing. You may need epinephrine injections to decrease the allergic reaction if you have swelling in the throat. Severe hives may also require treatment with corticosteroids to reduce swelling and to calm the immune system as well as antihistamines.
References
- United States Food and Drug Administration; Is It a Cosmetic, a Drug, or Both? (Or Is It Soap?); July 2002
- Dermatology Online Journal; Common Misconceptions in Contact Dermatitis Counseling; Rajani Katta M.D.; 2008
- Aukland Allergy Clinic; Reactions to Cosmetics; Vincent St Aubyn Crump; August 2004
- Asthma and Allergy Associates of DuPage; Hives; Sakina N. Bharani, M.D.; March 2011
- MayoClinic.com; Hives and Angioedema; December 2010
