HELP!
MY SKIN IS REACTIVE, ALLERGIC

Skin allergy generally refers to a condition called contact dermatitis. Allergens such as metals (nickel, chrome), certain ingredients in cosmetics & fragrances or household cleaning products come into prolonged contact with the skin where they stimulate an immune response that causes an itching, burning, scaling rash. You’ll discover top tips about how to take the sting out of such skin reactions in the articles below.

YOUR QUESTIONS
OUR ANSWERS

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What can I do about skin rashes that itch?

Skin rashes that itch include urticaria (hives) and irritated skin. All will benefit from an over-the-counter oral anti-histamine. In addition, spritzing Thermal Spring Water will instantly calm itching. Then, reinforce your skin’s barrier with a hypoallergenic moisturiser. If itchy rashes are recurrent, try visiting an allergist to pinpoint the cause of your problems.

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How can I treat an allergic reaction on my skin?

Skin is the #1 site of allergy manifestations which come in many different forms ranging from hives to milder reactions such as redness, burning, and itching. To treat skin allergic reactions, cleanse with a high-tolerance non-rinse cleanser to remove allergens, then soothe with a thermal water spray and follow up with an ultra-soothing barrier cream formulated for allergic skin types.


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TRUE
OR FALSE

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FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
ARE NEVER ALLERGENIC.

FALSE An illustration of an incorrect answer to a question.

Certain fruits and vegetables contain high levels of compounds called salicylates(related to aspirin). In salicylate-sensitive individuals, foods rich in these compounds can actually make allergic symptoms such as hay fever, asthma, eczema and skin reactions worse.
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DIY RECIPEES ARE BANNED
FOR SENSITIVE SKINS.

TRUE An illustration of a correct answer to a question.

Fun though it may be, raiding your kitchen cupboards and concocting your very own skin treatments is a recipe for reactions if you have allergic-type skin. Indeed, many natural ingredients can be highly irritant.
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True or False Visual 1

NO SHOWER IS THE BEST
POLICY FOR ALLERGIC SKINS.

FALSE An illustration of an incorrect answer to a question.

If you don’t cleanse at the end of the day, you are leaving allergens and irritants such as pollen and pollution in contact with your skin all night long. They can interfere with skin's barrier function and cause irritation.
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YOUR MAKE-UP BRUSH
CAN GIVE YOU ALLERGIES.

TRUE An illustration of a correct answer to a question.

Make-up brushes and applicators can be real dust and allergy traps, so need to be washed regularly. Clean your brushes with hypoallergenic soap, or make-up brush cleanser to get a clean bill of health.
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DIFFERENT TYPES OF ALLERGIES
CAN AFFECT THE SKIN

But contact dermatitis is not the only type of skin allergy. Skin also reacts to allergens - in our diet, our environment, and in medicines we take - often in the form of hives which are itchy red welts that appear on skin. In a milder form of reaction, allergy-prone skin itches, burns and stings when exposed to cosmetics that are not hypoallergenic and allergy-tested, or harsh ingredients in household cleaning products. One special case of skin allergy that you will discover in the articles below is sun allergy, where allergic-like symptoms are brought on by UV rays.

IS MY SKIN
SENSITIVE, REACTIVE OR ALLERGY-PRONE?

Allergy-prone skin is not the same as sensitive or reactive skin types. Whereas allergy-prone skin reacts to specific allergens with visible reactions, sensitive skin experiences discomfort (tingling, itching, burning etc.) either all the time, or in response to internal (think stress or spicy food) and external (think hard water or air conditioning) trigger factors. You probably won’t see any visible changes in sensitive skin. A separate entity, reactive skin reacts to internal and external triggers with the same unpleasant sensations, plus visible symptoms of redness and flushing.

The articles in this section will tell you more about these 3 tricky skin types, including the specific daily care that will help keep them all in their comfort zones.
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Did you
know?

Did You Know Desktop Icon

By 2050, half of the world's population will have an allergy*, with 80% of sufferers experiencing skin symptoms.

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* Source: World Health Organisation Estimation 2015

OUR SAFETY
COMMITMENTS

Safety standards beyond international cosmetics regulations.

La Roche-Posay's product allergy-tested safety commitment

100% PRODUCTS
ALLERGY TESTED

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One Prerequisite = Zero Allergic reactions
If we detect a single case, we go back to the labs and reformulate
Safety Commitment Formula Protection Product

FORMULA PROTECTION
OVER TIME

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We select the most protective packaging associated with only the necessary preservatives, to guarantee intact tolerance and efficacy over time.
Safety Commitment Essential Active Dose Product

JUST THE ESSENTIAL,
AT THE RIGHT ACTIVE DOSE

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Developed in collaboration with dermatologist and toxicologist, our products contain only the necessary ingredients, at the right active dose.
laroche posay safety commitment sensitive skin model baby

TESTED
ON VERY SENSITIVE SKIN

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Our products' tolerance is verified on the most sensitive skin: reactive, allergic, acne-prone, atopic, damaged or weakened by cancer treatments.

SEE ALL ARTICLES ABOUT 
WHAT CAUSES ALLERGIES?

placeholder TOP 10 ALLERGIES
AND HOW TO AVOID THEM
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placeholder Sun allergy: symptoms, causes
and how to deal with it
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placeholder IS YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE
MAKING YOUR ALLERGIES WORSE?
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placeholder BACK TO BASICS
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placeholder Are you allergic
to your everyday habits?
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DEAR READERS

The information displayed here is intended for general educational purposes only and should not in any case be a substitute for professional medical advice. You should always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any medical question.