Can Perfumes Cause Acne?

Can Perfumes Cause Acne?

 

I am sure many perfume lovers ask themselves this question.

 

Acne isn’t caused by perfumes. It is a complex medical condition. As I am interested in skin conditions, I am giving you a brief insight into acne on this page.

 

However, if you are prone to acne, there are ingredients in some perfumes, especially replica fragrances, that can trigger acne.

 

What Is Acne?

 

Acne is a skin condition which can occur at almost any stage in life. Genetics play a role and so does lifestyle.

 

It is estimated that 85% of the world’s population experience acne at some point in their life.

 

The most common symptom of acne is pimples or zits, but you can also experience blackheads. All three are caused when hair follicles in the skin become clogged.

 

Our skin naturally produces an oil called sebum. This oil is a must as it stops the skin from drying out. Don’t forget the skin is the body’s largest organ.

 

When the skin produces too much sebum, our pores can become clogged with dead skin cells and other materials. This is what leads to breakouts of acne.

 

The most common forms of acne are inflammatory acne and non-inflammatory acne.

 

Acne is further broken down into what I like to call four main categories:

 

●      Fungal Acne

●      Cystic Acne

●      Hormonal Acne

●      Nodular Acne

 

Although I mentioned perfume does not cause acne there is a fine line.

If you don’t look after your perfume or body lotion, you risk fungus or mold taking hold. This is common in cheap replica perfumes.

 

If you notice small flakes in your fragrance bottle, the best thing you can do is to discard it.

 

Mold can cause acne and other skin problems including eczema. What is mold? It is made up of very fine spores which can enter the skin through the pores.

 

Next time you buy a cheap replica perfume, check the expiry date. Compared to many premier brand-name perfumes, they have shorter expiry dates.

 

More acne outbreaks are reported from cheap replica perfumes.

 

Different Forms of Acne

 

Is it important to know what kind of acne you have?

 

Yes, it is. Most people in the UK who experience acne don’t go to their GP.

 

If your acne is less severe visiting a doctor is not necessarily important. But, when you have severe acne you should visit your family doctor. If he can’t help, ask for a referral to a specialist.

 

Visiting a doctor is important especially if you think you have fungal acne. Fungus spores quickly enter the bloodstream and can wreak havoc with your health.

 

To prevent your acne from getting worse see your doctor when the condition does not improve in 10 days.

 

Fungal Acne

 

Fungal acne is one of the more serious forms of acne. Treating fungal acne with antibiotics quickly makes the condition worse.

 

How do you know if you have fungal acne?

 

The spots or bumps appear different often appearing in in rows or patterns.

Unlike other forms of acne, fungal acne needs urgent treatment with topical creams or oral medication.

 

Blackheads, cysts and nodules are not associated with fungal acne.

 

This form of acne can also appear when there is an overgrowth of yeast on the skin.

 

Hormonal Acne

 

An overproduction of sebum is what causes outbreaks of hormonal acne.

 

it is found in teenagers or women going through hormonal changes or treatments including HRT. Hormonal acne also occurs during menopause.

There is a range of treatments and natural remedies available. It is unlikely perfume causes breakouts of hormonal acne.

 

Nodular Acne

 

Nodular acne is the form of acne which most frequently reacts to perfumes.

 

Most people with nodular acne experience sensitivity and often have a range of skin conditions. Nodular acne has a strong genetic link. If someone in your family has the condition, look after your skin by using high-quality skincare products.

 

Why are people with nodular acne more likely to react to perfumes? The condition has some similarities with psoriasis. In psoriasis, skin cells produce a reaction because they believe the condition is normal which causes an overproduction of skin cells.

 

In nodular acne, the skin produces excess sedum. When further stimulated, it starts to produce even more sebum. This is what causes the hard solid cysts associated with nodular acne.

 

Medical treatments and special regimes are often needed to control the condition.

 

Cystic Acne

 

Cystic acne is the skin condition most of us think about when we hear the word acne mentioned.

 

The most common symptom is pus-filled cysts formed by bacteria entering pores. Does perfume cause this condition? No, it doesn’t and it is unlikely cystic acne-prone skin reacts to perfume.

 

Stress, lifestyle and hormonal changes are the most common culprits behind cystic acne.

 

It is a condition which responds well to natural remedies but may require prescription medication.

 

Where On The Body Can I Get Acne?

 

The most common place for acne is on the face. However, you can also get acne on other parts of the body including the back, arms and neck.

 

Acne Do’s and Don’ts

 

Is fragrance-free better for acne?

 

There is no scientifically based evidence which suggests fragrance-free is better for acne. But, just like with any other health condition, we have different trigger points.

 

Let’s take a look at some of the best tips.

 

Buy A Better Quality Perfume

 

If you think your perfume is linked to acne breakouts, you should check out the perfume.

 

Have you bought a cheap replica perfume? If you have, there is every chance your acne outbreak is linked to your fragrance.

 

Parabens

 

Cheap perfumes and fragrances are packed with synthetic oils and other ingredients which cause both acne and eczema.

 

The prime suspects are a group of petrol-based chemicals called parabens.

Whilst they make great preservatives, parabens wreak with our skin and general health.

 

Look at parabens under the microscope and you realise they are small minute crystals.

 

Do parabens dissolve on the skin? The answer is no. Instead, they linger and may even enter the skin through the pores. This triggers reactions and is associated with causing acne.

 

As the skin and body can’t break down parabens, they stay on our skin and bloodstream. In the skin, they cause all sorts of mischief including blocked pores.

 

Cheap perfumes never offer as good results as quality perfumes. Natural essential oils are not used in replica perfumes. Instead, chemicals such as musk ketone are used.

 

Essential Oils and Acne Breakouts

 

Yes, there are essential oils which are associated with breakouts.

 

Believe it or not, the oil we are often told to apply to spots and zits - tea tree - is linked to making acne worse.

 

Fortunately, you very seldom find this oil in quality perfumes. It does not have the most pleasant smell.

 

If you are experiencing acne, you should also avoid oregano oil.

 

How To Apply Perfume

 

Just like with everything else in life, there is a trick to applying perfume when you suspect it is linked to your acne.

 

Instead of spraying your perfume directly on your skin, spray it or dab it onto your hair or clothes.

 

If you are wearing a perfume which is applied without spraying, you can put it on your wrists or a piece of jewellery you are wearing.

 

For a long-lasting fragrance, apply some on a small cotton bud and place it under your watch. That way you smell great all day.

 

Keep An On The Expiry Date

 

All perfumes deteriorate over time.

 

When you buy perfume, it is important to check the use by date. If you hang on to your perfume for too long, its chemical composition changes.

 

Not only does this alter the way your perfume smells. It also changes the way your perfume interacts with your skin.

 

Essential oils break down at different rates. Longer molecules take longer to break down, shorter ones break down faster. This is why the smell of your fragrance changes.

 

Although this natural action does not cause acne, it may cause an allergy rash.

 

Storing Your Perfumes

 

Storing your perfumes the right way helps to stop outbreaks and allergic reactions.

 

What is the right way to store your perfume?

 

Keeping your perfume on a bright, sunlight dressing table is the worst thing you can do.

 

UV rays have a damaging effect. Just like not using your perfumes by its expiry date, UV rays break down the essential oils in your fragrance.

 

This happens surprisingly quickly. Keep on checking the colour of your perfume. Changes in colour indicate the molecules chains in the perfume are breaking down. Chemical changes can cause reactions.

 

When this happens, the chemical elements in your perfume alter. Just like keeping your perfume beyond its expiry date.

 

Top brands perfumes are finely balanced which means they change their composition if the molecule chains alter. Similar effect to keeping your perfume beyond its expiry date.

 

This is why buying smaller perfume bottles is a good idea. I prefer buying several smaller size perfumes instead of one large one.

 

Your perfume or body lotion should be stored in a dark place at an ambient temperature. Too hot or too cold simply is not good for perfumes.

 

Can I store my perfume in the fridge? No, you should never do this. The cold also has a detrimental effect on perfumes and other scented products.

 

Are You Sure It Is Perfume?

 

Having worked on perfume and skincare counters in numerous stores and locations, I have learned many quickly to blame their perfume.

 

Customers come back and say they are experiencing a rash as a result of changing their perfume.

 

But, are you sure it is your perfume causing the rash? When I speak to customers, I often find they have changed many things recently.

 

A rash or an acne outbreak can be caused by anything from a new washing powder to a new skincare product.

 

When I sell a perfume or skincare product, I ask customers if they have any allergies.

 

Paying attention to ingredients in skincare and perfumes which can cause allergic reactions is just as important as food you are allergic to.

 

Most of us probably know what foods or ingredients in food we are allergic to. However, very few of us know what ingredients in perfume or skincare can cause allergic reactions.

 

If you have had problems in the past, make a note of the product name. If you know what ingredients caused the problem even better. Keeping notes of all your allergies is important.

 

What Is An Allergy Rash?

 

As mentioned, I have met many customers who think they are experiencing acne caused by their perfume.

 

What I often find is that they are having an allergic reaction which has resulted in a rash.

 

It is challenging to tell the difference between an allergy rash and an acne outbreak. They can look much the same.

 

When you are experiencing, an allergy rash, the bumps are often smaller and not filled with pus. But, they can be filled with a clear hot liquid. This is what defines an allergy rash.

 

The skin is often red and looks sore. A sign of inflammation just like you get with eczema.

 

My experience tells me that most individuals who think they are experiencing an acne outbreak are instead experiencing an allergy rash.

 

Prickly Heat

 

There are different kinds of allergy rashes.

 

Prickly heat is an allergy rash to sunlight or heat.

 

You can trigger an episode of prickly heat if you spray or dab perfume directly on the skin during the summer.

 

This is triggered by UV rays passing through the perfume’s essential oil and heating up the perfume.

 

In other words, the rays are intensified.

 

Prickly Heat is another condition which is often mistaken for acne. The difference is that acne is never itchy, but Prickly heat is certainly very itchy.

 

If you don’t want to risk Prickly Heat when out and about during hot weather, spray your perfume on your hair or clothes instead.

 

Final Thoughts

 

Hopefully, I have given you some food for thought.

Don’t assume your “acne outbreak” is caused by your new fragrance. What else did you change in your skincare or household routine? Perhaps you swapped Ariel for Aldi’s detergent packed with parabens?

 

If so, this is what could be causing your acne. Remember that replica perfumes packed with synthetic essential oils and other chemical compounds are often the culprits. Genuine quality essential oils seldom cause a problem.