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Skin Irritants

Avoiding Common Chemical Irritants

In today's competitive market, manufacturers strive to create unique, 'must have' products to solve skin and hair care needs. But with so many choices, finding the product that is right for you can be overwhelming. For those with sensitive skin, it can be even more difficult.

Common chemical irritants, including dyes, preservatives, fragrances, masking fragrances, lanolin, as well as other irritating ingredients are often used in ordinary products. While these ingredients serve a purpose, if you have sensitive skin, they can irritate your skin or exacerbate underlying skin conditions.

Why is this important?  For some people, common chemical irritants cause an allergic response or trigger flare-ups for certain skin conditions. Eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis cause the skin to become inflamed and itchy, and thus more easily irritated. For this reason, many dermatologists recommend using mild skin and hair care products that are free of common chemical irritants for patients with these and other skin conditions.

Talk to your doctor.  Contact a dermatologist or allergist with your concerns. They can help diagnose skin conditions and recommended appropriate treatments. They can also help to identify specific ingredients of concern, sometimes using a patch testing method, and develop a skin care plan to help avoid them.

How do I avoid problematic ingredients?  Familiarize yourself with ingredient names. Some ingredients have very similar names or may be listed under alternate names making them difficult to identify. Keep a list for reference. Always read the ingredient label before using any skin or hair care product. Check out online tools such as SkinSAFE (skinsafeproducts.com).

What makes our products different?  The Vanicream Skin Care line and Hair Care line were specifically developed for people who need, or want, to avoid many of the common chemical irritants found in ordinary skin care products. Because of this, they are ideal for those with sensitive skin!

Developing effective products for sensitive skin requires more care in the research & selection of ingredients, product formulation and the manufacturing process. For example, many detergents and surfactants are known to be irritants or sensitizers in cleanser and shampoos and we have worked diligently to find suitable alternatives. As new ingredients enter the marketplace, the potential for skin sensitivities with these new ingredients is always present. However, these new ingredients may also improve upon traditional ingredients for those with sensitivities. At PSI, we remain dedicated to sourcing the best ingredients for our customers. You will find our products superior in terms of quality, effectiveness and value!

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