Shampoo Allergies: Look Beyond the Scalp!

Look Beyond the Scalp!

It’s possible to be allergic to the shampoo one is using. This week we’ll talk about this important topic. It’s often forgotten about.

Shampoo allergy is not easy to diagnose. Patients don’t simply develop any itchy, red scalp right after they use a shampoo. Rather individuals who are allergic to an ingredient in their shampoo may develop rashes elsewhere including the eyelids, face, ears, neck and back. Of course the scalp can be involved but often not right away. 
Even patients who think of the possibility find that when they change their shampoo the problem does not go away. Often that is simply because the next shampoo also has the allergen.

This week we’ll talk about common allergens in shampoos including fragrance, cocamidopropyl betaine (main two we’ll discuss on Tuesday and Wednesday). Others include MCI/MI, propylene glycol, formaldehyde releasers and vitamin E.