Ingredient Glossary
Ingredients you should always avoid if you have eczema — and exactly why each one is problematic.
🌸 Fragrances & Perfumes
The #1 trigger for eczema flare-ups. 'Fragrance' or 'Parfum' on a label can represent over 3,000 different chemical compounds — and brands don't have to disclose which ones.
Fragrance / Parfum
A catch-all term hiding hundreds of undisclosed chemicals. Extremely common contact allergen in eczema patients.
Linalool
A naturally occurring fragrance compound found in many plants. Causes contact dermatitis even in 'natural' products.
Limonene
Found in citrus-derived fragrances. Oxidizes on skin exposure to air and becomes a strong sensitizer.
Geraniol
A rose-scented alcohol found in many 'natural' products. A top-10 contact allergen in the EU fragrance series.
Cinnamal / Cinnamic Aldehyde
Cinnamon-derived fragrance compound. One of the strongest skin sensitizers known. Even tiny amounts trigger reactions.
Eugenol
Clove and spice scent. Causes allergic contact dermatitis and is found in many 'organic' and dental products.
⚗️ Preservatives
Used to extend shelf life, these preservatives are common eczema triggers. Some even release formaldehyde directly onto your skin.
Methylisothiazolinone (MI)
One of the most common causes of contact allergy in the last decade. Even rinse-off products can cause sensitization.
Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI)
Always paired with MI. So allergenic it's been banned from leave-on products in the EU.
DMDM Hydantoin
A formaldehyde-releasing preservative. Slowly releases formaldehyde onto skin, causing allergic reactions and barrier damage.
Imidazolidinyl Urea
Another formaldehyde releaser. Found in many 'gentle' and baby products despite being a contact allergen.
Quaternium-15
The strongest formaldehyde releaser in cosmetics. Causes significant contact dermatitis in eczema-prone skin.
Methylparaben / Propylparaben / Butylparaben
Can cause allergic contact dermatitis and disrupt the skin microbiome. Avoid all parabens on compromised skin.
Phenoxyethanol (high concentration)
Generally tolerated in low amounts but can irritate severely eczematous skin. Watch for it in concentrations above 1%.
🫧 Sulfates & Harsh Surfactants
These create the foam and lather in cleansers and shampoos. They're highly effective at cleaning — so effective they strip your skin's natural protective oils too.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
Penetrates deep into the skin, disrupts the lipid barrier, and provokes inflammation. Even one use can worsen eczema.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
Milder than SLS but still strips the skin barrier over time. Often contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a potential carcinogen.
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
Similar irritation profile to SLS. Causes barrier disruption and increases skin permeability to other allergens.
Cocamide DEA / MEA / TEA
Surfactants that can form nitrosamines (potential carcinogens) and are skin sensitizers in eczema patients.
🚫 Drying & Sensitizing Alcohols
Not all alcohols are bad — fatty alcohols (cetyl, stearyl, cetearyl) are actually moisturizing. Avoid these drying, short-chain alcohols instead.
Alcohol Denat. / SD Alcohol / Ethanol
Evaporates instantly and takes your skin's moisture with it. Repeated exposure degrades the skin barrier significantly.
Isopropyl Alcohol
Harsh solvent that strips the lipid layer and causes immediate barrier disruption. Found in some toners and astringents.
Benzyl Alcohol
Preservative that can cause contact dermatitis. Often listed under 'natural' alcohol alternatives.
Propylene Glycol (high concentration)
Can cause stinging, burning, and contact dermatitis on broken or eczematous skin — especially above 5%.
🌿 Essential Oils
Essential oils are 100% natural — but 'natural' absolutely does not mean safe for eczema. These concentrated plant extracts are among the most potent contact allergens known.
Lavender Oil
Contains linalool and linalyl acetate — major contact allergens. Despite its calming reputation, it frequently triggers eczema flares.
Tea Tree Oil
Popular 'antibacterial' oil that causes contact dermatitis in up to 15% of users. Oxidized tea tree oil is especially reactive.
Peppermint Oil
Contains menthol which triggers TRPM8 receptors, causing stinging and burning on sensitized skin.
Eucalyptus Oil
Strong sensitizer. Contains 1,8-cineole which causes respiratory issues and skin irritation in concentrated forms.
Rose / Rosehip Oil
High in linoleic acid which sounds beneficial, but also contains geraniol and citronellol — fragrance allergens.
Citrus Oils (Lemon, Orange, Bergamot)
Phototoxic when applied before sun exposure. Contain limonene which becomes a sensitizer on oxidation.
🎨 Dyes & Colorants
Color additives in skincare and personal care products serve zero skincare function — they only affect appearance. For eczema-prone skin, they're unnecessary risks.
D&C Red / Yellow / Blue (FD&C) Dyes
Synthetic coal tar dyes linked to contact dermatitis. No benefit to skin — purely cosmetic and entirely avoidable.
p-Phenylenediamine (PPD)
Found in hair dyes. Extremely sensitizing — once allergic, even small exposures cause severe reactions.
Carmine (Red 4)
Derived from crushed beetles. Causes allergic reactions in many people, especially those with skin barrier dysfunction.
Mica with Synthetic Binders
Mica itself is fine, but synthetic binders used in powders and highlighters can be irritating to sensitive skin.
Artificial Blue / Green / Purple Colorants
Found in shampoos and shower gels for aesthetic appeal only. Can trigger contact dermatitis with repeated exposure.