Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser side effects

What does a cleanser reaction look like?

Possible signs of contact dermatitis, a skin reaction caused by contact with an irritating substance or an allergen, include:

• Burning, stinging, tenderness or pain, sometimes before a rash appears.
• Itching and a rash that feels swollen or hot.
• Excessively dry, cracked, flaky or scaly skin.
• Hives, which are intensely itchy raised welts.
• Blisters, including blisters that ooze and leave crusts.

A rash is not always red. Lighter skin can become red, while darker skin can become dark brown, purple or grey. Reactions usually appear within a few hours or days of contact, so a cleanser does not have to sting immediately to be involved.5

Why can a sensitive skin cleanser cause a reaction?

Cetaphil formulates its cleanser range for sensitive skin. Irritation and allergy are different problems, however. An irritant directly damages the outer skin layer; an allergen triggers an immune response that affects the skin. Soaps and detergents are common irritants, while cosmetic ingredients can trigger allergic contact dermatitis. A cleanser's pH, a measure of its acidity, is also linked to its irritation potential.456

Be particularly alert to a rash around the eyes. The skin there is thin and delicate, and even brief contact with facial cleanser can cause contact dermatitis. Other skincare products, makeup and makeup remover can also be responsible. The location of the rash is a useful clue, but it does not identify the culprit by itself.1

What should you do if your skin reacts?

1. 1Stop using the cleanser and contact your healthcare provider about the reaction.
2. 2Consider what else touches the affected area, especially products you recently started using. Avoid the suspected trigger.
3. 3Ask a pharmacist about a suitable emollient, a moisturizer that helps prevent dryness, if the symptoms are troubling you.
4. 4See a doctor if symptoms are persistent, keep returning or are severe. A dermatologist can help identify the cause when it remains unclear.

How long does a reaction take to clear?

Contact dermatitis usually improves or clears when the substance causing it is identified and avoided. There is no single recovery deadline to use for every reaction. If a rash clears after you stop the suspected product, that is a useful clue to the cause. Symptoms that do not respond to treatment need medical review rather than repeated attempts with the same cleanser.15

Can you keep using it if your skin feels fine?

Cetaphil's general cleanser directions are twice daily, once in the morning and once at night. That is a routine for use without a reaction, not a reason to continue through burning or a rash. Cetaphil offers creams, washes, bars, wipes and scrubs, so choosing a replacement by the brand name alone leaves rather a lot of paperwork unfinished.4

If alcohol on an ingredient list worries you, distinguish the type. Cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol help retain water and are moisturizing, unlike drying alcohols such as ethyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol. The word 'alcohol' alone is not a reason to reject a cleanser.7

In the United States, you can report a cosmetic reaction to the FDA through its online MedWatch form, even if the reaction did not require medical treatment. You can also report a bad smell, color change, foreign material or other signs of product contamination.3