What is true about fragrance free products?

Fragrance free and unscented are not interchangeable

Use the fragrance free claim as a starting point when choosing a product, not as the bottle's letter of recommendation. A fragrance ingredient can be included for a purpose other than scent, such as in products intended to relieve muscle aches or help with sleep.1

Natural fragrance can cause allergies too

Fragrances can come from natural extracts or be made synthetically, and both can cause contact allergy. Botanical, herbal and natural ingredients can include unidentified fragrance. If you have a diagnosed fragrance allergy, read labels for your identified allergens and avoid products containing fragrance or lacking an ingredient label. Recheck products when buying them again because ingredients can change without notice.3

What should you choose for eczema?

For eczema, choose fragrance free skin care rather than unscented products because masked fragrance can still trigger a flare. Use a fragrance free cream or ointment instead of a lotion, applying it after bathing while skin is damp and whenever skin feels dry. Fragrance is only one possible trigger; other ingredients can also cause a flare.2

For a child with eczema, look for a mild fragrance free cleanser, a gentle fragrance free shampoo, and laundry detergent without fragrance or dyes. Products carrying the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance are another way to narrow the search. Your child's dermatologist can help select products, particularly if you suspect a reaction to preservatives or dyes.4

How do you try a new product?

For eczema, test new skin care before using it more widely. A reaction can take hours or days to appear, so an uneventful first application is not the whole test.4

1. 1Apply a quarter sized amount to the skin on the inside of your arm.
2. 2Repeat every day for 7 to 10 days.
3. 3If the skin remains clear, start using the product. If a rash develops, do not use it.

Testing a new product still matters when the label says fragrance free, because the rest of the formula has not resigned.2

What if a product causes a reaction?

Stop using a product that causes a rash. Fragrance allergy causes allergic contact dermatitis, an itchy skin inflammation that can also burn, sting, swell or blister. Reactions develop hours to days after contact, and an allergy can develop after repeated exposure to a previously tolerated product. Irritation and reactions to other ingredients can look similar.3

If reactions keep happening or you suspect fragrance allergy, see a dermatologist for assessment. Diagnosis involves your history and clinical patch testing to identify allergens. Testing products at home is a screening step, not a diagnosis of which ingredient caused the reaction.3