Fragrance Allergies, How to Identify Perfume or Cologne Rashes

Every fragrance you love may not love your skin, but every time you break out, it's not necessarily the fragrance you're wearing. Perfumes and colognes have a slightly different smell when they're sprayed on your body instead of testing paper. But the problem with spraying a bunch of fragrances on yourself is if you end up with a rash, you won't know which fragrance did it. And if you got the rash from somewhere else, how would you be able to tell where it came from?

Take these steps to find out whether your rash is from the fragrance or something else you're wearing or doing.

Step One: Discontinue using the fragrance immediately. If this is a fragrance you were using before you got the rash, still discontinue use. There could be something wrong with the ingredients in your new bottle. Or, maybe the problem is you're switching between a bunch of different fragrances.

Step Two: Clean the affected area with soap and water, and use a product like aloe vera or cocoa butter to moisturize your skin. Rashes tend to turn colors and then make your skin dry, which leaves a mark.

Step Three: Keep an eye on the rash to make sure it doesn't spread. In Chicago, there's an issue with mosquitoes infected with West Nile Virus. This has left more Chicagoans with mosquito bites due to excessive rain. You may have something as innocent as a mosquito bite or something worse. Last night, the city sprayed the area starting at 8 p.m., as far north as Touhy, as far south as Bryn Mawr and around eastern and western areas. The West Nile Virus can lead to a skin rash on your stomach, chest or back. If you see a rash like this, contact your doctor immediately.

Step Four: Brainstorm on what other products you've used recently. The rash could be from a new fabric softener, fragrance lotion, detergent or dishwashing liquid. Write down the last few products you've used that were different than before you got the rash. Discontinue use of those.

Step Five: If your rash clears up, take precaution in using these new products again. Use each one on different days. Give yourself time to see if the rash returns. If you don't see the rash returning with one product, use the next product. Slowly build your way back up to each product with plenty of time in between (about a week). Sometimes the rash may be from using several products together instead of one product individually.

If at anytime the rash becomes worse than before or you experience any aches or pains, see a medical professional immediately.

Additional Notes: This entry was published by the Chicago Fragrance Examiner. To check out her fragrance reviews, visit the Examiner link.