One of the more common ingredients included in skin and hair care product is pantothenic acid. Although pantothenic acid is very common, there have been some side-effects associated with the use of this ingredient, ranging from simple issues like dry skin, to more serious reactions such as chest tightness or difficulty breathing.
There have been several cases of contact allergic dermatitis reported from the use of pantothenic acid in shampoos and conditioners, as well as from skin care products that utilize this ingredient.
Pantothenic acid affects people through skin contact. The beauty or hair care product has come in contact with a person’s skin and removed a surface oil which then causes an uncomfortable reaction. Often the sufferer will develop a rash, or itchy patches of dry skin.
It is not uncommon for a patient suffering from contact dermatitis caused by pantothenic acid to suffer from blister and burns on their infected skin. One of the main issues and challenges is for a doctor to find the cause for the rash and other symptoms of the contact dermatitis.
Pantothenic acid is fairly common in beauty products, and one company even has an entire line of hair care products name after pantothenic acid. Also, a person could use a cream, lotion, or hair care product for some time before the skin has a negative reaction which limits how easy it is for the doctor to diagnose and treat the underlying issue.
Another difficulty in proper diagnosis and treatment for an allergic reaction to pantothenic acid is the rarity of rashes and other side-effects. A sudden onset of a more severe reaction may be caused by an increase in the amount of product used. There have been almost no symptoms reported when used in small doses, however, if a person suddenly uses more product with pantothenic acid as an ingredient, an adverse reaction may occur.
In addition to rashes and hives, those suffering from an adverse reaction may have difficulty breathing, a tightness in their chest, swelling of the mouth, as well as swelling of the face, lips, or tongue. The treatment most often involves some form of steroid.
Whether a topical ointment or possible oral medications. The results of the treatment are usually fairly fast in removing the discomfort associated with a negative reaction to pantothenic acid.
If a rash lasts for more than a couple of days, or if a patient is concerned about a rash or other symptoms, they should not hesitate to visit their doctor. Relief is usually a prescription of steroids away.
