RENO, Nev. (KOLO) -Some of us can put pretty much anything on our skin and get along just fine.
But for patients who have an overactive immune system brought on by an irritant like an allergen--typically known as eczema, any skin product won’t do.
Just ask Marina Black. Prone to break outs and eczema.
She says she reads labels carefully.
“I definitely watch my cleansers,” says Marina. I like doing oil based cleansers. I like my serums. I am definitely acne prone. So, vitamin C is hard for me. So. eating more of those vitamin Cs. And moisturizers.”
Marina says if a product irritates her skin, she has to start from square one with cleaners and moisturizers to get her skin back in shape.
While she would never buy counterfeit skin care, others might be tempted by the cost.
They may go to the internet, where Amazon, E-Bay, and Tik Tock Shop sell the items at discounted prices.
But as the saying goes, you get what you paid for.
While the products may look comparable, they are not. Their ingredients may be blurred. There is no lot number or expiration date. They may have an unusual texture or scent.
If it’s sunscreen, the product may have no sunscreen.
“They’ve found things like lead and beryllium, which are very toxic to humans in some of these products,” says Dr. Cindy Lamerson, a board-certified dermatologist with Nevada Center for Dermatologist. “But they’ve also found urine, and rat feces. So, things you don’t want to be using on your face and body.”
Dr. Lamerson says she understands cost is a major factor for patients who have sensitive skin.
After prescriptions and doctor visits, products may just be unaffordable.
She says ask for samples and ask the physician if there are comparable generics in drug and grocery stores over the counter.
Look at ingredients from the more expensive item and compare labels to see if they are basically the same.
She says sometimes counterfeits are harmless.
But when it comes to skin that’s not the case.
“It’s one thing about getting a fake purse. It’s another thing getting a product putting it on your skin and its absorbed.”