Dermatologists: The Best Defense Against Counterfeit Cosmetics

Are you noticing an increase in cases of contact dermatitis in your practice lately? Are more patients coming in with pink eye, swollen lips, or painful blisters and rashes on their skin? Are they complaining of accompanying headaches, dizziness or vomiting?

Your patients might be dealing with the nasty aftereffects of counterfeit cosmetics usage.

In the new documentary series, Broken by Netflix, Episode One explores the explosion of counterfeit cosmetics manufacturing. All of it driven by the rising demand for luxury goods at affordable prices and the easy access of these products through eCommerce sellers on sites like Amazon, eBay, Wish, and CraigsList, as well as local flea markets. These counterfeit cosmetics have contributed to a noticeable increase in cases of contact dermatitis and other serious skin and eye infections during the last 5- 8 years.

The majority of manufacturers are being traced to China where there is no regulation of counterfeit goods. And as the demand for luxury makeup brands increases, manufacturers are becoming better at creating packaging that, to the untrained eye of eager consumers, looks identical to that of name brand packaging.

Adding to the problem are understaffed shipping ports where thousands of containers are unloaded each day without thorough inspections, meaning there's little to no deterrent to the influx of counterfeit cosmetics. So manufacturers continue to ship out lip gloss, eye shadows, foundations, and body care products infused with ingredients such as superglue, horse urine, rat feces, and lead, to name a few.

 A 2008 study found that even a small amount of heavy metals in cosmetics can result in percutaneous adsorption on the skin and cause skin allergies.

And all of this is making its way into consumers' homes and onto their bodies and faces.

The issue is then compounded when cosmetics are shared in beauty salons, department store makeup counters, or even among individuals. Microorganisms from shared cosmetics products can easily be spread via makeup applicators. And when a product is contaminated the microorganisms can alter the product ranging from noticeable discoloration to outright toxicity. 

How Dermatologists Can Combat Counterfeit Cosmetics

Dermatologists cannot stop the rising influx of counterfeit cosmetics, but they can talk with their patients about the very real dangers of purchasing cosmetics from sources that are not authorized retailers. They can also help to educate patients about ways they can pay closer attention to the products they are purchasing and using and encourage them not to be afraid to trust their instincts.

Does the item have an unusual look or unfamiliar odor? Is the quality of the texture different than what the consumer is expecting? If a foundation feels unusually sticky or a mascara seems goopy or the lipgloss has a slight chemical smell that seems unfamiliar then just don't wear it. 

Other ways that dermatologists can help patients avoid purchasing counterfeit cosmetics products are:

Research: Skincare companies list their authorized dealers on their websites. Encourage patients to do their research before shopping and only purchase cosmetics from those dealers. Do an online search for reviews about a product to see if other people have purchased it and have issues with it. Check the company’s ratings with the Better Business Bureau.

Pay attention: Cosmeceutical companies are required by law to print an expiration date on their products. Is there one?  Is there a barcode? Is the color/design of the packaging absolutely identical to the same product sold by the brand itself? Is the packaging torn? Are there safety seals on the items? It's the little details that can give away fake packaging. 

Price: If the price is too good to be true, then it probably is. A $10 name brand lip gloss kit on eBay that normally sells for $60 in a department store is not a safe bargain.

Buy from your dermatologist: Your dermatologist can provide you with a healthy skincare routine as well as safe products to go with it.

Purchasing a popular eyeshadow or lip gloss kit on Amazon might seem ideal due to the savings in price. But that "bargain" now carries the potential of a much higher price tag when the consumer finds her lips stuck together from superglue infused lip gloss, a skin rash from blush containing heavy metals, or pink eye from mascara or eyeliner with 46 times the acceptable level of copper for humans. Or something far more serious like brain damage from lead in a body lotion or foundation.

No cosmetic is worth someone's health. The price of beauty should not come at the potential price of rashes, pink eye, or a far more serious condition that can have long-lasting impacts to an individual’s health.

Dermatologists are now the best defense their patients have against the easy and affordable allure of all the bright and shiny new cosmetics products flooding today’s online markets. When the purchase of lead-infused eye shadow is just a single click away, a dermatologist can arm their patients with the knowledge they need in order to make safer, smarter cosmetics choices.