A as an Allergy

Allergy in eyelash styling

Allergy, which is commonly called allergy, is a known pathological reaction of tissues to various foreign substances called allergens.

Although allergic reactions have been known for centuries and involve various factors, from food to clothing to jewelry, this is a taboo subject in the cosmetics industry. This makes something that is for the unknown can be associated at first sight with fear, danger and guilt.

What are allergies in eyelash styling?

Allergy 

This is a different kind of sensitization, which consists of an abnormal reaction of the immune system to substances foreign to the body, referred to as allergens, which should normally be ignored.

One can become allergic to almost anything. We are allergic to food, cosmetics, animals, pollen, materials, metals and we could exchange so much more. Eyelash styling products, especially glue and its fumes, can also make us sensitive.

Allergy to customer's eyelash extension adhesive 

The most common intolerance is shown by clients to cyanoacrylate fumes, which is the main component of eyelash styling adhesives.

The main symptoms include: swelling, spending and reddening of the eyelid, which appear predominantly from a few to several hours after the treatment. It may be a reaction that appears only after 24h, but not later than 72h after the treatment. Allergy does not always have to appear at the first eyelash application, very often for a long time the body does not give any disturbing symptoms and only with time we can acquire an allergy.

The client may react in a slight way at the beginning, e.g. a slight itching of the eyelid that lasts 1-3 days after the treatment. Usually such symptoms are ignored by our clients and when it comes to the next visit, the reaction symptoms have long been forgotten. However, the regularity of eyelash styling treatments makes the skin is subjected to regular doses of the allergen, so that after each subsequent visit the reaction to the allergen will be stronger and more extensive.

How to minimize the risk of allergy to glue in the customer?

So, what should a stylist do when she is notified of the first symptoms of an allergy?

How can she reduce the risk of an allergic reaction?

First of all, prevention is necessary. One of the most effective and at the same time simplest possibilities is to offer the client an anti-allergic barrier cream, which she should use every time before going to the stylist. It is also extremely important to apply fresh glue (not older than 4-6 weeks), change drops of glue every 15-20 minutes and extinguish each drop of glue after finishing work on it. Thanks to this, the adhesive dries very quickly, without prolonged polymerization, and thus the exposure to fumes in the case of the stylist and the client is reduced to a minimum.

It is also worthwhile to work in well-ventilated rooms and make sure that both the temperature and humidity of the air is as favourable as possible for the fast curing of the adhesive. Optimal conditions are about 20-22°C and 40-60% humidity. Nanomister and a handy windmill should be indispensable equipment of each eyelash stylist. Using them after the treatment, we not only help to cure the glue, but also disperse unpleasant fumes and moisten the client's eye area, where the skin is dry and delicate.

Unfortunately, our action is very limited due to the fact that each adhesive has a certain dose of allergen. Some people's organisms - although these are rare cases - ignore the smaller allergen intakes and come into asymptomatic contact with an adhesive with less resistance. This is analogous to grass dusting: smaller pollen intakes cause minor allergic reactions and tolerance allows asymptomatic contact with the allergen.

You can therefore try to change the glue to a slower-drying one, and thus less vapour-depleting, but remember that this does not guarantee success.

Hypoallergenic adhesive

Because allergies are very common and you can become allergic to virtually anything, therefore the term hypoallergenic is not a word regulated by any legislation, and the use of hypoallergenic products absolutely does not guarantee against allergies.

All eyelash extension adhesives have cyanoacrylate or its derivatives in their composition - the factor most often causing an allergy. Hypoallergenic eyelash extension adhesives also have these ingredients, but it may occur in a lower concentration. However, this does not guarantee that no allergy occurs. Some clients may not react to a lower concentration of the allergen, but this is a very rare case. 

Sometimes the manufacturers use marketing tricks and in the name of the glue they provide information: glue without cyanoarylates, unfortunately after checking the composition it turns out that acrylates are still the basis for the composition of the glue only their compounds are different e.g. ethyl, butyl and methyl cyanoarylates.

Allergy recommendations 

If the reaction has already taken place, the client should be sent to the doctor, if the doctor decides to prescribe drugs, there is no need to remove the eyelashes for the next 2-3 weeks, then they should be removed mechanically, by clicking the tweezers on the glue bonding. If the doctor decides that there is an immediate need to remove the eyelashes, then all of them must be removed mechanically, just like the offshoots during the restoration. Remover - an agent dissolving the glue, will cause another release of the allergen, i.e. fumes, which will further intensify the reaction.

In order to reduce puffiness, the client can be recommended to use cool compresses and thoroughly wash the eye area. 

If the eyelid is heavily swollen and the stylist is unable to reach the roots of the eyelashes, wait until the medicines start to work. If the use of a remover proves necessary because it will be impossible to remove the eyelashes mechanically for any reason, we recommend using a cream remover. Remember that after applying the remover to the eyelashes you should use tape, food foil or even an additional flake and stick it on the remover and the eyelashes, then the fumes of the adhesive will not irritate the eye area and the preparation will work in the shortest possible time.

Antihistamines and eyelash styling

Allergy sufferers reach for medication in order to enjoy the spring fresh air and have animals at home. Or should the same thing be done by women who want to continue to lash extensions? Although even a small dose of antihistamines can deal with swollen and itchy eyelids, this is not an optimal solution. If we encounter an allergen and are not "condemned" to its presence, we try to exclude it from our everyday life. Anti-allergic drugs, they are often based on steroids and hormones and are not absolutely indifferent to our body. For the sake of the client's health, we should present her current situation and suggest an alternative treatment, which may be an eyelash lift enriched with Organic Lash Botox, which will allow the eyelashes to regenerate and regain their former shine and elasticity. Thanks to this, the client will part with the eyelash extension treatment without the unpleasant feeling of "bald eyes" and will not have to start the morning with a massacre.

The advantage of such a solution is that we will not lose the client, and she will not lose confidence in us.

THE LAW PROHIBITS THE PRESCRIBING OF ANY MEDICATION BY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO

Although we have heard more than once or twice about the techniques of "desensitization of clients by stylists", this is an illegal activity and can lead to unpleasant consequences. 

Only a doctor can take such actions, sensitizing clients on their own is irresponsible, unprofessional and can lead to damage to the client's health.

Allergy to other eyelash styling products 

As far as side products are concerned, they are most often a source of irritation for the clients, not an allergy, because they do not have long-term contact with the skin.

FLAKES

Clients may be allergic to flakes and tapes that help to protect the lower lash line. The reaction to the flakes is immediate, there is a feeling of warmth, burning and pinching, the symptoms are repeated each time the flakes are tried. Then the tape should be used, i.e. medical sticker.

TAPE

A small percentage of people in the world do not tolerate the adhesive used to produce medical patches, or tape. However, the reaction is not immediate, it may appear from 2h-12h after the procedure. The client has clearly swollen and blushed skin, and the area where the tape was glued is unnaturally bulging. In this case we use the only eye flakes.

ALLERGY TO FLAKES AND TAPE

It happens very rarely and in such a situation only reusable silicone flakes can help us, but they are not very precise.

The last possibility is to use a thin film of transparent film used for cosmetic treatments, directly under the eye of the client and then stick the flakes on it.

Is it an allergy or just an injury? 

Some of the symptoms do not result from allergies, but only from eye irritation during the eyelash styling treatment. The most frequent reactions in the latter case include: mechanical eye irritation, chemical burns with adhesive fumes, corneal injuries with tape or flakes, as well as intolerance to collagen or other components of eye flakes. Beginner stylists definitely most often struggle with the problem of irritation and redness of the client's eye. This is due to the inattention of unskilled people who do not react to delicate signals sent by the client undergoing the application, who experiences irritation during the procedure. Clients often fall asleep during treatments, tilt the eyelid slightly, opening the access of fumes to the delicate eye surface. The perpetrator of the eyelid opening is also often the stylists themselves, who too much glue on the upper eyelid, or in a hurry ask the client to open the eyes after the surgery without using a windmill or nanomisters. These and many other errors contribute to the occurrence of eye irritation, which can last up to four days. It is usually reddening, discomfort such as "sand under the eyelid" and in extreme cases the appearance of a water bladder on the eye. All these reactions can be one-off and irregular and are indicative of an irritation, not an allergy. If a stylist has already experienced such a phenomenon in any client, she should try to find and understand the cause of her reaction and then exclude her from the procedure.

Allergy to glue in the stylist 

Allergies are a common phenomenon not only among our clients but also among us stylists.

Do you have a chronic rhinitis, coughing, sneezing, migraines or feel burnt out and tired forever?

Don't underestimate these symptoms. These are the effects of working with fumes of eyelash extension glue.

Eyelash styling is a dream job for many, but remember, we work and make money to enjoy life. Our profession, however, is associated with high risk, so let's not let our health be taken away at our own request. Each of us is responsible for ourselves and should take care of our own safety while working. So just as we put on a warm jacket in winter to avoid the cold, we should routinely wear masks that protect our respiratory tract from toxic substances.

There are currently many different types of masks on the market with different levels of vapour protection. From the disposable, hygienic masks to the huge and heavy paint masks that look like alien faces from another planet.

The carbon-filtered mask has four protective layers for your respiratory tract, acting as a barrier against bacteria, viruses and also protects against adhesive fumes. The mask should be replaced once a week.

Can't you see for yourself to wear the mask? We know the ideal solution - a super discreet nano carbon filter for your nose. Carbon filters protect against smog, dust and fumes. Almost invisible and very comfortable to use. The filters can be replaced without having to change silicone inserts every week. Remember - for the air you breathe to be filtered out you have to breathe through your nose - any conversations and gossip with your customers are not advisable.

However, it should be remembered that a hygienic mask, which is the most common disposable mask, does not provide protection against adhesive fumes.

The mask or filters should accompany us during the entire eyelash styling procedure, it is also advisable to ventilate the office before accepting another client. It is worth noting that professional ventilation systems make the work very easy and allow to absorb the fumes already during the treatment.