Crude oil, sometimes called petroleum, is a fossil fuel that was produced deep in earth through a process that took millions of years to complete.

Millions of years later, almost all of us come into contact with a derivative of petroleum every day. Through a process called fractional distillation, petroleum refineries break petroleum into many of its smaller components. Each of these smaller components is made up of molecules called hydrocarbons.

The world is full of products that come from petroleum. For example, gasoline, styrofoam, lubricating oils, and many other items are all derivatives of this raw material. How are petroleum and cosmetics related? The two seemingly unrelated items, petroleum and cosmetics, are indeed closely related in our modern world.

Mineral oil and petroleum are basic ingredients in many cosmetic products today. Both mineral oil and petroleum have same origins in fossils fuels. Cosmetics such as foundations, cleansers, and moisturizers often contain mineral oil. By locking moisture against skin, mineral oil sits on skin’s surface and can potentially block pores. This may cause appearance of pimples because skin cannot properly ‘breathe’.

Fragrances in lotions, shampoos, and many other cosmetic products are composed of aromatic hydrocarbons. Perfumes and products containing fragrance can contain many hundreds of chemicals to produce a distinct scent. A significant number of these aromas are derived from petroleum.

One popular chemical additive that carries moisture in cosmetics is propylene glycol. It is also a derivative of petroleum. Some products that list propylene glycol as an ingredient include:

- anti-freeze - laundry detergent - paint - shampoo - conditioner

Past research links propylene glycol to serious health problems as liver and kidney damage as well as respiratory irritation or nausea if swallowed.

An antiseptic, isopropyl alcohol, kills bacteria on skin. You can find it on ingredient list of cleansers, toners and other cosmetic products. Unfortunately, this derivative of petroleum dries skin and may cause miniature cracks in skin that allow bacteria to enter, potentially causing irritations or pimples.

Do these petroleum-derived products affect your health?

Symptoms related to eczema depend on causes and severity of form of eczema. A person with mild eczema has dry, hot, and itchy skin. Severe eczema causes skin to crack, bleed, and often takes a long time to heal. Inflammation in area is common depending on type of eczema.

Type of eczema More information

Atopic eczema - Most common form of eczema; affects children and adults.Symptoms include: - extreme itchiness - dryness of skin - redness - inflammation

Irritant contact dermatitis - Occurs when skin becomes irritated by detergents and other chemicals (e.g. perfumes, soaps, bubble bath powder and more).

Varicose eczema - Affects skin on lower legs and is caused by poor circulation of blood.

Allergic contact dermatitis - Body's immune system attacks a substance in skin. - Symptoms are similar to those listed for atopic eczema.

Infantile seborrhoeic eczema - Found on infants under one year old. - Often looks unpleasant but does not affect infant's comfort and may appear on scalp or bottom.

Discoid eczema - Typically associated with adults. - Found on upper body and lower legs.

Dealing with eczema

In order to deal with eczema, you need to figure out what type of eczema you have. A doctor can help a person living with eczema or someone caring for a child with eczema manage condition.

Diagnosis of eczema is not simple. A doctor must look at person's medical history, when they first recognized condition and what triggers condition. Some people with atopic dermatitis have allergies and may need allergy testing, especially if treatment with medication is not working.

Reducing number and frequency of outbreaks is goal of any eczema treatment. To reach this goal, a person living with eczema may need to:

- make certain lifestyle changes (e.g. avoid certain irritating products) - use medication to control outbreaks - kidneys - follow a regular skin care routine

Lifestyle changes are often useful in reducing and preventing symptoms of eczema. However, some of these lifestyle changes work for some people and not others. Some changes to consider include: