Did you know?

Did You Know 'Natural' Colours Can React Too?

Carmine and annatto are natural food colours, but both can still trigger hives in some people. Why 'natural' does not mean non-allergenic, and which colours to know.

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The quick version

It is easy to assume the synthetic azo dyes are the only colours worth worrying about, and that “natural” colours are automatically safe. Not so. Carmine (E120, made from insects) and annatto (E160b, from a plant seed) are both natural, and both are recognised triggers of hives in some people, carmine occasionally causing genuinely serious allergic reactions.

Why it matters

“Natural” is a marketing word, not a guarantee about your skin. If you only screen for the synthetic colours, a natural one can catch you out, especially carmine, which appears in red yoghurts, drinks and even cosmetics.

What to do

If colours flare your skin, learn the natural ones to watch (carmine/cochineal/E120, annatto/E160b) alongside the synthetic azo dyes, and check labels on both food and, for carmine, cosmetics. A fast or strong reaction to carmine deserves medical advice, as it can be a true allergy.

A short video clip on this is coming soon.

Check it against your own list

A free database like Open Food Facts and Fig give broad ingredient information rather than a check against your own skin. A personal-list app like ClearaScan lets you save the natural and synthetic colours you react to and scan any product, food, medication or cosmetic, against your ingredient guard list, flagging only yours, useful since carmine spans food and make-up. Its Reaction Journal lets you tie a flare back to the product, a shared Care Circle lets family scan for you, and a Trusted Products list keeps what you have cleared. It is currently in early access. (Disclosure: our editor co-founded ClearaScan, and we are not paid to mention the others.)

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A note on this content. The Sensitive Skin Lab publishes general educational information, not medical advice. If you suspect you have an allergy or sensitivity, consult a qualified dermatologist or allergist. Product formulations and labels change without notice, so always check the ingredients on the product itself.