The Short Answer: Stop the Product, Call a Healthcare Provider, Then Report
If you have trouble breathing, swelling of the face, lips, or throat, fainting, or you feel seriously unwell, call your local emergency services now. Otherwise, the FDA says the first step after a cosmetic reaction is to stop using the product and contact your healthcare provider. The second step is to report the problem to the FDA. The FDA does not give medical advice, so your provider is the one to ask about your skin, hair, or health.
Photos, timing notes, and a product lot code can make both conversations easier. This guide shows what the FDA says, what is only a practical suggestion, and what is still unknown.
By the Modern Rejuvenation Review Editorial Team
Updated: September 24, 2026
What Counts as a Cosmetic Product?
The FDA says cosmetic products are regulated differently from drug products. Its examples include:
- Face and body cleansers, moisturizers, and lotions
- Makeup such as mascara and lipstick
- Hair care products, dyes, and straighteners
- Nail polish, deodorant, shaving products, and hair removal creams
- Tattoo ink and permanent makeup
The Evidence Ladder: From Firm Facts to Practical Ideas
Not every point in this guide has the same level of support. Here they are, from strongest to weakest.
- Level 1: Stated by the FDA. Stop using the product, contact your healthcare provider, and report the problem to the FDA.
- Level 2: Stated by the FDA. The FDA asks to hear about a rash, redness, burn, hair loss, headache, infection, illness, or any other unexpected reaction. This applies whether or not it needed medical treatment.
- Level 3: Stated by the FDA. Product problems count too, such as a bad smell, a color change, foreign material in the product, or other signs of contamination.
- Level 4: Stated by the FDA for companies. The FDA’s instructions for company reports mention scans of labels and images of the adverse event as supporting material.
- Level 5: Practical suggestion from our team, not an FDA requirement. Keep dated photos, a simple timeline, and the product’s lot code if the label has one. The FDA pages we reviewed do not list these as requirements for consumer reports.
Known Versus Unknown
What the sources confirm
- The FDA asks consumers and health professionals to report cosmetic reactions and product problems.
- The FDA uses the term “adverse event” for problems such as an illness, allergic reaction, rash, irritation, scarring, or hair loss related to a cosmetic product.
- Consumers can report through the MedWatch Online Voluntary Reporting Form. MedWatch is the FDA’s safety reporting program. They can also mail or fax the paper Form FDA 3500B (for consumers), or call the FDA’s Food and Cosmetics Information Center at 1-888-SAFEFOOD (1-888-723-3366) and choose option 4.
- Health professionals can use Form FDA 3500.
- The FDA also runs a public dashboard where people can look up cosmetic adverse event reports.
What the sources do not tell us
- The pages we reviewed do not say whether consumers can attach photos to their reports.
- They do not list which timing details or lot codes the consumer forms ask for. Check the current form.
- They do not say what caused any one person’s reaction. A report records what happened. It is not a diagnosis.
- They are about cosmetic products such as creams, makeup, and hair products. They do not address reactions to procedures, injections, or devices, so ask your provider or the FDA where to report those.
- In March 2026, the FDA said it is working to combine its adverse event reporting systems into one. Check the FDA page for the current reporting steps.
Practical Next-Step Checklist
- Stop using the product and contact a healthcare provider. This is the FDA’s first step.
- Take dated photos. Use the same lighting each time if you can, and include a wide shot and a close-up.
- Write a short timeline. Note when you first used the product, when the reaction started, and how it changed. Keep the notes factual. For a fill-in log format, see Skin Irritation After a New Routine: A Product and Timing Log.
- Photograph the label and packaging. Record the product name, the company name, and any lot or batch code printed on it.
- List what else touched the area. Include other skincare, hair products, or makeup used around the same time.
- Consider keeping the product and packaging until you decide whether to report, unless a clinician advises otherwise.
- Report to the FDA using one of the options above. Reporting is voluntary for consumers.
Items 2 through 6 are practical suggestions from our team, not FDA requirements. Do not stop or change any prescribed medicine because of this article. Ask your clinician.
Questions to Bring to Your Provider
- Could this reaction be linked to something I applied, and what else should I consider?
- Should I be seen in person, and how soon?
- What should I avoid putting on the area for now?
- Would you like to see my photos, timeline, and product label?
- The FDA lets health professionals report too. Would you also report this?
If the reaction followed a cosmetic procedure, see Cosmetic Procedure Consultations: Questions About Credentials, Products, and Follow-Up for more questions about follow-up and reporting.
What Companies Must Report
The FDA explains that the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA) requires a “responsible person” to report serious adverse events to the FDA within 15 business days. A responsible person is the manufacturer, packer, or distributor named on the label.
The FDA’s definition of a serious adverse event includes, among other outcomes, death, a life-threatening experience, hospitalization, lasting disability, infection, and significant disfigurement. Serious and persistent rashes, second- or third-degree burns, and significant hair loss are examples of disfigurement. MoCRA adds no requirement for companies to report non-serious events, but they may send them voluntarily.
The FDA’s consumer steps still say to report the problem yourself. This section is general information, not legal advice.
Sources and Editorial Note
- FDA: Resources for Consumers on Cosmetics, a hub page that links to the FDA’s adverse event reporting, recalls, and cosmetics FAQs
- FDA: How to Report a Cosmetic Product Related Complaint (content current as of July 13, 2026)
Points marked as practical suggestions are our editorial ideas. They are not FDA rules. Learn how we work in our Editorial Policy.
Educational Disclaimer
This article is general educational information from the Modern Rejuvenation Review Wellness Team. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment recommendation. The byline does not indicate review by a doctor or clinician. This page does not replace care from your own healthcare provider. Read our Medical Disclaimer. In an emergency, call your local emergency services.