Not An Allergen … but can cause allergic reactions Cacao, Cocoa It’s unlikely to see cacao (the raw, unprocessed version of cocoa), cocoa, or chocolate in a patch test tray and
Allergen A common misconception is that anything “alcohol” is bad for the skin but there are lots of alcohols (which is just a molecular categorization; many waxes and oils are
Not An Allergen … But Quite Bad for Skin Anxiety If anxiety could be put in a patch test, we bet it would make the top of published allergen lists
Not An Allergen Wild Yam Perhaps because Dioscorea villosa is still relatively new in skincare, it is not a top contact allergen (the more common an ingredient is, the higher
Not An Allergen Estrogen This sex hormone is produced by our bodies and plays an important role in human reproductive systems. It can also be taken orally, via transdermal patch,
Allergen Braces, Retainers Nickel in the metals is normally the top culprit (it has also consistently ranked number one in published lists of top contact allergens for decades and was
Allergen Sesquiterpene lactone (STL), Terpenes “Terpenes” is the broader term for the compounds responsible for the odor of most plants (they’re the primary constituents of essential oils, so many of
Allergen Pens and Markers Many pens and markers have top contact allergens to look out for. This doesn’t mean you can’t write with any of them but it does mean
Not An Allergen Tampon While it’s possible to develop reactions while handling some tampons with your hands, contact dermatitis in this area would not tend to occur inside the vagina
