Allergen Safety Helmet This important piece of equipment for biking, sports, construction, and certain occupations saves lives but can be a real challenge for skin. Some of the more problematic
Not An Allergen … yet Stevia Anecdotal reports of reactions to stevia — contact or IgE-mediated — are so rare that it is not normally included in standard patch test
Allergen Plush Toy (Stuffed Animal) “Teddy” may be your little one’s cuddliest pal but many plush toys are contact allergen-heavy. Topping the list are strong dyes, especially in toys with
Allergen PPD (Paraphenylenediamine) American Contact Dermatitis Society‘s Allergen of the Year in 2006, PPD or paraphenylenediamine is no joke, especially in hair dye, where it’s most known for causing trouble. This is
Allergen … irritant & acnegen, too Facial Cleansing Brushes Popular for their surface exfoliation and deeper clean, facial cleansing brushes are not without risks to the skin. The gadgets themselves
Allergen Dust Mites It’s not the bite of this arachnid that’s the main issue but its waste — more specifically, the membrane that surrounds the mite’s fecal pellets. The chitin
Allergen Thimerosal Merthiolate, thiomersalatem, sodium ethylmercury salicylate — thimerosal. This organic mercury is a top contact allergen and had a long history of safety and efficacy as a preservative. But,
Not An Allergen … but practice some care Air Conditioner “Air conditioner” does not appear on published lists of top contact allergens. That said, dry air from indoor cooling (and
Not An Allergen … but (surprise!) an irritant! Water Water is life. We all need it to survive and it makes up a lot of our bodies. It’s also cleansing
